| Have you thought about pursuing a career in the | | | | needs of their employer, and of course their |
| legal field and doing paralegal work? If so, you're | | | | background. |
| one of many. Record numbers of individuals are | | | | For those seeking a career in the legal field, |
| seeking lucrative careers as paralegals. This is due | | | | paralegal work can allow you to work and pay the |
| to the fact that paralegals are in such high | | | | bills while going to school full or part time. Paralegal |
| demand, and will continue to be through the year | | | | degrees are offered at many community colleges, |
| 2014 as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | four-year universities and even post-graduate |
| statistics. | | | | institutions. In fact, an estimated 1000 colleges, |
| We intend to address these questions in this | | | | organizations, and law schools offer training for |
| article: what is a paralegal? What are the daily | | | | future paralegals. |
| activities of paralegals? What kind of salary should | | | | Paralegal salaries can vary heavily depending on |
| I expect as a paralegal? And what kind of | | | | many factors. For example, the area of the |
| paralegal degrees or credentials are required to be | | | | country, the weight of responsibilities, past |
| a paralegal? | | | | experience, and education level, all play a big role |
| Paralegals are sometimes called legal secretaries | | | | in determining a paralegal salary. The going rate |
| or legal assistants. However, unlike secretaries or | | | | for an entry level paralegal positioni is between |
| executive assistants, paralegals have a knowledge | | | | $25,000-$30,000. From there, salaries can elevate |
| base rooted in the law, and are much more | | | | into the $80,000-$100,000 in some cases. The |
| specialized. | | | | minimum requirement for most law firms is a |
| Here are some of the daily activities you may be | | | | paralegal certificate requiring a few months basic |
| responsible for as a paralegal: document | | | | education, but realistically, a bachelors degree or |
| preparation, legal research, preparation for | | | | post grad degree in paralegal studies should be |
| litigation, filed administration, office management, | | | | obtained. |
| collection of judicial decisions, data retrieval, | | | | One of the benefits of paralegal work over a |
| preparing motions, and much more. Basically | | | | traditional assistant or secretary is the fact that |
| anything their employers need them to do except | | | | you will never be bored, and always be carrying |
| of course offering legal advice, representing | | | | out different tasks throughout the days, weeks, |
| clients, or charging for legal services. | | | | and months of the year. Since attorneys |
| Most paralegals work for law firms, but many also | | | | obviously have lots of different clients with |
| work for government institutions, real estate | | | | different situations and needs, the nature of these |
| offices, banking institutions, corporations of all | | | | cases are quite unique, and thus, the role of the |
| kinds, and many more. As such, the actual activity | | | | paralegal is this way as well. Paralegal work is |
| is a paralegal is responsible for can be very | | | | never a boring or monotonous. As a result, most |
| different depending on factors such as, the | | | | paralegals are very satisfied with their jobs and |
| environment they work in, their position, the | | | | tend to have a high morale. |