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.

Where To Get Paralegal Jobs NYC

Paralegals prepare court room briefs and do research for the attorneys. They  do not need to get involved in the courtroom , nor do they need to be admitted as a member of the bar.  Because they do not need to argue the case for a client, it takes less training to be a paralegal than it does to be a lawyer. When someone gets the training, he needs to know where to get a job where he can use his skill. There are many places that offer paralegal jobs NYC.

When someone completes the necessary degree program, he may have gone through a two-year or a four-year program. Paralegals usually only go through a two-year program. After they complete the two-year program, they can get a job at many places in New York. Government offices such as the Department of Justice, the New York Attorney General and even the city of New York all need paralegals. Large corporations, especially in the financial sector, employ paralegals in their operations.  Lehman Brothers no longer employs people in this profession, but the truth is that Lehman Brothers no longer employs anyone.

A person who holds a paralegal degree does not need to worry about where he can work. He needs to be able to develop a good resume. When he develops a good resume, he can get a job at almost any place. An individual cannot expect to find most of these jobs listed in their local paper. he local paper does not even list the number of jobs that it used to. Many of these jobs are placed on the job search engine sites such as Monster.com.

As long as a person can put a decent resume together, he is more likely to get his foot in the door. He needs to follow-up on the resume to make sure he gets the interview. When he does secure the interview, all the rules about finding a job apply.  An individual needs to make sure he has a clean outfit, neat appearance, and he does everything he can to make a good first impression.