The Questions to Expect During a Paralegal Job Interview The most nerve-wracking portion of the interview is, of course, answering the many questions that may be posed to you. You may be asked a variety of questions, depending on the skill level of the person interviewing you. (108606 views)
Creating an Exceptional Paralegal Cover Letter Here's a little known secret: A resume only talks about 20 percent of the information you need to impart in order to get a job. It reveals none of the remaining 80 percent of the information upon which hiring decisions are based. It does not speak to your personality, creativity, work style, work habits, or critical thinking. Rarely will a resume tell a hiring authority... (81120 views)
Part 2: Erin Brockovich Losing Ed Masry Since the 2000 release of the popular film Erin Brockovich, the woman who fearlessly convinced lawyer Ed Masry to challenge Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a billion- dollar corporation, has entranced the world. Together, Brockovich and Masry fought for the residents of California cities Hinkley and Kettleman, winning millions of dollars in damages. (80381 views)
The Virtual Paralegal Allows Paralegals to Work at Home or Offsite Some legal firms need Virtual Paralegals to be on call for intermittent work. These duties can be performed by a company of paralegals online thus; they are called ''virtual'' paralegals. They can be independent contractors or they can be part of a Virtual Paralegal Service that has more than one paralegal available to do research or complete legal forms. (68713 views)
The Importance of Police Reports and Why and When They Can be Sloppy While police officers are given nearly free rein to do their jobs as they think best, they are also expected to document their activities and their responses to public service calls on a continuous basis. Most officers who retire medically do so because of ailments related to their hearts, backs, and knees. But if you were to take an unofficial poll of working patrol... (47647 views)
How to Become a Guardian Ad Litem Sometimes getting an attorney is not the only answer to helping a child who might be caught up in their parents divorce or separation. A lawyer cannot do everything, since he has a lot of responsibility for the things that he is hired to do. This goes not just for children, but for anyone who is dependent upon the protection or care of another, such as a senior citizen who... (40804 views)
Best Alternative Careers for Paralegals: What Other Jobs Can Paralegals Do? Summary: This article details the various careers outside of the legal profession that are within the reach of a paralegal. (37796 views)
A Paralegal’s Guide to Forming Client Interview Questionnaires If you have been responsible for conducting in-depth interviews with clients, then you probably have developed an information-gathering system that works for you. If so, stick to it and make adjustments in the kinds of questions and in the way you gather the information as necessary. If you don't have much experience in client, witness, or defendant interviewing... (33133 views)
Qualifications and Responsibilities of a Paralegal Perhaps you're thinking of becoming a paralegal to embark on a new course into the field of law. Whether you're fresh out of school, or contemplating a career change, the paralegal field is rich with opportunity and statistics show (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics) that employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than the... (24004 views)
Seeking a Profession as a Nurse in a Law Firm This article talks about nurses with whom we are all familiar. However this is a unique view of the career called Legal Nurse. It is a logical consequence with so many Lawyers handling medical cases that require well trained and experienced people with medical knowledge. Legal Nurses have become part of the litigation team. (23066 views)
What are the requirements to become a Justice of the Peace If you are interested to work in a court of law, then you may be wondering what justices of the peace do. This kind of work can be interesting, but make sure you research any field that you are possibly looking into. The governing organizations of your town, state, and country are things that you would have to understand. While many tend to only think about the justice of... (21590 views)
Legal Writing as a Profession Finding a niche is crucial for any job you do. If it is writing that you have chosen as your area of expertise, then you definitely need to be the best. If law happens to be your area of interest, you can make a great career as a legal writer. This article will discuss in detail how to establish yourself as a legal writer. (21473 views)
10 Good Reasons to Become a Paralegal Becoming a paralegal can be an important step in one’s career and provide an opportunity to work in a legal environment without having to be a lawyer. Paralegals are usually well paid, and it has been predicted that job prospects will be on the rise for paralegals through 2014. Here are 10 good reasons to become a paralegal in the workforce today. (20606 views)
Creating an Exceptional Paralegal Resume When a potential employer first meets you, chances are he or she is not looking you in the eye. Ninety-seven times out of a hundred, he or she is looking at a piece of paper known as the resume. Initially, more opportunities are lost because of a poor resume than any other factor known to job seekers. (19697 views)
Tips for Becoming a Successful Paralegal Ever wonder what it takes to be a successful paralegal? Well, imagine being a 'paralegal hunter.' Penny Cierzan knows all too well how that part of the legal world works, and she knows what it takes to be a top-notch legal staff member. After all, this married mother of two has a bachelor's degree in English and paralegal studies, a paralegal certificate, and a Juris... (16633 views)
How to Become a Legal Researcher Lawyers are generally very busy people. That's because they sometimes take on many cases within the same time frame. They're so busy that they can't do all the legal researching themselves. That's where Legal Researchers come in. If you're considering a career in legal research or want to do freelance researching because you're fascinated by the law, then this article will... (15246 views)
Practical Billing Tips for Paralegals As courts continue to enforce the recovery of paralegal fees for many legal services, legal staff are faced with the task of billing their time. ''We're charging our time at a professional level,'' said Jeanine Rogers, President of TimeBillers, Inc., a billing service for law firms. As such, legal staff must ''be aware of their flexibility and education, of what they're... (15242 views)
Why You Should Think Twice Before Quitting Any Legal Job If you go into any firm that has been around more than 20 or 30 years, you will inevitably find a handful of attorneys who have been there from the very beginnings of their careers. These well-adjusted souls will typically report to work each day at a similar time and will have managed to be the only ones left in the law firm after generation upon generation of attorneys... (15192 views)
Licensing Requirements for Paralegals: Pros & Cons (Part I) - An Overview Ask any paralegal what the most controversial and sensitive issues surrounding the profession are, and licensing and regulation will undoubtedly be at the top of the list. In this two-part series, LawCrossing takes a look at the ''pros'' and ''cons'' of paralegal licensure and regulation. (15173 views)
Protocol For Following Up After a Paralegal Job Interview Traditional job-search workshops will advise you to write a thank-you letter after each interview. We would like to offer an effective variation on the theme: the follow-up letter. The purpose of the follow- up letter is to continue promoting yourself. It is a reason to contact the interviewer once again and remind him or her of your superior candidacy for the position. (14558 views)
Male Paralegals: Is There Really a Glass Elevator? It is not uncommon these days to see more men doing traditionally female jobs such as teaching preschool and kindergarten and working as librarians, legal assistants or paralegals, bank tellers, speech pathologists, secretaries, data-entry workers, nurses, or even maids. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2005, 13.7% of paralegals were men. In 2004, the... (13720 views)
Becoming a Legal File Clerk Can Be a Great Entry into the Field of Law If you're interested in the field of law and can't stop watching Law & Order reruns, get an entry-level job at a law firm and see where your interests really lie. Your interest in criminal justice can lead to a successful and lucrative career with the right degree training. Working in one of the legal support professions can give individuals the opportunity to work... (12592 views)
How to Earn Up To $200,000 a Year Working as a Freelance Paralegal You do not have to be a lawyer to work in the legal profession. Two of the most common jobs in this industry are paralegals or legal assistants. Both roles of a paralegal and legal assistant provide support for lawyers with preparing cases and general administrative work. (11554 views)
How Important is ABA Approval for Paralegal Programs? One of the more important factors when choosing a paralegal program is whether the school has obtained the approval of the American Bar Association (ABA). (10941 views)
Job Interview Attire for Paralegals APPEARANCE COUNTS Certainly at some point in our lives, we have all picked up the most current magazines and imagined ourselves in the latest rage from Vogue or GQ. And to wear these delightful garments, we've sucked in our tummies, tightened our bat wings, and shored in our love handles. All the while, listening to our loved ones who have assured us how absolutely... (10924 views)
How to Become a Magistrate You can make money in a legal profession without being a judge or lawyer. The way of making money this way without being relegated to being a law clerk or a paralegal is to become a magistrate. A magistrate has the ability to enforce the law in a localized area to a certain extent. Magistrates help lighten the load of judges by taking on smaller cases so that judges can... (10693 views)
Good and Poor Police Reports Just as there are good, best-selling books and poor, just-sit-there books, there are good and poor police reports. Good ones are written by officers who have realized early on that the path to promotion starts with good people skills and with better-than-most report-writing skills. Furthermore, these officers have also discovered, possibly through hard experience, that... (9975 views)
File Systems and Checklists for Better Paralegal Work Few paralegals are born with the knowledge required to run a bustling law office (although some may give that impression). New paralegals, associated support staff, and even the attorneys will need to familiarize themselves with any new office management or case handling systems. If you're in charge of training the entire office to use some new procedures, keep this in... (9662 views)
Can Paralegals Represent Their Clients in the Courtroom? We asked eleven attorneys from across the nation if paralegals can represent their clients in the courtroom. All of the attorneys said a legal staff member cannot represent their clients in the courtroom. In some countries they have made recent strides in allowing paralegals to represent clients in court, however, they are not currently permitted to represent their clients... (9615 views)
Paralegal Interview Thank You Letter Samples Summary: This article explains the importance of sending thank you letters following your interview and provides examples to help you craft your own. (9481 views)