Opportunities In Paralegal Jobs- An Introduction

Paralegal jobs are jobs that appeal to a certain type of person. First of all, you have to be patient and detailed-oriented. You also have to be willing to work alone in a quiet space for hours or even days at a time. You have to listen carefully and follow directions, often complex sets of directions. You have to be independent, self-motivated and hard-working. You also should be someone who cares about the law, cares about the system of justice we have in the United States, and cares about the clients whom you'll be helping to represent.

A paralegal is a crucial part of a legal team. In fact, he or she often is as important to the construction of a legal case as the lead attorney is. For that reason, a paralegal position is a great job for someone who wants to make a difference in the legal world, but who wouldn't feel comfortable addressing a courtroom and a jury. A paralegal, by law, is barred from presenting any part of a case in a courtroom, nor can she or he give official legal advice, or accept legal fees from a client. (A law office pays his or her salary, which is an important distinction.)

What does a paralegal do, in specific terms? One major duty is writing legal documents that will be used in court-including contracts--including legal reports. (An attorney has to sign of on all these documents before they are official, however.) A paralegal also collects the facts of a case so a lawyer can build his or her argument. That is, he or she will visit the scene of a crime, speak with witnesses to a certain event, and/or investigate the personal histories of persons important to a certain case. Paralegals can also maintain the archives of a law office. And one of their most important jobs is researching past cases--oftentimes, the paralegal will have to review hundreds of past cases and rulings to find material relevant to a current case. This work used to be done in law libraries, but now the Internet is the primary research tool for most paralegals. Either way, this research is usually done under the supervision of one or more attorneys.

To become a paralegal, you have to complete a course of training that's certified by the ABA, or American Bar Association. More often now, four-year colleges and universities are offering majors in paralegal studies. If you can find such a program of study, you might be well-advised to enroll in it; having a bachelor's degree will give you an edge when it comes time to look for a job. It's also important that you complete internships at lawyers' offices, or even work part-time at a law firm if you can. This will give you the kind of experience and practical knowledge that will not only make you a more attractive candidate for employment, but will also make your first days at your first full-time job easier.