The legal system is expanding at a break-neck pace. Fortunately for many people stuck in dead-end jobs, getting certified to work within the legal system isn't too difficult. After completing a legal assistant program, you can work on the clerical side, or you can choose to work on the enforcement side as well, with positions such as probation administration, parole officer support and other clerical staff. Most students who graduate from legal assistant training receive an Associate degree or an internship.
What do paralegals do?
There are a wide variety of legal duties a legal assistant or a paralegal can perform that includes assisting attorneys in preparing for closings, hearing, trials and corporate meetings. They also perform duties such as:
Paralegals also investigate the facts of the case, help analyze and organize information, prepare written reports and draft contracts for members of legal teams.
While state requirements can vary, a normal legal assistant training program is at least a 2 or 4-year postsecondary school degree, with the best opportunities available to those with certification. Both a legal assistant and paralegal work in courtroom settings and also take depositions in attorneys’ offices.
Salary Range:
$24,470 — $61,150
Education Level (minimum):
Associate degree in paralegal or similar
Growth Outlook (2002 – 2012):
21 – 35%
