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Paralegal, Is Paralegal Education Necessary?
by Kent Pinkerton
Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning paralegals should have a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent having two-year associates degrees. However, trends indicate that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and possibly make more money.
Programs exist to train paralegals. NFPA recommends a formal paralegal education program, which approximately 84 percent of current paralegals have. Training programs consist of 24 semester hours in legal studies. NFPA offers the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to establish and recognize high standards in the paralegal profession. In order to qualify for the exam, a paralegal must have a bachelor’s degree, have completed an accredited paralegal program, and have at least two years of paralegal experience. Paralegals who pass the exam are recognized professionally as a “PACE Registered Paralegal.” For a small fee, a potential paralegal can obtain a directory of paralegal education programs from the NFPA.
The amount of training needed for a paralegal job can depend on the organization for which the paralegal will work. It may be useful to contact local law firms about their paralegal hiring practices. Some positions require a paralegal certificate, which requires additional training after a four-year degree program. Online directories allow registered users to search for hiring law firms, and most local libraries have a copy of Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm. In general, the level of education needed to become a paralegal depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a paralegal career. A recent college graduate, for example, who wants to be a paralegal in order to help her chances of getting into law school, may not want to seek additional training. A person wishing to become a career paralegal, on the other hand, would benefit from the additional training.
Paralegal provides detailed information on Paralegal, Paralegal Jobs, Paralegal Schools, Paralegal Training and more. For more information go to http://www.i-paralegal.com and/or visit its affiliated site at http://www.i-notarypublic.com for related information.
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You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/paralegal/paralegal.html
http://www.paralegal.edu/profession.html
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning paralegals should have a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent having two-year associates degrees. However, trends indicate that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and possibly make more money.
Programs exist to train paralegals. NFPA recommends a formal paralegal education program, which approximately 84 percent of current paralegals have. Training programs consist of 24 semester hours in legal studies. NFPA offers the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to establish and recognize high standards in the paralegal profession. In order to qualify for the exam, a paralegal must have a bachelor’s degree, have completed an accredited paralegal program, and have at least two years of paralegal experience. Paralegals who pass the exam are recognized professionally as a “PACE Registered Paralegal.” For a small fee, a potential paralegal can obtain a directory of paralegal education programs from the NFPA.
The amount of training needed for a paralegal job can depend on the organization for which the paralegal will work. It may be useful to contact local law firms about their paralegal hiring practices. Some positions require a paralegal certificate, which requires additional training after a four-year degree program. Online directories allow registered users to search for hiring law firms, and most local libraries have a copy of Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm. In general, the level of education needed to become a paralegal depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a paralegal career. A recent college graduate, for example, who wants to be a paralegal in order to help her chances of getting into law school, may not want to seek additional training. A person wishing to become a career paralegal, on the other hand, would benefit from the additional training.
Paralegal provides detailed information on Paralegal, Paralegal Jobs, Paralegal Schools, Paralegal Training and more. For more information go to http://www.i-paralegal.com and/or visit its affiliated site at http://www.i-notarypublic.com for related information.
These articles on lifestyle and more
This article is available for syndication. It must be republished with its title, text, and hyperlinks in tact (HYPERLINKS MUST BE KEPT ACTIVE). paralegal
Return to the selection of paralegal
You may want to try these articles on paralegal
Paralegal, The Role Of The Paralegal Or Legal Assistant In The Criminal Justice Field by Kenneth Echie Approximately 458 Words
Paralegal, Paralegal Education And Certification Options by Emma Ramone Approximately 555 Words
Paralegal, A Look At Paralegal Jobs by Kent Pinkerton Approximately 492 Words
Paralegal, A Look At Paralegal Training by Kent Pinkerton Approximately 335 Words
Paralegal, Paralegals - The World Is Thy Oyster by Shelby Ryan Approximately 641 Words
Paralegal, Choosing The Right Paralegal Courses by Kent Pinkerton Approximately 359 Words
Paralegal, Do You Need A Paralegal Certificate? by Kent Pinkerton Approximately 360 Words
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/paralegal/paralegal.html
http://www.paralegal.edu/profession.html
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!