Paralegal Job Description
Overview
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A paralegal is an individual who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals perform tasks requiring knowledge of the law and legal procedures. The exact nature of their work and limitations that the law places on the tasks they are allowed to undertake vary between nations and jurisdictions. A paralegal is not a lawyer but is typically employed by a law office or internal legal department of a company. Paralegals generally are not allowed to offer legal services independently in most jurisdictions. Paralegals operate under a form...
Steps to take to start your career as a Paralegal and other jobs like it
- Earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as pre-law, political science, or criminal justice. A bachelor's degree provides a solid foundation in legal concepts, critical thinking, and research skills that are valuable for a legal career and so while not always required, it does open more opportunities to get a job and advance in your career.
- There are standardized requirements to becoming a paralegal which vary across states and include paths that don’t require a 4 year degree. You can usually meet this requirement through specific certificate programs and or meeting a min level of legal course work. If a bachelor’s degree isn’t a practical option for you, look up the alternate paths in your state.
- Seek opportunities to gain experience in the legal field, such as internships, volunteer work, or entry-level positions in law firms, government agencies, or corporate legal departments. There are roles that match with almost any experience level in the legal field so if you have a passion for this career, start early as familiarity with the professional environment in this space will help.
- Consider pursuing additional education or training to enhance your qualifications such as attending law school, earn a certificate or enroll in related programs. While certification is not always required, obtaining certification from a recognized professional organization, such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), can demonstrate your proficiency and commitment to the profession. To become certified, you'll typically need to meet education and experience requirements and pass a certification exam. Once you have the necessary education and experience, start applying for positions in law firms, courts, government agencies, or other legal settings.
Education Requirements
So to get into this role, you need to first get a bachelor's degree and then get your Juris Doctorate, which is usually a three-year degree.
My Education Path
I double majored in international business and anthropology. I knew that I wanted to be in Silicon Valley. I wanted to help tech companies. I knew that some of them had ideas that would change the world, but it wasn't going to be me, so I decided to go into a field that could help enable folks. I used my business degree and went to law school. I majored in high-tech law. And then for a lot of tech companies, you spend a couple of years in a law firm. So I did just over three in a law firm. After that, I transitioned to a role in-house at a tech company.
Average Day as Legal Counsel
There really is no such thing as an average day when you're in-house counsel because you have to flex what you're doing to the needs of the business. And so, you know, there are really easy times sometimes, and there's really chaotic times most of the time.
Workload Challenges
And so you have to be prepared to roll with the punches and do what needs to be done. And sometimes that's long days, and sometimes it's really fun ones. So it's a rollercoaster, no doubt. If you're a zero-inbox kind of person or a nothing-left-on-the-checklist kind of person, be ready to be disappointed because there's always something to do. And it's not the worst thing in the world, but it is a lot sometimes.
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- Sr ParalegalDLA PiperMiami, FL, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
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- Sr ParalegalDLA PiperLos Angeles, CA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sr ParalegalDLA PiperSan Diego, CA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sr ParalegalDLA PiperPhiladelphia, PA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
Education you need to become a Paralegal
These are the most common degrees or certificates earned by Jobtrees users prior to becoming a Paralegal
There may be other required degrees or certifications needed for this job. The below info shows you the most commonly desired education level from employers when hiring for this job.
- Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Political Science
- Bachelor Degree in Legal Studies
- Bachelor Degree in Political Science
Annual Pay Estimate for Paralegal and Other Important Info
See how many years Paralegal's are in their job, how much they make, how long it took to get there and how available this job is in terms of open positions.
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Career Paths for Paralegal
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