Legal Studies
Get a high-growth behind-the-scenes
legal career.
Today, paralegal professionals are handling many of the tasks traditionally done by lawyers. At law firms and corporations, they handle such important projects as:
- Investigating the facts of cases to ensure that all relevant information is considered.
- Identifying appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases.
- Preparing written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases should be handled.
- Helping prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court.
- Tracking files of all-important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys.
In addition they help draft contracts, mortgages and separation agreements as well as assisting in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds and planning estates. Some paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records.
The demand for paralegals is expected to grow in expanding areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law and environmental law. The growth of prepaid legal plans should also provide new opportunities in this field.
For these reasons, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that employment of paralegals and legal assistants will grow 28% between 2008 and 2018. That’s much faster than average for all occupations.
Check out all of our available
Legal Studies Programs.
The right credentials can launch a legal career in many areas.
Paralegals and legal assistants work in every field of law. They handle most of their work in offices and law libraries. Occasionally, they travel to gather information and perform other duties. Those employed by corporations and government usually work a standard 40-hour week while those in law firms sometimes put in very long hours under great pressure to meet deadlines.
A career as a paralegal or legal assistant could be right for you, if you:
- Are comfortable in a highly structured environment
- Are precise and pay attention to details
- Enjoy research and paperwork
- Have excellent written and oral communications skills
- Have strong computer skills
- Wish to continually expand your capabilities
- Work well alone or as part of a team
- Handle on-the-job pressure
- Are inquisitive and like to find answers to question
Justin Swaim
