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Paralegal Job Description
Legal assistants, also called paralegals, are supervised by licensed attorneys. They offer assistance by completing legal research, preparing notebooks for trial, interviewing clients, helping write legal briefs, reviewing and updating files, and drafting documents.
Education Requirement for Paralegals
In the past, legal assistants have been trained "on the job". However, an increasing number are acquiring training from specialized legal assistant programs located at universities, business schools, and community colleges. These programs can take a few months to up to four years to complete and generally require areas of study including specific legal classes, related electives, and general college requirements.
National certification is typically not required to work as a legal assistant; however, a two-day examination is offered by the Certifying Board of Legal Assistants of the National Association of Legal Assistants for certification.
Special Skills
Legal assistants are required to get documents ready to meet the same deadlines of their supervising attorneys. Under close supervision, legal assistants must write reasonably and accurately. Paralegals need to have superb listening skills and a strong ability to relate to a diversity of people in order to effectively interview individuals. The ability to speak a foreign language is helpful. Legal assistants have to uphold the confidentiality of clients. Skills in computers, word processing, and "on-line" legal research are necessary to provide legal assistance to attorneys.
Salary and Benefits
Salary and benefits for paralegals vary according to location, job responsibilities, and the type of law office they work for. Starting salaries usually range from $1,300 to $1,800 per month in smaller towns and law firms. Paralegals employed by the federal government earn an average annual salary of between $20,000 and $25,000, according to their experience and skills. A survey taken by the National Association of Legal Assistants listed the average salary of legal assistants as close to $31,000 in 1994. Most employers provide medical and retirement benefit assistance.
Working Conditions
Similar to attorneys, paralegals complete most of their work in offices or libraries. They often meet with clients in homes or businesses and provide courtroom assistance to attorneys. They typically work 40-hour weeks but sometimes work overtime when pressing deadlines arise.
Job Outlook for Paralegals
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a career as a legal assistant is one of the most rapidly expanding careers in the United States. Presently, there are more than 111,000 legal assistants and competition for jobs continues to rise. However, the job prospects for paralegals entering the field after completing a formal training program are outstanding.
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