Career options for the Paralegal

1. WELCOME

2. The Paralegal Profession
Abraham Lincoln once said
"prepare yourself for the day opportunity
presents itself, and you will be rewarded,"
The process of entering a career in paralegal
usually consist of several steps to "prepare
oneself"

3. What can a
Paralegal do?

4. What Types of
Careers are Available?

5. What do you think?

6. Did you know
Employment is expected to grow much faster than average, but
competition is expected
• Best Opportunities
– Formally trained
– Experienced paralegals

7. Examples of Paralegal Work
• Maintain general contact with clients
interview clients
• Conduct legal research
• Draft legal documents
• Assistant legal investigations
• Locate and interview witnesses
• Track important deadlines
• Know the local court system and attend legal
proceedings

8. Paralegal Studies Graduates
Legal Senior Administrative Workman's
Assistant, Department Analyst, City of Atlanta Compensation
of Justice Solicitor’s Office Paralegal
Detention Officer Litigation Paralegal Legal Secretary

9. What Will I Do?
Assist in Investigate Identify Assist Draft Assist in
preparation the facts of Important attorneys Contracts, preparing
of the cases Precedents during trials mortgages, tax
hearings, cl and returns, tru
osings, trial separation st
s, and agreements funds, and
corporate estate
meetings. planning.

10. Where Will I Work?
Legal
Corporate
Services Legal
Departme
nts
Insurance Government
Carriers Offices
Employment
Services

11. Possible Job Titles
Paralegal
Examines and Investigators
Legal Assistant
Law Clerk
Claims Adjuster
Occupational Health and
Safety Specialists
Occupational Health and Safety
technicians
Titles Examiners
Abstractors and Searchers

12. Possible Specialties
• Litigation
• Personal Injury
• Corporate Law
• Criminal Law
• Employee Benefits
• Intellectual Property
• Family Law
• Real Estate
• Immigration
• Bankruptcy
• Labor Law

13. Corporate Paralegals VS.
Litigation Paralegals
Corporate
Paralegals
Employee Contracts
Litigations Paralegals
Shareholder Agreements • Analyze Legal Information for
Stock Option Plans
Often internal use
Assist • Maintain Reference Files
Employee Benefits Plans
• Conduct Research for attorneys
File Annual Financial Reports With… • Collect and Analyze evidence for
Maintain Corporate Minutes (record agency hearings
resolutions) • May prepare informational material
Prepare forms to secure loans for on laws, agency regulations, and
corporation. agency policy
• File Forms, Conduct research, and
Monitor and review government prepare documents
regulations
May oversee team projects

14. Working Conditions
• Work in offices and law libraries
• Occasional travel may be required
• Generally work a standard 40-hour week
– Most paralegals work year round
– Some temporarily employed during peak times
– Overtime may be required

15. Employment in Legal
Work

16. Employment
• Paralegals and legal assistants
held about 263,800 jobs in 2008.
– Private law firms employed 71 %
– Remainder in corporate legal
departments & government
• Federal Government
– DOJ is the largest employer
– Followed by the SSA and the DOT
• Small number of paralegals
– Own their own businesses
– Work as freelance legal assistants

17. Job Outlook

18. How can I
separate
myself from
other
Obtain Contact local Keep an
Candidates? Internships offices and open min
at local law agencies for about your
offices and volunteer career path
companies opportunities

19. Certifications and
Requirements

20. NALA Certification
• The National Association of Legal
Assistants –

21. Professional Associations
• www.nala.org -The National Association of Legal
Assistants is a professional association for legal
assistants, providing continuing education and
professional certification programs for paralegals.
• http://aapipara.org - American Alliance Certified Paralegal
(AACP) credential, a voluntary certification program.
• www.paralegals.org - The National Federation of
Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers the Registered
Paralegal (RP) designation to paralegals with a bachelor's
degree and at least 2 years of experience who pass an
exam.

22. Websites for Additional Information and
Job Opportunities
• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ - U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals - Standing
Committee on Paralegals, American Bar Association
• http://www.nals.org/ - National Association of Legal Secretaries
• http://www.aafpe.org/ - American Association for Paralegal
Education
• http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ - This is a resource for locating and
applying for job opportunities