Opportunities for Paralegal School Graduates Across the U.S.

Along with strong job growth, the paralegal profession delivers some exciting rewards, including job flexibility and diverse career paths: you can work for a law firm, corporate legal department or government agency, or start your own business providing paralegal services. Depending on where you work, your job responsibilities may cover many different legal specialties or you might specialize in one area of the law.

After you graduate from paralegal school, you'll find that some specializations are more common than others. Many paralegals practice in one of these areas:

• Litigation
• Estate planning and probate
• Corporate law
• Employment law or labor law
• Real estate
• Intellectual property

Along with strong job growth, the paralegal profession delivers some exciting rewards, including job flexibility and diverse career paths: work for a law firm, corporate legal department or government agency. Depending on where you work, your job responsibilities may cover many different legal specialties or you might specialize in one or two areas of law.

One of the biggest advantages of becoming a paralegal is that you can earn your credentials in two years or less. In other words, you can start receiving a paycheck sooner than you think.

If you already hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in another area, you can enroll in a paralegal certificate program, which can take as little as six months to complete. For working adults looking to change careers, earning a paralegal certificate can provide a short route to solid job opportunities, whether in their own town or in a city where they have always wanted to live.

Recent high school graduates or individuals without a degree who want to improve their job and salary prospects can start their careers with either an associate's or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. Choose a traditional college program close to home or an online paralegal degree from a paralegal school anywhere in the country.

The BLS reports that paralegals earned an average annual salary of $50,080 in 2009, with the highest 10 percent earning over $75,700. Salaries vary based on employer type, size of law firm and geographic location. According to the BLS, states that pay paralegals the highest wages are California, Texas, New York, Georgia and Florida.

In today's uncertain economy, paralegals continue to enjoy job opportunities in American cities large and small. If you'd like to become a paralegal, now is a great time to join the ranks of paralegals across the country.

Choose from the many paralegal schools in our extensive school database to earn your paralegal certificate or degree, and make your mark in the city of your dreams.

_{Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009}