Paralegals are professionals that support the daily needs of a law firm and their attorneys. You handle filing, case research, the collection of necessary documents, and client interviews. Here are the requirements you need to start your career as a paralegal.
1. Complete A Formal Paralegal Program
Since this particular career field is specialized, you can’t be hired if you do not meet the paralegal education requirements.In other words, you must attend an in-person or online program to learn the basics about the position. These programs, available through a search at sites like ParalegalEDU.org, must be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The classes are based in a two or four-year college or post-secondary education program.
2. Determine If You Already Have The Qualifications
Though a full paralegal education is what law firms look at, some also accept a mix of the college experience and industry training. For instance, they provide six months of in-house training to attain certification along with a bachelor’s degree. Others train workers inside the firm for two years to obtain certification. Reach out to the firms you’re interested in working for to see what their requirements are.
3. Obtain Professional Experience
Though an official paralegal education is important, it’s not a substitute for experience. If you’re working toward paralegal certification through a college program, then an internship at a law firm helps to gain this knowledge.
Not only does this allow you to comprehend the underpinnings of the progression. It also encourages you to learn about specialized components of the industry-for example, laws and procedures within the corporate, real estate, or environmental sectors.
4. Earn Your Certification
Formal industry-based certification has yet to be established. Instead, there are several voluntary programs to take after the initial training. Needless to say, many law firms require this form of licensing for work as a paralegal.
What is fairly standardized is these certifications require a degree and experience to qualify. Organizations that currently offer these approvals are the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), National Associates of Legal Assistants (NALA), the Association of Legal Professionals (NALS), and the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI).
Find A Paralegal Job
An internship at a law firm doesn’t always mean a certified position. Thus, your next step after your education and licensing is to find a paralegal job. In some situations, you still have to reapply to the place where you previously interned. On the other hand, you may want to explore other types of law that interest you more. Furthermore, considerations must be taken on the firm’s size. To put it another way, do you want to work for a large national firm or a smaller one that focuses on local issues?
In the end, there are several steps required to go from the thought of being a paralegal to actually performing the tasks. Education, experience, and licensing are necessary to reach the point where you’re ready. So, don’t delay if this is a passion for you. Find the right education institution to begin your journey.
