Paralegals use investigative skills to assist lawyers with cases and other legal matters. You have several paths to becoming a paralegal鈥攇et started with this key information.
Paralegals typically assist lawyers with legal cases. Whether gathering information for a court case or planning a presentation, paralegals conduct research and prepare reports for lawyers to use in their work.听
In this role, you might work in various settings, such as a law firm or government agency, or you can work for various types of organisations like businesses or nonprofits. You can even work as an independent paralegal if you鈥檙e willing to offer limited services. Explore the types of work you can do as a paralegal and how to start on this career path.
Your daily duties as a paralegal might include:
Interviewing witnesses听
Investigating information about a case听
Conducting research for a case听
Assisting lawyers during trials
Maintaining records related to each case听
Writing reports听
Drafting emails, letters, and documents
Helping prepare legal arguments听
Preparing civil documents, like wills, real estate contracts, and divorce decrees
Communicating with clients听
Your duties as a paralegal largely depend on where you work. For example, a smaller law office may give a paralegal multiple duties, while a larger organisation may assign a paralegal to one case phase.
As a paralegal, you can work in different aspects of the law just as lawyers do. Your duties may differ depending on the field of law.
Types of paralegals | What they help do | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Probate | 鈥 Write wills and plan estates 鈥 Manage assets and complete tax returns | |||
Corporate | 鈥 Assist corporations rather than individual clients 鈥 Research regulations, contracts, and securities | |||
Family law | 鈥 Deal with child custody and matrimonial law cases 鈥 May deal with foster care and adoption as well as inheritance and benefits | |||
Immigration | 鈥 Work with immigrants to file legal documents such as visa applications 鈥 May assist private firms or government agencies | |||
Litigation | 鈥 Work with clients who file lawsuits 鈥 May specialise in a specific area of law, like contract law | |||
Government | 鈥 Assist federal, state, or local governments 鈥 May assist with policy preparation or drafting of government documents | |||
Intellectual property | 鈥 Work with trademarks, copyrights, and patents 鈥 May help draft intellectual property licences and court documents | |||
Real estate | 鈥 Assist clients with the paperwork for real estate transactions 鈥 May help with contract development, title searches, and research and verification | |||
Criminal law | 鈥 Help build cases for or against criminals 鈥 May assist prosecutors or criminal defence attorneys | |||
Bankruptcy | 鈥 Navigate the bankruptcy process for a client 鈥 Negotiate with courts and creditors | |||
Personal injury | 鈥 Prepare personal injury cases for trial or settlement 鈥 Act as a liaison between interested parties |
No singular path exists towards becoming a paralegal. However, certain skills, education, and experience can make you more likely to find a rewarding position that offers competitive wages and long-term job security. Start by following these 10 steps.
Before you start your journey towards a paralegal career, ensure you have the workplace skills necessary for the job. These might include:听
Communication: You鈥檒l communicate daily with clients, lawyers, colleagues, and many other people, both verbally and through written correspondence.
Investigative skills: As a paralegal, you will spend plenty of time researching, analysing, and tracking down information. A good eye for relevant facts and attention to detail are a must.
Comfort with technology: Law firms increasingly seek candidates comfortable with computers and common word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
Multitasking: It鈥檚 rare for a paralegal to work on one task at a time. You may make several phone calls, research law, and draft a document, all within half an hour.
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Teamwork: Paralegals rarely work alone. You鈥檒l likely work with lawyers, other paralegals, legal assistants, and legal secretaries daily.
Time management: In the field of law, you will have many deadlines. Your job will likely entail finishing your assigned tasks on time and knowing how to prioritise the most important ones.听
Open to anyone over 16 with reasonable English skills, the Level 3 Paralegal Qualification from the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) takes about one year to complete. It offers a good foundation for paralegal work with four mandatory areas of learning, which include:
Introduction to Law for Paralegals
Introduction to Law of Contract for Paralegals
Introduction to Professional Conduct for Paralegals
Introduction to Litigation and Dispute Resolution for Paralegals
The Level Four Diploma in Paralegal Studies from the NALP provides more specific information for learners who have taken the Level 3 qualification, and you have up to two years to complete the course. Two coursework areas include General Principles of Law and Procedural Law, each containing five separate sections. Upon completing this diploma, you can apply for an associate membership to NALP, adding extra credibility to your CV.听
Many paralegals earn a law degree, which can boost earning potential and open doors to more senior paralegal positions. Comparable to a BA or BSc, the LLB (Bachelor of Laws) may help you qualify to take the solicitor exam (SQE1) or the Bar Practice Course to become a barrister.听
Once you鈥檝e obtained an LLB, you can increase your chances for a paralegal position by getting a Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice through NALP. This course takes four to six months to complete, covering a range of topics, including civil litigation, corporate and business structures, and criminal practice.听
An apprenticeship can also help you prepare for a paralegal position. The UK government鈥檚 Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship lasts 24 months and combines classroom work with on-the-job training. Knowledge and skills you鈥檒l learn from this apprenticeship include conducting research, providing administrative assistance, case file management, knowledge of legal terms, and development of legal documents.听
Joining a paralegal association can benefit your job search as a paralegal. Membership can offer benefits like professional advice and support, discounts on insurance, a pathway to paralegal licensure, guidance on training and qualifications, networking opportunities, and many other perks.
Learning a second language can be useful as a paralegal, especially in immigration law. Knowing another language can help you communicate with clients verbally and in writing and make you a more attractive job candidate.听
Networking may help you find a job. Having a large group of contacts at your fingertips means you have more resources when you need a reference, an introduction, or advice. If you鈥檙e not sure where to start, you can network by:听
Getting to know your professors and classmates better听
Attending seminars听
Connecting with alumni from your university
Reaching out through social media听
Finally, when you鈥檙e ready to find a job, you don鈥檛 have to shy away from entry-level positions. These positions can hone your skills and introduce you to different aspects of the paralegal career. They also look great on your CV when the time comes to apply for a promotion or look for a better job.听
Knowing the requirements for becoming a paralegal and how to get a job can help you decide if you want to pursue this career. As you gain skills and education, you鈥檒l be able to choose a specialty and begin applying for jobs in law, ranging from family law to government law.
To further explore your law interest, consider taking Introduction to English Common Law from the University of London on 糖心vlog官网观看. Offered for beginners, this six-module course takes approximately three weeks to complete, but the flexible schedule allows you to learn at a pace convenient for you.
Paralegals earn an average salary of 拢25,224 per year, according to Indeed; that鈥檚 about 拢17.44听 per hour []. Where you work, the type of organisation you work for, and your education and experience may play a role in how much you earn. 鈥
Paralegals may work anywhere that requires legal assistance. This includes small and large law firms, government agencies, and large corporations with legal departments. 鈥
Certain sectors of law may grow more than others in 2024. According to the LexisNexis Gross Legal Product Index, areas with the most predicted growth include property law, immigration law, restructuring and insolvency, and private client law []. 鈥
The terms paralegal and legal assistant are often used interchangeably, though a paralegal takes on more legal responsibilities, and a legal assistant has a more administrative role. Other potential career paths in the legal field include solicitor, barrister, legal secretary, mediator, arbitrator, judge, and coroner. 鈥
Indeed. 鈥, https://uk.indeed.com/career/ paralegal/salaries.鈥 Accessed 25 September 2024.
LexisNexis. 鈥, https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/insights/glp-index-2024/index.html.鈥 Accessed 25 September 2024.
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