Paralegals assist lawyers with legal work and are an integral part of any law office. While differentiated from lawyers, the paralegal has had advanced training in substantive and procedural law. This article looks at the things a paralegal does in their day-to-day work, differences between paralegals and law clerks, what paralegal lawfully can and cannot do, and the job outlook for paralegals. If you are interested in a career helping people through the legal system, studying to become a paralegal is the first step. What is a paralegal?According to the American Bar Association, “A paralegal is 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.” What duties does a paralegal have?The main role of a paralegal is providing support for lawyers. Paralegals usually work for law firms, government agencies, corporate legal departments, insurance firms, or in-house legal at financial institutions. Some of the duties a paralegal may have include:
In many law offices, paralegals may have an expanded role and do some of the tasks that in the past, may have been assigned to entry-level lawyers. Differences between a paralegal, law clerk, and a lawyerParalegals usually work for a law firm or legal department. Law clerks can work for law firms but are usually third- or fourth-year law school students. In a law firm, paralegals assist attorneys in preparing cases, participating in Discovery, and assisting with trials. A law clerk in a firm will help the supervising attorney with more complex and legal matters for a case. The difference between a paralegal and a lawyer is a paralegal is trained to practice in the legal profession, and a lawyer is licensed to practice law. Lawyers have passed the bar exam; paralegals can do legal work assigned to them by a lawyer, once they have completed California’s legal requirements to practice as a paralegal. When a lawyer assigns work to a paralegal, the lawyer is still responsible for the work done by the paralegal. What Can and Cannot a Paralegal Do?A paralegal can prepare legal writing under supervision of an attorney, and conduct research for a case. Paralegals cannot give legal advice – lawyers can give legal advice since they are licensed by the bar. Paralegals also cannot represent clients in court, this must be done by lawyers. Some tasks that paralegals can do under the supervision of their lawyer:
Careers as a ParalegalThere are several career paths you can pursue as a paralegal. Every branch of legal practice relies on paralegals to make the law office or legal department function efficiently.
Average salary / PayAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for paralegals in 2019 was $51,740 per year. Here are the percentile wage estimates for paralegals:
Job Outlook and GrowthProjected job growth for paralegals is outstanding. There is projected to be a 12% increase in paralegal jobs between 2018 and 2028. This is much faster than average job growth. Traits a Paralegal Should HaveParalegals must be able to handle multiple client cases efficiently; so organization and efficiency are two traits they should possess. It is also helpful to be adaptable, as different tasks may need to be done throughout the day. How to Become a ParalegalFor those seeking a career as a paralegal, you must satisfy California law, Business and Professions Code section 6450, et seq., with a paralegal education and earn a paralegal certificate or a paralegal Associate’s degree. MTI College offers an A.A. in Paralegal Studies, an ABA-Approved paralegal program, at our Sacramento campus. MTI is a member of the Sacramento Valley Paralegal Association (SVPA), the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), a national organization comprising of paralegal educators and institutions offering paralegal and legal assistant education programs. Next Steps to Begin Your Paralegal CareerIf you’re ready to start your career as a paralegal, take the first step by requesting more information or contacting an admissions representative. The post What is a Paralegal and What Do They Do? appeared first on MTI College. from https://mticollege.edu/blog/legal/paralegal-studies/what-a-paralegal-does/
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