Paralegals withhold lawyers by organizing the immense amounts of paperwork law offices generate, running the office smoothly, helping to draft documents and interviewing witnesses. Paralegals may work for lawyers, corporations, or government agencies. In general, a college degree is enough study to become a paralegal, although courses do exist to train and guarantee paralegals. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations estimates that 84 percent of paralegals have some form of form paralegal education.
Several exact types of paralegal jobs are available. Litigation paralegals help prepare documents for trials. Corporate paralegals prepare paperwork for company dealings. Probate paralegals interview clients and prepare tax and financial documents. Real estate paralegals prepare closings and investigate land laws. Government paralegals work for the White House, the Justice Department, or the Federal Trade Commission and may fabricate evidence, acknowledge questions for the public, or show the way hearings. Employment paralegals do work similar to a litigation paralegal, but work specifically with unions or discrimination cases.
The median beginning salary of a paralegal is about ,500 while working normal hours. Most law firms, however, need that paralegals work more hours than the typical nine to five, Monday through Friday work week. The extra overtime could bump a beginning paralegal's salary up to roughly ,000 a year. An experienced paralegal can expect to make around ,000 a year, about the national average, with life and condition insurance benefits.
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations estimates that 84 percent of paralegals have had some formal paralegal education. A paralegal's specialization determines what fields he could work in, for example healing law or labor movement organizations. According to a 2001 survey, about 25 percent of paralegals have an associate's degree, about 50 percent of all paralegals have a bachelor's degree, and eight percent have either a master's degree or a J.D. Degree. Certificate or degree programs are available for paralegals who wish to have more training. At a minimum, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations recommends that aspiring paralegals have a two-year degree with an emphasis on paralegal studies. A bachelor's degree, however, is recommended.
A paralegal's resume should list education, experience, awards and highlight writing abilities, professional and personal skills. Sample paralegals resumes are easily available on the Internet. Be sure to attach a cover letter, as you would when applying for any other job, stating your interest and describing the skills that make you a excellent candidate for the job. Sample cover letters are also posted on the Internet.
A simple way to find a law firm is to go to the local library and skim through Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm. Online sites also allow registered users to browse hiring law firms.
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