How Do I Become A Paralegal?

Paralegals are trained professionals who help attorneys with their legal proceedings. They do a lot of research on cases to assist the attorneys, draft legal documents, make affidavits etc. but cannot appear in the court of law.

Paralegals draw a handsome salary, which significantly grows as years pass. Many of us who want to be a successful paralegal often seek the answer to the question, how do I become a paralegal? In the past employers would provide on the job training to the aspiring paralegal candidates; however, this practice is being slowly wiped out. The higher the education you have the better your chance to acquire a job in one of the top companies.

 You can become a paralegal in many ways. You can take an online distance-learning course if you cannot afford the expense and the fees of a campus degree or you can get an associate’s degree from a community college. For students freshly passed out of high school can opt for certification courses or associate’s degree. Certification courses can take three to twenty four months for completion and associate degrees take two years and full attendance for completion. For individuals with a different education background like nursing, real estate etc. who want to become a paralegal can take up specialist training courses. Certified Paralegal (CP), Registered Paralegal (PACE) and Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) are few of the certification courses recognized by the legal firms in the US.  It is important to take a degree approved by American Bar Association (ABA) from an accredited institution. Several certification-training programs offer intensive paralegal training to candidates with college degrees.

 Several paralegal training programs also offer internship to the students to help them gain practical experience before they step out to get a permanent job. They may complete their internship at a corporate legal department, a private law firm, government agency etc. This is especially a requirement for applicants who do not hold any formal paralegal training. Acquiring voluntary certification gives an upper hand to an applicant seeking to work as a paralegal. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has set standard rules of certification that includes a combination of experience and education. Eligible paralegals who met these criteria can give a two-day examination and the candidates that pass can use Certified Paralegal (CP) and Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) qualifications. For specialization, experienced candidates can also take Advanced Paralegal Certification offered by NALA, which is also available on internet. Employers also prefer candidates with at least a year’s experience in a law firm. Technical knowledge is an added advantage for an aspiring paralegal candidate.

 As the paralegals gain experience they need less supervision and are given more responsibilities. Experienced paralegals can assign work to other clerical staff and paralegals. A paralegal should also have good interpersonal skills to develop and maintain good relationships with the clients, managers etc.  He or she should also have good organizational and research skills to meet deadlines and investigate information for legal cases. Good speaking and writing skills and computer skills are necessary.

 Seek guidance from school counselors, review different school  catalogs and check different paralegal programs, decide on what certification you want to take, choose a specialty , become computer savvy and also consider getting a NALA certification to become a successful and most sought after paralegal.