|
HomeTopics...Criminal Justice Pro...Paralegal
Paralegal DegreesIf you are interested in the legal industry, but don't want to go to law school, a paralegal degree may be a perfect choice. Paralegals assist lawyers with their workloads, doing tasks which include:
In fact, a paralegal can perform almost all of the same services of an attorney except:
Although it is a competitive field, the U.S. Bureau of Labor named paralegal jobs as one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation, with a projected growth of 30 percent in the next five years.
Paralegal StudiesA paralegal degree can be earned at the associate, bachelor's, or master's level, depending upon your preference. Almost a third of all paralegals have an associate degree, making it the most popular. Also, many law firms will assist in the costs to pursue a master's degree if you are already an employee.
The associate degree is typically completed in two years with full-time studies. However, some programs offer degrees that can be completed in anywhere from three to 24 months. Paralegal degrees can be earned through community colleges, business schools, some universities and even online.
Depending on the program, prerequisites can range from a high school diploma with legal experience to a bachelor's degree.
According to the American Bar Association, a paralegal degree must have 60 credit hours of classroom work, with 18 of those 60 credit hours concentrated on law. The ABA also requires that 36 of the 60 credit hours focus on general education courses, such as business, communications, computers, English, mathematics and science. Most associate paralegal degrees average between 60 to 80 credit hours.
Looking for a school that focuses on this subject?
Here is a list of institutions and the number of programs they offer.
While obtaining a degree, a paralegal legal assistant student will study:
Online Paralegal DegreeAs mentioned earlier, a paralegal degree can be earned through online programs. There are a variety of programs available for a person to earn an online paralegal degree, whether it is a master's, bachelor's or associate degree. Online programs give students the luxury of completing assignments and coursework according to their own schedules. When choosing an online program, however, make sure the program follows the guidelines outlined by the American Bar Association.
Paralegal JobsAfter paralegal training, most entry level paralegals will work for a private law firm. Almost 75 percent of all paralegals work for a private firm, while the rest work in government or corporate legal departments.
Some popular positions for new paralegal program graduates are:
Factors such as location, experience, education and job responsibility affect a paralegal's salary. The beginning salary for an entry level paralegal is about $27,450, while the average salary for a paralegal is $45,460. With more experience, a paralegal can earn around $67,540.
Do you have a program in mind?
Research different schools that offer any of the below programs with the links below. Associate's Programs
Bachelor's Programs
Master's Programs
Doctoral
|
|
