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How to Prepare for the Paralegal Profession

By Kate McIntyre
Learning & Life Columnist
March 26, 2007

To build its list of the best jobs in America, CNN Money looked for careers that have attractive salaries and great growth prospects. Jobs were graded on such qualities as flexibility, stress level, and ease of getting started. The paralegal profession earned an A for ease of entry, and paralegals should have strong job prospects in the coming years.

Working as a Paralegal

Paralegals work as assistants to lawyers, helping to prepare for meetings, trials, and hearings. They conduct extensive research for cases and review laws and judicial decisions relevant to those cases. Computers are becoming a bigger part of paralegals' jobs, so they do much of their research using computer databases. They might create databases of their own to keep track of legal documents in complicated cases.

Training, Salary, and Job Forecast

According to CNNMoney.com, the average salary for paralegals is $61,204 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth for paralegals will be much faster than average over the next few years. With so many new jobs becoming available in the coming years, paralegals should have lots of career options.

One of the many attractive aspects of a paralegal career is how easy it is to get started. You can begin working as a paralegal with an associate's degree from a community college or an online school. Some bachelor's degrees are available, but most people choose the associate's degree path. Paralegal training includes courses in research strategies with a focus on doing research using computers.

If you have always been interested in a career in law or criminal justice, becoming a paralegal is a great way to get started. If you later decide to attend law school, you will have already gained invaluable knowledge about law.

Sources

• CNN Money, "Best Jobs in America: Paralegal"
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Paralegals and Legal Assistants"

About the Author
Kate McIntyre, a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, holds an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.

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