Online Paralegal Degrees A Degree and Career as a Paralegal Professional

Prepare for a Legal Assistant Career with an Online Paralegal Degree

Have you wondered what the difference is between a lawyer and a paralegal? Many people who were interested in a career within the realm of law have investigated that question and 238,000 of them landed jobs as paralegals in 2006.

The growth rate for paralegals by the year 2016 is at 33%, but since so many people are becoming interested in this career, good training and possibly certification will become vital in order to capture the attention of potential employers.

In considering the difference between a paralegal and an attorney, there are five things that a lawyer can do that a paralegal cannot do and there are many things that a lawyer can do that he would rather assign to his paralegal or legal assistant.

Generally speaking, a paralegal or legal assistant is a trained professional who works directly under the supervision of a lawyer, doing research and preparing documents for cases. Ultimately, the lawyer that the paralegal works for is responsible for the work that the paralegal presents, whether it is correct or not.

So, you can see why the lawyers, law firms or corporations that hire paralegals are very careful about choosing paralegals with good training and experience.

Attorney / Paralegal Assistant

First of all, a paralegal cannot establish an attorney/client relationship, however, a paralegal will most likely have a lot of contact with clients and the general public, so it will be necessary for a paralegal to possess the good people skills of courtesy and patience.

Secondly, a paralegal cannot give legal advice, even though his research and training have probably given him as much knowledge on a particular subject as his attorney boss possesses. Thirdly, a paralegal does not have the authority to sign legal papers and pleadings on behalf of their clients.

This is something only an attorney is licensed to do. Fourthly, a paralegal is not allowed to set and collect fees for legal services. And last of all, a paralegal cannot appear in court in behalf of a client. If a paralegal carried out any of these duties, their behavior would be considered “unauthorized practice of law”. Only one who is admitted to his state bar can practice law.

The Responsibilities of a Paralegal Assistant

The main responsibilities of a paralegal are administrative types of tasks that are normally part of a lawyer's job, but due to the typically tight schedule of most attorneys, these tasked are assigned to paralegals.

Paralegals will conduct most of the research involved in preparing for cases. They will make sure that they are up-to-date on the most recent changes in laws regarding the particular case. They will then prepare reports for the attorney to review and draft pleadings and motions for the case.

It is their responsibility to organize and keep up with all the information and documents concerning a case. They may also be assigned to locate witnesses for the case and interview them.

Paralegal Career Options

The type of work a paralegal will perform will depend greatly on what type of organization he works for. For example, if he works for a real estate attorney, he may help prepare mortgages, contracts or separation agreements.

If the paralegal works for a tax attorney, he may help prepare tax returns, trust funds or assist in estate planning. Some paralegals will specialize in a particular field, such as paralegals specializing in labor law whose focus will mainly be on employee benefits.

Other paralegals will specialize with regard to the health sector offering their services to personal injury or medical malpractice law firms. And still others will specialize in litigations.

Paralegal Licensing

At present, paralegals do not require licensing, except in the state of California. However, two main organizations offer certifications that will benchmark a paralegal's professional status and career advancement.

The National Association of Legal Assistants offers a 2-day exam to paralegals who meet certain criteria of education and experience. For those who pass, a Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal title designation can follow their name.

The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. also offers certification as an American Alliance Certified Paralegal to those paralegals that possess five years of experience and certain educational and continued education requirements.

In addition, the American Bar Association has initiated a program that approves certain training programs for paralegal studies that meet with their strict guidelines. Although, these particular training programs are not necessary to attend when desiring to become a paralegal, it can be very beneficial to have them listed on a resume when a prospective employer shows interest in you.

Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies

An Associates Degree of Applied Science for Paralegal Studies is all that is required to get started in this career. Many accredited online schools offer the convenience of home study to achieve this goal. For those already possessing a Bachelor's Degree, many campus and online universities offer a paralegal certificate program that may only take a few months to complete.

A few colleges are now offering Masters Degrees in Paralegal Studies. Salaries for these paralegal degree graduates usually range from about $47,000 to $53,000. Some larger firms in big cities may offer salaries as high as $100,000 for experienced paralegals. Most paralegals find their employment positions with law firms, corporate legal departments and within the federal government.

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum that most schools require to receive a paralegal certificate or degree consists of Torts and Personal Injury, Contracts, Legal Research, Writing and Civil Litigation, Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics.

The Torts and Personal Injury courses provide students with the necessary education and understanding of laws regarding civil wrongs and the avenues of remedy for these wrongs.

The Contracts course will enable students to understand the laws regarding the initiation of contracts including the formation and enforcement of contracts as well as laws concerning breach of contract. Upon completion of the Legal Research course, a student will understand the major aspects of civil litigation through the eyes of both the plaintiff and the defendant.

They will also be introduced to the US legal system. With the Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics course, a student will possess a good understanding of professional codes of conduct and the laws dealing with ethics in the legal profession.

For further information about the job description of a legal assistant or obtaining a paralegal degree, either through an online course or through campus classes, research the resource links below.

Resources:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on the Paralegal Career

The American Bar Association - Paralegal Information

The Association of Legal Assistants