Home Classifications Law

Classifications Law

Advance Your Career with Paralegal Studies

Advance Your Career with Paralegal Studies

What are Paralegal Studies?
A paralegal, in essence, is a legal assistant. That being said, paralegals are not permitted to practice law; the occupation is not allowed to offer legal advice nor represent clients in the court of law. Although paralegals are stripped of the responsibilities of a qualified legal professional, the occupation is essential to assist attorneys in writing briefs, investigating facts within a case, constructing closing, organizing schedules and interviewing prospective clients. 
Paralegal studies are programs aimed to bolster an individual’s ability to deliver the aforementioned roles. The program of paralegal studies does not; however, limit an individual to only work in a law office—a number of paralegals who undertake various paralegal studies will work in government or corporate settings. 
Paralegal studies refer to the suggested educational programs that an individual should undertake to become a paralegal. Although there are no distinct certification requirements to assume a paralegal’s duties, it is recommended that a prospective paralegal engage and successfully complete various paralegal studies. 
By completing such programs or courses, a prospective candidate will increase his or her chances of landing a job as a paralegal within a law firm, government office or corporate setting. Furthermore, those individuals who satisfy these paralegal studies will most likely earn higher wages than individuals who simply obtain a bachelor’s degree in a related field. 

Suggested Routes to become a Paralegal:
An individual, in the most basic of routes, can become a paralegal by obtaining an associate’s degree from an accredited academic institution. Paralegal studies in these types of environments, such as colleges, will require roughly 60 credit hours. A number of institutions offer paralegal studies in intense learning environments where a student can complete advanced training in a year to 15 months. 
Some colleges or universities in the United States offer paralegal studies in the form of specialized paralegal programs; these programs will award an individual, upon successful completion, with a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. Although these programs are not widespread, they are commonly found in those academic institutions, which offer legal programs. The basic curriculum will entail roughly 120 credit hours of study to obtain a bachelor’s degree in this specific field. 
The most common form of paralegal studies is found in post-baccalaureate certification programs. These types of paralegal studies require the prospective student to obtain a bachelor’s degree—there are no requirements for a specific major.
The curriculum in these types of bachelors studies programs require roughly 30 credit hours, which may be completed in as little as a few weeks to a few months. The majority of schools who offer these types of paralegal studies will include accelerated or night programs to offer students certification as quickly as possible. 
The role of a paralegal entails extensive background work; because of this function, the majority of paralegal studies will focus on research, litigation and legal writing. The majority of university programs will also include classes that focus on a specific legal field, such as corporate business practice or real estate practice, to allow specialization for the individual looking to become a paralegal. 

Is Paralegal Training Right For You?

Is Paralegal Training Right For You?

What is a Paralegal?
A paralegal is a term used to describe an individual who assists legal professionals, most commonly qualified lawyers, in their day to day work. A paralegal will assist a lawyer or law firm with various administrative or research-related functions. 
As a result of the amount of work the average attorney assumes, the paralegal essential to streamline and organize the typical attorney’s responsibilities. A paralegal will aid in case research, interview clients or witnesses, research pertinent legal facts to better organize an argument, organize an attorney’s daily schedule and in general, expedite the attorney’s basic responsibilities. 
In the United States, paralegals are not authorized by a government body or governmental agency to offer legal services nor are they subject to the government or court sanctioned rules of conduct. Instead a paralegal is, in essence, a lawyer’s assistant; a paralegal will work under the direct supervision of their coordinating legal professional; the paralegal will provide administrative assistance to streamline the attorney’s day-to-day work. 
In the United States, a paralegal cannot set fees, give legal advice, appear as counsel of record in court or sign pleadings (and other legal or court documents) in a representative fashion. If a paralegal attempts to fulfill any of these roles, which are distinctly reserved for an attorney or certified legal professional, they will be in direct violation of the unauthorized practice of law statutes that are present in the majority of states in America. 
Paralegal Training:
Although there are no mandatory requirements to assume the role as a legal assistant, paralegal training will bolster an individual’s salary and increase the individual’s opportunity of landing a job as a paralegal. Learning to become a paralegal will typically require the intellect or curiosity of an administrative assistant, legal researcher or reporter. 
The majority of paralegal training will involve substantive or routine work, because the job will typically entail writing for a legal audience, including various lawyers, courts and parties in particular legal suits. To partake in an effective paralegal training program the individual must learn how to write in professional terms and be able to effectively research legal matters that are pertinent to the respective case at hand. 
As stated before, there are no mandatory educational or certification requirements to become a paralegal; however, there are numerous schools and programs that specialize in teaching individuals the requirements needed to become a suitable and effective paralegal. Paralegal schools or programs are not law schools; paralegal training does not require the obtainment of a law degree. 
These programs are focused solely on the distinct functions and responsibilities of a paralegal. For instance, paralegal training programs will teach candidates or students how to write legal briefs, how to interview prospective clients and the techniques necessary to conduct thorough legal research. In most cases, a law firm will typically hire those candidates who have partook in such paralegal training programs or who have received undergraduate degrees in related fields. 

Should You Get a Paralegal Degree?

Should You Get a Paralegal Degree?

What is a Paralegal Degree?
A paralegal degree is a document that signifies an individual possesses an exacting skill-set, which is needed to perform the functions of a paralegal. Although no official certification is required to become a paralegal, a paralegal degree will increase a candidate’s probability of landing a paralegal job. Furthermore, a paralegal degree will denote to an employer that the holder possesses the skill-set needed to satisfy the various responsibilities of the job. Those in possession of a paralegal degree are also more likely to enjoy higher pay than those who did not obtain the degree. 
A paralegal degree does not require extensive graduate work; there are many programs that will offer paralegal degrees upon completion. Additionally, a number of accredited universities will offer majors or areas of study that will award a student a paralegal degree. 
To obtain a paralegal degree an individual must possess curiosity and a willingness to become a legal researcher, an administrative assistant or legal reporter. The majority of paralegal degrees will involve substantive or routine work, as a result of the job’s requirements. Paralegal schools or programs are not law schools; paralegal training does not require the obtainment of a law degree. 
These programs are focused solely on the distinct functions and responsibilities of a paralegal. For instance, paralegal training programs will teach candidates or students how to write legal briefs, how to interview prospective clients and the techniques necessary to conduct thorough legal research. In most cases, a law firm will typically hire those candidates who have partook in such paralegal training programs or who have received undergraduate degrees in related fields. 
To partake in an effective paralegal degree program the candidate must learn how to write in professional or legal terms and be able to effectively research legal matters that are pertinent to the respective case at hand. 
How do I obtain a Paralegal Degree?

An effective way to earn a paralegal degree is to enroll in available paralegal courses. These courses, which are offered at the university level, are also made available online for those individuals who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma with a focus in something other than law. 
There are numerous types of courses that will offer an individual a paralegal degree; each program will offer specific training to fulfill the role’s varied responsibilities. Taking the time to find paralegal courses that provide particular benefits to the candidate’s specific desires will increase the individual’s skill set and in turn, increase their ability to land a high-paying paralegal job. 
As stated before, certification or a paralegal degree is not required to land a job as a paralegal; however, the presence of a paralegal degree will increase the probability of obtaining a paralegal job and increase the individual’s salary when employed. Paralegal degree programs are also effective because they are quick; an individual can obtain paralegal degree by completing online paralegal courses. 
If the applicant has more time available they may obtain a paralegal degree by pursuing an associate’s degree. These types of paralegal degree programs can be completed in less than two years and are an effective stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree program. Furthermore, an individual can directly enter the workforce as a paralegal by obtaining an associate’s degree. 

How to Become a Paralegal

How to Become a Paralegal

Requirements for becoming a Paralegal:

Currently, paralegal certification is a voluntary procedure; there exists no mandatory examination for legal assistants to assume such roles in the United States. That being said, an individual will increase their chances of landing a paralegal job and subsequently landing a job with higher pay if they possess a background in the skill-set required to effectively handle the job. 
For instance, an individual with experience writing legal briefs, conducting legal research or interviewing perspective clients has a better opportunity of landing a job then someone who is inexperienced regarding these particular skills. Additionally, individuals who have enrolled in paralegal courses, have obtained paralegal certification or who have completed classes revolving around the skills required for the job, are more likely to land a role within a law firm or government agency as a paralegal.
Paralegal certification is a subject of considerable interest among the various paralegal organizations, state legislatures and state bar associations. With that in mind, Paralegal certification demonstrates to employers, such as government agencies or law firms, a commitment to the profession and a mastery of a distinct skill set and knowledge to complete the various tasks required in the field. These skills and knowledge are tested in various paralegal certification examinations; such testing will inspect an individual’s knowledge over legal procedure, writing skills, communication abilities, ethics, as well as research abilities. 
Paralegal certification may incorporate a variety of examinations, issued by legal organizations throughout the United States. For instance, the National Association of Legal Assistants is a sponsoring agency which issues certification examinations. To become eligible for paralegal certification within the National Association of Legal Assistants an individual must graduate from a legal assistant program that is approved by the American bar Association, obtain a bachelor’s degree in any field plus obtain one year’s experience as a legal assistant. 
The examination itself is a two-day comprehensive test based on federal law and procedure; the primary subject areas of this particular paralegal certification test are Ethics, Legal Research, Communications, Interviewing Techniques, Human Relations, Legal Terminology and Judgment & Analytical Ability. 
Enrolling in Paralegal Courses:

Although there are no mandatory educational or certification-based requirements to become a paralegal, individuals interested in the occupation are recommended to enroll in various paralegal courses to bolster their opportunities of landing job, to increase their ability to fulfill their responsibilities, and to increase their pay throughout their career. These paralegal courses will teach a candidate how to succeed as a paralegal. An individual can enroll in paralegal courses online, through an associate degree program or by focusing on the field as a major in an accredited university. 
That being said, there are numerous types of paralegal courses an individual can enroll in; all paralegal courses focus on specific or general functions of the paralegal. Taking the time to find paralegal courses that provide particular benefits to the candidate’s specific desires will increase the individual’s specific skill set and in turn, increase their ability to land a high-paying paralegal job. 

Can You Get an Online Paralegal Degree?

Can You Get an Online Paralegal Degree?

What is an Online Paralegal Degree?

A paralegal degree is one option future paralegals have to obtain the education required to work in the profession. An online paralegal degree offers a prospective paralegal the ability to learn how to write legal briefs, research lengthy court documents and how to properly conduct interviews with potential clients or witnesses. 
These functions, which are required to assume the role as a paralegal and fulfill the required responsibilities the job demands, can be obtained through various online paralegal degree programs.
The American Bar Association has approved paralegal education programs and online paralegal degree programs to assist students and prospective paralegals in finding quality paralegal education. The America Bar Association; however, has prohibited obtaining a paralegal degree solely through use of online paralegal degree programs. 
That being said, numerous programs offer one or more required paralegal certificate classes online and a few schools throughout the nation will offer completion through distance learning through the use of webcam or television technology. 
Rules Regarding an Online Paralegal Degree:

According to the American bar Association for Paralegal Education training, paralegal degree programs are typically designed for students who already earned a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree. The American Bar Association implemented various guidelines in 2008, which formally addressed online components to paralegal degree programs. To meet these ABA requirements, institutions now offer and require students to complete the equivalent of ten semester credits in a traditional classroom environments; classes offered online must in turn, meet certain requirements, instituted by the particular university in accordance with the ABA’s requirements.  
How do I obtain an Online Paralegal Degree?
The American Bar Association maintains a list of all approved paralegal programs in the United States; the list, which also includes an additional 148 paralegal certification programs, may be found on the ABA’s website.
Various institutions throughout the United States offer online paralegal degree programs as components of the traditional, classroom paralegal certification offerings. For example, the University of California at Irvine states that at least half of its course requirements, 15 units, must be completed in a traditional setting to earn a paralegal degree. 
That being said, other institutions, such as the Center for Advanced Legal Studies, will allow students to complete their paralegal degree in ten months through use of its Online Interactive Instruction System.  Classes in this setting will use live teaching via a webcam; students in these online programs will interact with instructors and other students in satellite locations. 
As a result of the rules and requirements delivered by the ABA, an online paralegal degree may only be earned if the student satisfies both his or her online degree requirements and his or her traditional classroom requirements. The online paralegal degree, is thus a hybrid of sorts; students must partake in both the traditional classroom aspect and the webcam portion to earn an online paralegal degree.

Start Your Legal Career as a Legal Assistant

Start Your Legal Career as a Legal Assistant

What is a Legal Assistant?
A legal assistant is a term used to describe an individual who assists legal professionals, most commonly qualified lawyers, in their day to day work. In the United States, legal assistants are not authorized by a government body or governmental agency to offer legal services nor are they subject to the government or court sanctioned rules of conduct. 
Instead a legal assistant is, in essence, a lawyer’s assistant; a legal assistant will work under the direct supervision of their coordinating legal professional; the legal assistant will provide administrative assistance to streamline the attorney’s day-to-day work. 
In the United States, a legal assistant cannot set fees, give legal advice, appear as counsel of record in court or sign pleadings (and other legal or court documents) in a representative fashion. If a legal assistant attempts to fulfill any of these roles, which are distinctly reserved for an attorney or certified legal professional, they will be in direct violation of the unauthorized practice of law statutes that are present in the majority of states in America. 


What does a Legal Assistant do?
Legal assistants are responsible for a wide range of tasks within a legal spectrum outside of the practice of law, the delivery of legal advice, and the representation of clientele. The position of a legal assistant will require the individual to work in tandem with attorneys in order to provide the most comprehensive service to their respective clientele.

All legal assistants aid their respective attorney or legal professional in their day to day responsibilities; in essence, the legal assistant will streamline his or her attorney’s work to provide an efficient legal service to the coordinating clientele. Legal assistants may assist, research, and participate in legal processes and procedures; however, they are not permitted to provide legal advice. 
A legal assistant may provide his or her coordinating attorney or legal professional with case research; this fundamental duty of a legal assistant requires the individual to research pertinent laws or legal stipulations regarding the underlying legal case. In this capacity, the legal assistant accesses case files or law libraries to provide his or her coordinating attorney with all the necessary facts to initiate a legal argument. 
In addition, a legal assistant will interview clients to decide which cases are worth pursuing. A legal assistant will also provide a lawyer or legal professional with various administrative duties, such as scheduling appointments, organizing the attorney’s schedule or setting-up meetings with the attorney. As a result of these duties, it can be stated that without the aid of a legal assistant, a lawyer or legal professional would be disheveled and would not be able to properly provide legal aid to their respective client base. 

Find an Online Paralegal Degree Programs

Find an Online Paralegal Degree Programs

What is a Paralegal?

Paralegals, in essence, are legal assistants. These individuals are responsible for a wide range of tasks within a legal spectrum outside of the practice of law, the delivery of legal advice, and the representation of clientele. A Paralegal will work in tandem with attorneys, legal professionals or their representing law firms to provide the most comprehensive service to their respective clientele. 
The basic paralegal job description entails a variety of duties and responsibilities that are commonly linked to the day to day responsibilities of an attorney or legal professional; a paralegal provide basic duties to streamline an attorney’s work.  Paralegals may assist, research, and participate in legal processes and procedures; however, they are not permitted to provide legal advice. 
Typically, a paralegal may provide the following duties: provide case work and legal research for their respective law firm or legal professional, interview potential clients to gauge which legal endeavors are worth pursuing, conducting thorough reviews of case studies and legal precedents for their respective legal professionals, accessing law libraries to reveal pertinent legal matters, organize a lawyer’s schedule to streamline their business and provide information to respective clients. 
In a more specific sense, a paralegal may be responsible for the collection, arrangement, and organization of legal forms and documents with regard to a court case; individual clients may be required to fulfill a variety of paper work, claims, forms, text, and statutes with regard to any of all claims or defenses. A paralegal can authenticate the necessary documentation required, as well as the processing of the satisfied forms.
What are Online Paralegal Degree Programs?

Online paralegal degree programs refer to interactive coursework offered by various institutions, such as universities or specialized legal schools, throughout the United States.  An individual wishing to become a paralegal, when accessing online paralegal degree programs, will  learn how to write legal briefs, research lengthy court documents and how to properly conduct interviews with potential clients or witnesses. 
The American bar Association and Online Paralegal Degree Programs:
The American Bar Association has approved online paralegal degree programs to assist students and prospective paralegals in finding quality paralegal education. The America Bar Association; however, has prohibited obtaining a paralegal degree solely through use of online paralegal degree programs. That being said, numerous programs offer one or more required paralegal certificate classes online and a few schools throughout the nation will offer completion through distance learning through the use of webcam or television technology. 
The American Bar Association implemented various guidelines in 2008, which formally addressed online components to paralegal degree programs. To meet these ABA requirements, institutions now offer and require students to complete the equivalent of ten semester credits in a traditional classroom environments; classes offered online must in turn, meet certain requirements, instituted by the particular university in accordance with the ABA’s requirements.  

Get Your Paralegal Certification Now!

Get Your Paralegal Certification Now!

What is a Paralegal?
A paralegal, in the majority of jurisdictions, is a term used to describe an individual who assists legal professionals, most commonly qualified lawyers, in their day to day legal work. In the United States, paralegals are not authorized by a government body or governmental agency to offer legal services nor are they subject to the government or court sanctioned rules of conduct. 
In the United States a paralegal is, in essence, a lawyer’s assistant; a paralegal works under the direct supervision of their coordinating legal professional; the paralegal will provide administrative assistance to streamline the attorney’s day-to-day work. 
In the United States, a paralegal cannot set fees, give legal advice, appear as counsel of record in court or sign pleadings (and other legal or court documents) in a representative fashion. If a paralegal attempts to fulfill any of these roles, which are distinctly reserved for an attorney, they will be in direct violation of the unauthorized practice of law statutes that are present in the majority of states in America. 
That being said, paralegals are found in all areas of law within the United States; a paralegal can aid a lawyer working in a criminal trial, the family court of law, real estate, estate planning, government positions or civil matters. 
Paralegal Certification: How do I become a Paralegal?
The American Bar Association defines paralegal certification as a “formal process by which a non-governmental agency or association grants recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or association.” Paralegal certification typically involves passing a certified examination established by the sponsoring organization and meeting various educational and experiential requirements. 
Currently, paralegal certification is a voluntary procedure; there exists no mandatory examination for legal assistants to assume such roles in the United States. That being said, paralegal certification is a subject of considerable interest among the various paralegal organizations, state legislatures and state bar associations. 
Paralegal certification demonstrates to employers, such as government agencies or law firms, a commitment to the profession and a mastery of a distinct skill set and knowledge to complete the various tasks required in the field. These skills and knowledge are tested in various paralegal certification examinations; such testing will inspect an individual’s knowledge over legal procedure, writing skills, communication abilities, ethics, as well as research abilities. 
The majority of paralegals, in the United States, will obtain professional designations once they have gained a few years’ experience in the legal field. As stated before, certification is not a prerequisite for paralegal employment; however, it will enhance the individual’s professional credibility, income potential and employment prospects. 
Paralegal certification may incorporate a variety of examinations, issued by legal organizations throughout the United States. For instance, the National Association of Legal Assistants is a sponsoring agency which issues certification examinations. To become eligible for paralegal certification within the National Association of Legal Assistants an individual must graduate from a legal assistant program that is approved by the American bar Association, obtain a bachelor’s degree in any field plus obtain one year’s experience as a legal assistant. 
The examination itself is a two-day comprehensive test based on federal law and procedure; the primary subject areas of this particular paralegal certification test are Ethics, Legal Research, Communications, Interviewing Techniques, Human Relations, Legal Terminology and Judgment & Analytical Ability. 

Paralegal Courses

Paralegal Courses

What does a Paralegal Do?

Paralegals are legal assistants who are responsible for a wide range of tasks within a legal spectrum outside of the practice of law, the delivery of legal advice, and the representation of clientele. A Paralegal will work in tandem with attorneys or legal professionals in order to provide the most comprehensive service to their respective clientele. The basic paralegal job description entails a variety of duties and responsibilities that are commonly linked to the day to day responsibilities of an attorney or legal professional; a paralegal job description will entail basic duties to streamline an attorney’s work.  Paralegals may assist, research, and participate in legal processes and procedures; however, they are not permitted to provide legal advice. 

What are Paralegal Courses?
Although there are no mandatory educational or certification-based requirements to become a paralegal, individuals interested in the occupation are recommended to enroll in various paralegal courses to bolster their opportunities of landing job, to increase their ability to fulfill their responsibilities, and to increase their pay throughout their career. An effective way to educate oneself in regards to paralegal work is to enroll in available paralegal courses. 
These courses, which are offered at the university level, are also made available online for those individuals who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma with a focus in something other than law. 
These paralegal courses will teach a candidate how to succeed as a paralegal. That being said, there are numerous types of paralegal courses an individual can enroll in; all paralegal courses focus on specific or general functions of the paralegal. Taking the time to find paralegal courses that provide particular benefits to the candidate’s specific desires will increase the individual’s specific skill set and in turn, increase their ability to land a high-paying paralegal job. 
Paralegal courses will provide an individual with the necessary experience and instruction to carry-out the specific roles that a paralegal is responsible for. In addition to experience, paralegal courses may provide an individual with certification. 
Again, certification is not required to land a job as a paralegal; however, the presence of a paralegal certificate will increase the probability of obtaining a paralegal job and increase the individual’s salary when employed. Certification paralegal courses are also effective because they are quick; an individual can obtain paralegal certification by completing online paralegal courses. 
If the applicant has more time available they may partake in paralegal courses through pursuing an associate’s degree. These types of paralegal courses can be completed in less than two years and are an effective stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree program. Furthermore, an individual can directly enter the workforce as a paralegal by obtaining an associate’s degree. 
Another example of paralegal courses is found at accredited universities who offer paralegal courses; these bachelor’s degree programs are available to those individuals who would like to become a paralegal right out of college or would like to pursue a graduate paralegal degree. If the candidate decides to take these paralegal courses online they can successfully obtain a paralegal degree in three years, although four years is the more generic timeframe. 

Be a Competitive Candidate with a Paralegal Degree

Be a Competitive Candidate with a Paralegal DegreeWhat is a Paralegal Degree?

Although certification is not required to obtain a paralegal job, it is highly recommended as a result of the competition found in the industry. In addition, the obtainment of a paralegal degree will establish the candidate’s commitment to the particular profession. 
A paralegal degree signifies that the respective individual is well-versed in the various roles required of a paralegal; a paralegal degree denotes that the individual in possession is able to conduct thorough legal research, write formal legal briefs or reports, organize a lawyer’s day to day activities and interview clients or witnesses with a pertinent focus on the subject matter of the underlying legal matter. 
As a result of this denotation, a paralegal degree will inform a prospective employer as to the candidate’s particular skill-set; in a general sense, those who obtain paralegal degrees have a far better chance of landing a job as a paralegal than those who are not in possession.

Paralegal degrees do not technically signify certification; however, several legal associations will offer certification programs, such as the National Association of Legal Assistants, the national Association for Legal Professionals, the American Alliance of Paralegals and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

How do I obtain a Paralegal Degree?

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a paralegal you should obtain a paralegal degree or certificate. The ability to obtain a paralegal degree or certificate will portray to respective clients or legal professionals that you possess the necessary skill set to satisfy the many responsibilities required of the job. As a certified paralegal, you will be required to interview clients, organize schedules and information, and prepare comprehensive reports regarding the legal matters at hand, as well as, constructing motions, complaints, letters and pleadings. 

To obtain a paralegal degree you must possess excellent verbal, written and analytical skills. Depending on your targeted employer, you will most likely need to obtain an associate’s degree with a focus on paralegal studies. The majority of associate degree programs take roughly 7 months to complete. 

To obtain a paralegal degree you must explore all available paralegal certificate programs; there are a number of reputable institutions that will offer both online and offline programs in the United States. In addition to accredited universities, many local community colleges will offer both paralegal degree programs and certification courses. 

When evaluating which paralegal program to pursue, you should consider the reputation of the institution, the price needed to obtain the paralegal degree and the job placement success rate attached to the school and respective program. 

When you choose your paralegal degree program you should evaluate the curriculum and ensure that is accredited by the American Bar Association as well as other reputable agencies. The majority of legitimate paralegal degree programs will require 30 credits and 300 hours of study with a grade of “C” or above to earn a paralegal degree or certificate. 

Once you have ensured the reputability, you must apply to the program; in most instances, the application procedure will entail filling out an online application, sending recommendation letters and completing a personal statement or written examination.

Attorneys, Get Listed

X