You can Become a Paralegal if you Study for and Acquire a Paralegal Degree

 

You can become a paralegal if you study for and acquire a paralegal degree, if you are  interested in the legal profession, but not as a lawyer.  Although lawyers are generally responsible for the legal services their clients get; legal assistants known as paralegals do most of the work except appearing in court for clients.  If you have the requisite paralegal qualification and dedication you will be handsomely rewarded working in this fast growing profession.

The American Bar Association (ABA) determines the functions of a paralegal, who is supposed to be  a person who by means of education or  work experience have acquired enough knowledge necessary for him to assist an attorney or lawyers in a law office, governmental agency, the legal department of corporations and NGOs etc. A paralegal is supposed to be able to do all the substantive legal work a lawyer is usually responsible for.

A qualified paralegal should be in a position to  provide worthful help to lawyers in all aspects of legal work such as  preparing closings, trials, hearings and organizing  corporate meetings.  As a paralegal you are expected to  assist attorneys in  drafting deeds of conveyance and contracts. You should also be at home with estate planning. 

If you are adjudged a  valuable employee you can be given the  responsibility of maintaining the financial records of the law office, and  possibly organize and generally manage the  law office and its other  employees.    Your  duties may also comprise  finding witnesses, getting affidavits, researching legal documents, and chasing after case files.  

Having said all that, you need adequate paralegal training and qualification to be able to discharge the aforementioned duties. Associate's degree programs offered at community colleges or specialized schools are the most common certifications for a paralegal career. These programs are usually 2-year programs.  

For people who are already working as legal assistants,  certificate programs are usually used for advancing careers. People who have bachelor's degree also become paralegals on obtaining a paralegal certificate. Most certificate programs are usually completed within months.

Nowadays, however, the paralegal profession has so advanced to the extent that there are degree programs ranging from Bachelor to Masters and even Doctorate degree. A bachelor degree in paralegal studies takes about 4 years to complete. 

Training as a paralegal would necessitate the introduction of students to  law and legal research systems.  If you would like to specialize then you would have to do additional studies in your chosen area of specialization, such as immigration etc.

For more information on how to become a successful paralegal visit Online Paralegal Degree Success.