The allure of the legal field has drawn an estimated 224,000 paralegals and legal assistants into a profession that is in high demand and pays relatively well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
As spots in American Bar Association (ABA) approved law schools remain scarce and expensive, opportunities abound for those who desire to work in the legal field without spending the 7+ years in college necessary to qualify for, take and pass the bar examination to become a lawyer.
Armed with a junior college degree in legal studies, an accredited online degree, or a bachelor’s degree with a professional paralegal certificate, a paralegal or legal assistant can earn more than $60,000; although the middle 50% earned between $31,000 and $50,000, according to BLS data. Bonuses are also common in private law offices, as are additional perks like expensive holiday office parties, expense accounts and travel.
Paralegals perform highly-demanding and varied work, including researching and studying legal documents, gathering information for lawyers before a criminal or civil trial, filling out legal forms, keeping legal materials organized and accessible, interacting with clients, maintaining financial office records, assisting in the preparation of tax forms, mortgages, and divorce agreements, and assisting in any other way that is allowable by law. The working hours are generally 40-hour weeks; though busy times of the year may require overtime.
It is advantageous for paralegals to specialize in a particular niche of law – like tax law, intellectual property, criminal law, health care, elder law, real estate, medical malpractice or bankruptcy; and this additional training assists a candidate in standing out among potential employers. Although opportunities in the legal field are growing, the competition is keen for the best jobs in the federal government, financial institutions, corporations, private law firms, state and local government.
A background working with computers and office software is necessary in the fast-paced, high-tech world of a successful law practice. Clients pay top dollar for the best that a top law firm has to offer; and travel to clients’ offices in another city may even become a required part of an experienced paralegal’s job.
Legal training is also beneficial in being hired as law clerks, insurance claims adjusters, title examiners, insurance investigators, tax preparation specialists and occupational safety technicians.
The highly-trained paralegal or legal assistant candidate is well-prepared for competitive job opportunities in a field that is intellectually stimulating, financially rewarding, detail-oriented and versatile.
