Is Paralegal Education Necessary?
by
Kent Pinkerton ARTICLE REPRINTING IS PERMITTED
Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning paralegals should have a bachelor's degree, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent having two-year associates degrees. However, trends indicate that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and possibly make more money.
Programs exist to train paralegals. NFPA recommends a formal paralegal education program, which approximately 84 percent of current paralegals have. Training programs consist of 24 semester hours in legal studies. NFPA offers the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to establish and recognize high standards in the paralegal profession. In order to qualify for the exam, a paralegal must have a bachelor's degree, have completed an accredited paralegal program, and have at least two years of paralegal experience. Paralegals who pass the exam are recognized professionally as a "PACE Registered Paralegal."
For a small fee, a potential paralegal can obtain a directory of paralegal education programs from the NFPA.
The amount of training needed for a paralegal job can depend on the organization for which the paralegal will work. It may be useful to contact local law firms about their paralegal hiring practices. Some positions require a paralegal certificate, which requires additional training after a four-year degree program. Online directories allow registered users to search for hiring law firms, and most local libraries have a copy of Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm.
In general, the level of education needed to become a paralegal depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a paralegal career. A recent college graduate, for example, who wants to be a paralegal in order to help her chances of getting into law school, may not want to seek additional training. A person wishing to become a career paralegal, on the other hand, would benefit from the additional training.
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Paralegal Education Additional Paralegal Education Articles
What Do Paralegals Do? Also known as legal assistants, paralegals may work for a lawyer, but they may also work for a corporation, the government, or any organization that deals with the law. A beginning paralegal will probably spend most of his or her time filing, photocopying, organizing papers and running errands.
A Look at Paralegal Jobs Paralegals support lawyers by organizing the massive amounts of paperwork law offices generate, running the office smoothly, helping to draft documents and interviewing witnesses.
A Look at Paralegal Training A paralegal assists lawyers, corporations, or government agencies that must work with the law. Most of the time, paralegals help lawyers to keep afloat of the mounds of paperwork needed in law.
Choosing the Right Paralegal Courses Paralegals typically have a bachelor's degree to help them professionally assist lawyers or corporations and government agencies dealing with the law. Paralegals help lawyers navigate the large amounts of paperwork generated in legal proceedings by indexing, photocopying, and filing.
Do You Need A Paralegal Certificate? Paralegal certificate programs are offered by most colleges and universities, as well as online. Before enrolling in any program, make sure the program is approved by the American Bar Association. Paralegal certificate programs typically require a bachelor's degree, strong critical thinking and communication skills, a secure understanding of law ethics, a legal vocabulary, experience in a law office, and the ability to conduct legal interviews and research. Some programs also require a minimum college GPA.
