Is being a paralegal a hard job?
The opportunities for a paralegal really depends on the specialty. The most in demand paralegals are those in the litigation field; followed by corporate paralegals who are responsible for maintaining corporate records, articles of incorporation, etc. While the "least" marketable [but the "highest" paid] paralegals are in the field of intellectual property [i.e., patents, trademarks] and immigration law. In conclusion, choose your paralegal courses accordingly, with emphasis on litigation preparation [discovery], docketing/calendaring of incoming pleadings [calendaring] and trial preparation [creating Exhibit tabs, Bajii jury instructions, etc.]. The "pro" side of a litigation paralegal is often "unlimited" overtime which can amount to a high salary range of $65,000 to $75,000 per year, while the "downside," being constantly pressured to meet a monthly client billable quota. And failing to meet that quota, often results in the paralegal's overnight dismissal. It's not a pretty picture. I just want to lay out what really happens in the real world of litigators and their relationship with subordinate paralegals. Good luck!
Do you enjoy being a paralegal?
I love my job! I am completely content and do not forsee ever wanting to change careers. Being a paralegal is very rewarding. I work with legal secretaries, in fact, I started out as a legal secretary. Let me tell you, paralegal work is much less tedious and more substantive. Legal secretaries have to maintain attorney calendars, process mail, input time, file pleadings, make trial notebooks, and basic secretarial work. Whereas paralegals don't have to do all that mess. We do legal research, discovery, trial prep, drafting of pleadings and court docs, and contact with the client. Here is the site to find American Bar Association accredited schools in your area: http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/para... I highly, highly, HIGHLY, recommend only going to an ABA accredited school. To be a paralegal you need either experience or experience and a degree. Having a degree really helps. While you are going to school maybe you could find a job at a law office as a legal secretary to get some experience and bulk up your knowledge of the way things work in a law office. Best of luck to you!
Is being a paralegal a good career?
I'm taking an online course starting in June to become certified as a paralegal. I was wondering if the certificate is all I need to get a job as a paralegal, or should I intern somewhere first? Also wondering what it is like to be a paralegal (money, stress, job demand, etc.)
Paralegal Job Satisfaction?
Hi! I am considering starting an ABA approved post-bachelors Paralegal certificate program in order to change careers (5 years in corporate business and don't like it) and am wondering about paralegal job satisfaction. Specifically, if you could answer the following that would be great! What is your area of specialty (criminal, civil litigation, etc)? What are the pros and cons of your job? Overall, do you like being a paralegal in your specialty? Thanks!
Most paralegal jobs require bachelors degree?
Varies a lot depending on field of law, type of organization, and where you live. I've worked in several major cities and all my paralegals have had bachelors degrees. Considering that these days many paralegals actually have law degrees, there's really no need to hire someone with just an associates, particularly if the person doesn't have any experience. However, in other places, a 2 year degree is perfectly sufficient. It really just depends on the job market in your area. I would encourage you to continue doing research, including informational interviews, to see how different employers in your area hire paralegals and to get their opinions of the program you're considering.
Paralegal, Job description?
It's not at all as bad as the other answers you're getting here, Harpoon. Go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm to get an idea of the duties a paralegal performs, and go to http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011... to evaluate paralegal wages in different parts of the country. Both web pages are maintained by the US Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) - and so should be relatively impartial - not interesting, but impartial ;-) It’s interesting to note that CareerCast® ranked 200 different jobs based on stress, work environment, physical demands, income, and general outlook, ranking attorneys as 82nd in that list, with federal judges ranking 69th. Those working as paralegal assistants fared significantly better, ranking at 17th – with court reporters not far behind at 28th. The answers to the third and fourth questions will depend on your place of employment. There are a variety of paralegal specializations available, from those specializing in immigration or medical law to those involved in family law or bankruptcy. Similarly, there are paralegals who are virtual (online) assistants to attorneys scattered across the country, and there are those who work in giant law departments of major corporations or government agencies. Pick your poison ;-) In the end, you have to consider your aptitudes and desires. If you go for it, you need to contact prospective employers where you intend to live and work to find out more about their educational requirements, possible internships and scholarships, etc. For example, it's possible that a law firm may put up some scholarship money if their local jurisdiction reduced the number of required pro-bono hours. Talk to people. Begin to network now for your future job.
Are there jobs for an Indian lawyer in the USA as a paralegal after getting a paralegal certificate?
I see no reason why you wouldn’t be eligible and as Martha Phillips Johnston said, you would actually be very attractive to some firms. After you are hired, see about reading up for the lawyer’s bar exam in the place where you live and discuss it with your employer. They may be very interested in someone who would like to work for the firm as you learn the laws and regulations in this country.