Are you interested in beginning paralegal careers this year or next year? This is a smart choice, as paralegals not only work exciting jobs and important jobs, but also have job stability and make good money. While this job is far removed from that of a lawyer (who has all the responsibilities) the paralegal still sees plenty of action, from organizing case files to drafting documents to even researching important facts.
Paralegals are not merely assistants, but have a great responsibility to the law, and to the law firm or attorney they represent. In the United States, paralegals are not authorized to offer legal services. However, in some venues (such as Canada) paralegals are actually regulated and require licensing. Why, some paralegals in Canada can even allow legal services and appear in lower level courts!
In the U.S., you will still have plenty of responsibilities but will work under direct supervision of an attorney. Simply put, there is no international standard as to what a paralegal can do or not do, as far as research and paperwork go. Some who become involved in paralegal careers may actually take on numerous responsibilities, usually because they are in a small town and thus are needed more often. Big city law firms may only have paralegals working on a few items per case, but they actually have the potential to make more money.
One of the newest trends in paralegal careers is that of technology and PC and mobile software. Paralegals are usually in charge of drafting and indexing documents. In recent years, more paralegals have been trained in electronic database management, as this is an important part of research. Everything from email messages, to name and place data, documents and accounting databases need to be organized.
Paralegals can also specialize in areas like litigation, corporate law, employee benefits, personal injury, criminal law, employee benefits, bankruptcy, intellectual property, immigration, real estate and family law. Naturally, an attorney or law firm that specializes in these types of cases would find a specializing paralegal very valuable. As a paralegal grows in experience and becomes trusted, he or she may progress into a supervisory capacity and may oversee the work of others or even delegate work to others.
For more information on starting paralegal careers, find an online college that can teach you the essentials. You are just a few clicks away from an exciting career!
