A day in the life of a paralegal

Paralegal career information
A paralegal career can be rewarding. Individuals might find fulfillment in helping others with legal matters. There are a wide range of responsibilities for paralegals and can vary by employer. Some of the duties of a paralegal can include:

• Interviewing witnesses
• Researching facts and cases
• Preparing legal documents
• Drafting pleadings
• Assisting at trial
• And much more!

Employment opportunities vary as much as the duties of a paralegal. One can have a paralegal career in a number of different areas of law, including:

• Real estate
• Probate
• Litigation
• Corporate
• Employment law
• And many more

Paralegals are employed at various firms, including:

• Law firms
• Banks
• Corporations
• Insurance agencies
• Legal clinics
• Government agencies
• Accounting and engineering firms
• And many more

Salary information for a paralegal career
Salaries for paralegal are as diverse as the environment that they work in. Earnings depend on experience, education, employer size and geographic location. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, paralegals made an annual average of $43,040 in 2006. In addition to earning a salary, many paralegals receive bonuses, in part, to compensate them for sometimes having to work long hours.