Thinking about becoming a paralegal?

 

Are you young and undecided? Or perhaps you’re mature and want to switch gears? Maybe you find yourself laid off and mulling your options? If so, consider the legal field. Specifically, why not become a paralegal?
 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegal field is “projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations.”

Today, I’m starting a series that from time to time will detail legal careers, schools, and legal organizations in the Houston metropolitan area, though much of this information can apply nationally as well.

(I should note that this author is a degreed and certified paralegal, and currently assisting a local legal aid organization in the public benefits department. Do I love it? You bet! Want to know the difference between degreed and certified? Read on!)

That being said, what exactly is a paralegal? “Para” is a prefix meaning “at or to one side of, beside, side by side.” Legal is, well, legal. So, we can say a paralegal is by the side of legal, or more specifically, by the side of attorneys. The National Association of Legal Assistants (hereinafter NALA) answers “What is a paralegal?” this way:

Legal assistants and paralegals are individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services. Legal assistants and paralegals cannot give legal advice to consumers of legal services. Legal advice may only be relied upon if given by an attorney. All states require attorneys to be licensed and most have statutes imposing penalties for the unauthorized practice of law. The following definition was adopted by the NALA membership in 1986.

Definition: Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.

The American Bar Association, found on the Web at www.abanet.org, defines paralegals as “a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

Finally, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, and the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, promulgated the following definition of “paralegal” in 2005:

A paralegal is a person, qualified through various combinations of education, training, or work experience, who is employed or engaged by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity in a capacity or function which involves the performance, under the ultimate direction and supervision of a licensed attorney, of specifically delegated substantive legal work, which work, for the most part, requires a sufficient knowledge of legal principles and procedures that, absent such a person, an attorney would be required to perform the task.

Additionally, the 2008/09 Occupational Outlook Handbook by the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics makes the following “significant points” under the job title “Paralegals”:
 

• About 7 out of 10 work for law firms; others work for corporate legal departments and government agencies.
• Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, as employers try to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers.
• Competition for jobs should continue; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.

In our so-called sluggish economy, the paralegal field should actually continue to grow due to law firms, corporate legal departments, and governmental entities wanting to streamline costs. What better way than to hire a paralegal, who is paid less per hour than an attorney?
 

Tomorrow I’ll continue my discussion by listing what a paralegal may and may not do. I'll also list the qualifications, and explain the difference between degreed and certified. Also, I’m sure everyone really wants to know: How much do paralegals make?

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For more info: Please see also “Think you’d like to work as a lawyer’s assistant?”