Online Paralegal Studies: Start Earning your Certificate Today

If you want to get into the field of law but don’t want to spend years earning a bachelor’s degree followed by graduate studies and finally a bar exam, you may want to consider paralegal training.

A paralegal is not a lawyer and is not authorized to provide any legal services to a client. Thus the average salary for a paralegal will not approach the salaries expected for lawyers. However, the paralegal’s job is less stressful than that of the lawyer, and in a large law firm or in a large city, paralegals with experience can certainly command a respectable salary ranging in the $50,000 range.

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One of the things a paralegal does is assist a lawyer in researching past cases for precedents that may apply to a live case. Thus, a paralegal is responsible for providing information about court decisions and about variations in laws that can impact specific situations. The research skills required are useful, not only in a law firm but also in the business world where paralegals have been increasingly hired as permanent staff in lieu of having a more expensive attorney on permanent retainer. A paralegal understands the laws and is able to interpret previous decisions in general terms. Of course, the responsibility ends where actual legal representation or advice is required.

Other jobs/ opportunities for paralegals include real estate firms, educational institutions, health care facilities, and non-profit organizations. Some paralegals have nothing more than on-the-job training while others have associate or bachelor degrees. The highest paid paralegals have attended a paralegal school, either a traditional classroom or an online program.

Some of the basic requirements to become a paralegal are communication and interpersonal skills. The actual courses will vary from one school to another, but you can expect courses in computer literacy as well as numerous courses in various aspects of law. Basic law related courses will educate you as to how the law is supposed to work. Additional courses will allow you to specialize in areas of civil law, criminal law, business law, and international law. You will also study ethics and procedures of legal research.

How much money does a paralegal make? The median salary in 2007 was $47,600. Those who work for the federal government may make over $53,000 while those in very large law firms can actually earn six figures.