Paralegal FAQs by Kent Pinkerton

Paralegal is a legal assistant who works under the guidance of attorneys or lawyers. These persons carry out various legal tasks, which include legal research, legal document preparation, and law office management. These persons gain corresponding qualification by education, training or by work experience at law offices, government agencies, and other law related fields.

How to become a paralegal?

You can become a paralegal by securing an associate degree from community colleges. Bachelor and master degrees and certification programs in paralegal studies are other options to become paralegals. Some employers even provide on job training for college graduates without any legal experience or take individuals who have experience as legal secretaries. Those persons with experience in technical field needed for law firms can also become paralegals.

What are the basic work qualities needed for a paralegal?

A paralegal should ideally have good skills for organizing and managing law offices. He should be capable of doing complex and detailed work in a fast and accurate manner. He should have excellent communication skills.

Where do paralegals work?

Paralegals work in almost all areas related to law. These include law firms, law departments, insurance companies, banks, courts, legal clinics, and government agencies. Paralegals can work independently or as team leaders.

Whether license is required for paralegals?

Paralegals do not require license to perform tasks in most cases. This is because these persons work under the supervision of licensed attorneys or lawyers.

Whether any certification is necessary for paralegals?

Certification depends on the area of service. Some areas require certification whereas some others do not. To become a certified paralegal, individuals should have CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) or PACE (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam) certification.

What about the salary for paralegals?

Paralegal salaries are based on education, experience, special skills in the relevant field, and the nature of the employer. It can start from 16000 dollars and can go up to 34000 dollars.