How to Become a Paralegal
There are many different ways for an individual to become a paralegal and there are several ways for you to prepare yourself for a successful career as a paralegal: proper education, job experience, or a combination of the two.
While most states do not have minimum educational requirements for becoming a paralegal, most law firms prefer applicants who have some type of legal education, background, or experience. But getting your feet wet by taking a class or landing an entry level law position is a good way to help you determine if becoming a paralegal is ultimately right for you.
Here is a breakdown of the different types of education and experience you can acquire that looks attractive to prospective employers:
Education
Certificate Programs
Paralegal training certificate programs are offered at vocational schools, community or junior colleges, and online schools. Paralegal training programs will cover a lot of the basics needed in order for you to attain an entry-level paralegal job. Training programs will give students an introduction to legal research and writing, civil procedures, and an overview of the many different types of law including tort, probate, family law, and other specialties.
Some law firms prefer that your certificate program be ABA (American Bar Association) approved, because it acts as a stamp of approval that gives the program more credibility and it assures that the program meets the quality standards necessary to prepare you for a career as a paralegal.
Find out more about different paralegal certificate programs
Associate’s Degree
If you choose to attend a 2-year or community college to obtain your paralegal certificate, then you may have the option of also earning your Associate's Degree. An Associate Degree will include more than just legal training courses, it will include general college classes such as English, Political Science, and a certain level of Mathematics.
If you are interested in pursuing an Associate's Degree along with your paralegal certificate, then you should consider taking computer classes or courses that will be help you prepare for all of your paralegal duties. Since a lot of work in the legal field is now being done using computers and the internet, the more skilled and experienced you are with the computer, the better your education and experience may appear compared with those who lack computer skills.
Bachelor’s Degree
A Bachelor's degree is not necessarily required in order to become a paralegal, although having a Bachelor's degree may set you apart from other applicants, all other things being equal. Although, if your Bachelor's degree is not inherently related to law and you do not have any other type of legal experience and another applicant does, then the hiring employers may prefer those with legal experience over those with unrelated Bachelor's Degrees. It used to be that attorneys were able to train their paralegals, but nowadays attorneys do not have the time or resources to train those without legal experience. Some 4-year universities offer paralegal or legal studies as a minor which will give you an introduction to paralegal work if your plan is to pursue a paralegal position after graduation.
While you are schooling to become a paralegal you should be proactive by taking advantage of the many other resources at your disposal, so that when you do earn your certificate or degree you are able to smoothly transition into a paralegal position. Many schools have paralegal internship contacts, paralegal organization contacts, and other paralegal networking resources that, if utilized, will pay dividends when finding a job in what is often a competitive industry.
Experience
Another path to becoming a paralegal is to land an entry level job at a law firm and work your way up the ladder. The advantage to this is that you can earn a paycheck and not have to spend so much money on schooling without any short-term return. The downside, however, is that it is more difficult to secure any type of job without any sort of formal training. You should also consider that entry-level work might not be as interesting for you, and working your way up the ladder may take a long time and is not guaranteed.
A couple of entry level positions for you to consider include:
Law Firm Mailroom or Office Clerk
The duties of a mailroom clerk at a law firm varies from place to place. Mailroom and office clerk duties may include receiving, sorting, and delivering mail, photocopying, scanning, and assisting with other administrative tasks. Some law firms will give their mailroom and office clerks additional responsibilities including opening and maintaining clients files, preparing packages, and other duties meant to assist paralegals or legal secretaries. A law firm mailroom clerk or office clerk can eventually work his or her way up to a paralegal position, but it may take some time and a lot initiative.
Legal Secretary
A legal secretary is responsible for a lot administrative tasks at a law firm. Some law firms will give a legal secretary duties that are usually reserved for a paralegal, including calendaring and maintaining trial books. A position as a legal secretary will give you a lot of exposure to the work and duties of a paralegal.
Many legal secretaries choose to pursue a paralegal certificate while working at a law firm in order to be promoted to a paralegal. While a legal secretary may find themselves doing more and more paralegal duties, and while extensive law experience does give one an advantage, earning a paralegal certificate may command a higher salary than simply having substantial work experience as a legal secretary. As the job duties of a legal secretary vary from firm to firm, it makes it difficult for prospective employers to determine if past legal secretary experience is sufficient for a paralegal position.
Related Articles:
About ABA Approved Paralegal Programs
Types of Paralegal Certificate Programs