Do you feel stuck in your job? Would you like a career with daily variety, growth, and the potential for advancement?
Maybe you should consider becoming a paralegal. Paralegals are legal professionals. They perform a variety of tasks to support and assist the work of attorneys.
Find out more about the benefits of working as a paralegal and how becoming the best paralegal can jumpstart your career.
Day-to-Day Variety
Your daily routine as a paralegal will have plenty of variety. As you advance in your career, you’ll have more responsibilities with more complex requirements.
Paralegals can’t do anything that would be considered practicing law, like providing legal advice to clients. However, they have a wide range of duties that can include:
- Scheduling client meetings
- Communicating with clients
- Performing research for meetings, hearings, and trials
- Filing motions with the court
- Writing reports and legal documents
- Preparing civil documents like wills, contracts, and separation agreements
A paralegal can work in a private law firm or for the government. Other possible employment options include the legal departments of large corporations, the financial industry, hospitals, or insurance companies.
Potential for Long-Term Career Growth
A career as a paralegal is a stable choice with long-term growth potential. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for paralegals will grow by 12% over the next 10 years. This is faster than the average for all occupations.
The median yearly salary for paralegals in 2020 was $52,920. Your starting salary will depend on a range of factors including where the job is located and the type of employer.
For example, paralegals in Washington, D.C. make more than in other areas. Large law firms tend to pay more than small ones.
Your salary will increase as you gain experience. You can advance to positions like paralegal director, litigation support manager, or paralegal supervisor.
An additional career benefit of working as a paralegal is that you can live almost anywhere. You can find a job anywhere that has law firms, government agencies, or companies with legal departments.
How to Become the Best Paralegal
Becoming a paralegal gives you experience in the legal industry without needing to commit the time and money necessary for law school. Checking out reviews from paralegals about their jobs can give you a sense of what to expect. This RightWay Funding review is one example.
You can get a paralegal degree in as little as two years. Most employers want a bachelor’s degree, though.
To become the best paralegal, you need a combination of education and practical experience. You can get a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or legal studies. You should look for a program that the American Bar Association has approved.
Earning a certification will make you more competitive. It can also boost your earning potential. Organizations like the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations offer certification for paralegals.
You can specialize in a field of law and gain recognition as an expert. Possible specialties include case litigation, family law, immigration, or real estate.
Start Growing in Your Career as a Paralegal
The paralegal profession offers many benefits. You get daily variety, a stable career outlook, competitive pay, and opportunities for advancement.
Becoming the best paralegal will open even more doors. A degree and certification make you more competitive and increase your potential salary. Specialization can also help you advance.
Choose the paralegal profession and start moving forward in your career today.
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