How to Become a Paralegal

If you have been pondering how to become a paralegal

, first you should be sure you know what the job entails and whether it would be a suitable career for you. Basically, a paralegal is a legal professional who helps attorneys in law offices with tasks such as doing research, writing reports and other important functions. Without paralegals it would be extremely difficult for lawyers to get all the preparation done for trials, hearings and closings. You must get educated and certified to step into this role in a law office, and you must be ready to work hard.

There are numerous institutions that offer paralegal certificates and degrees. It is preferable to choose a school that is approved by the American Bar Association because most law offices prefer graduates from these institutions. You must be a high school graduate to begin a program, whether you choose a paralegal certificate from a vocational school, a two-year associate's degree program at a community college or a bachelor's degree program from a traditional four-year university. If you want the most job options you should choose a bachelor's degree program in the criminal justice department that is geared towards paralegals. You can choose to specialize in fields such as copyright law, corporate law, criminal law or real estate law.

While you're getting your education, it would be a good idea to complete an internship at a law office to get as much experience as possible. Even if you aren't hired on at the end of your internship it will look good to have this experience when you go to apply for jobs. You'll also want to gain a good working knowledge of online computer research and legal software programs during your education.

Once you have graduated you should work on getting certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants through a Certified Legal Assistant designation. Although the average salary for paralegals is around $44,000 per year, having this designation and a bachelor's degree will help raise your earning potential, so with experience there's no reason you can't make well over $50,000 annually.

How to Become a Paralegal

By: Amit Kothiyal

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