The job outlook for paralegal jobs in the US looks extremely promising, with the employment growth expected to be higher-than-average. In fact, some experts believe that throughout the near future, more job opportunities will be available for paralegals, than for attorneys and federal judges! In one recent U.S. job rating survey, the “paralegal assistant” position ranked among the top 20 of 200 occupations. And federal government statistics seem to support those projections. The U.S. government has projected that growth of paralegal work in the US will be higher-than-average through the year 2016.
What’s the cause of this rapid job growth in paralegal work in US? One of the key dynamics is that employers are taking various measures to increase the efficiency and to reduce the costs of their legal services. One of the most effective methods for achieving that goal is by hiring paralegals to perform certain tasks that were once mainly conducted by lawyers.
Another crucial dynamic is a population that requires more specialized legal services. That includes services in areas such as international law, health care, environmental law, intellectual law, and so on. The spike in the demand for such services will certainly have a major impact on the number of paralegal jobs in the US available in those areas.
The largest employers of paralegals will continue to be private law firms. However, organizations such as banks, real estate companies, and corporations, will continue to hire paralegals at a relatively steady rate. This dynamic will greatly contribute to the increased number of available paralegal positions in the US.
Description
What exactly are the duties and responsibilities of a paralegal? Also known as legal assistants, paralegals aid lawyers in preparing for various legal proceedings, such as hearings and trials. The vast majority of paralegals work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
Because the work of paralegals can vary significantly based on where the position is, it’s important to consider these differences before choosing a sector to work in. For instance, a paralegal working in a corporation could do work related to contract and employee benefits. Those working in a government agency could research an agency’s regulations and policies. And those working in a non-profit organization might prepare documents for those requiring legal assistance. So do some research before doing research as a paralegal.
The various tasks that paralegals perform can vary quite significantly. People with this position might be required to prepare various legal documents, such as pleadings and motions. A paralegal might be required to prepare reports for a lawyer, which would be used to make particular recommendations for a certain case. He or she might also spend time researching various laws and legal decisions that are linked to a particular case.
While the tasks of paralegals are quite varied, it’s important to note that there are certain tasks that are can exclusively be performed by attorneys. That includes providing legal advice and presenting a case. If you’re interested in performing such tasks, then you might want to consider continuing your legal training after becoming a paralegal. Just as some nurses become doctors, many paralegals decide that they’d like to “graduate” from paralegal, to lawyer.
It’s advisable for paralegals to have a specialization. The tasks that a paralegal performs can be significantly affected by the specific legal area that he or she is in. For instance, the nature of the work of those specializing in real estate will be somewhat different than those working in corporate law. The benefit of specializing in a certain legal area is that you can secure a niche market. Just as when shopping around for an attorney, customers often seek a paralegal that has training in a particular field. A “Jack of all trades” paralegal might not be what a customer is looking for.
Requirements
For those interested in securing a paralegal occupation in the US, paralegals typically have earned a certificate or undergraduate degree in paralegal studies. However, several employers don’t require their paralegals to hold paralegal certification.
When choosing paralegal work in the US, one option is to specialize in a particular legal area. Some of your options include real estate, litigation, bankruptcy, and corporate law. Paralegals working for a corporation will likely perform a broader variety of tasks than those working for the government or a legal firm.
While there’s no magical formula, paralegals should have skills in areas such as research, investigation, and documentation. They should also have a working knowledge of various computer software products. Paralegals interested in paralegal employment in US should also understand some of the most common legal terms used in their day-to-day work.
Job Locations
Paralegals do the majority of their work in law offices and law libraries. However, sometimes they travel to perform other duties. For instance, they might be required to travel outside of their legal office, in order to gather information for a particular case.
If you’re interested in working as a paralegal, then visit LawCrossing.com to find a listing of various job openings. After signing up for a FREE trial, you’ll have instant access to thousands of paralegal jobs throughout the country.
