El Centro College - Paralegal

Paralegal

Career Information

El Centro Paralegal Studies Program is designed to prepare individuals to become paralegals who perform, under the supervision of an attorney, the legal functions traditionally undertaken by an attorney.

Attorneys have the ultimate responsibility for their legal work, but they often delegate many of their tasks to paralegals. While paralegals continue to assume a growing range of tasks and perform many of the same tasks as attorneys, they are prohibited from carrying out duties which are considered to be the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, and representing clients. Paralegal Studies Program courses do not transfer or substitute for courses in law schools nor do they qualify a graduate to take a state bar exam.

Under the supervision of an attorney, a graduate of the Program may be expected to perform such duties as:

Organize information for trial
Prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases are handled
Draft legal documents and forms
Interview and assist clients
Research legal data and facts of cases and ensure all relevant information is considered
Identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases
Help draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court
Obtain affidavits
Assist attorneys during trials (judicial and administrative appearances)
Perform investigative functions
Manage various law office procedures
Supervise and delegate assignments to other paralegals and clerical staff

Personal and professional qualities and skills essential to the success of a paralegal include:

Above average oral and written communication skills
Ability to think logically and organize large amounts of data
Ability to analyze legal information
Aptitude for detail-oriented work
Ability to assume responsibility and work accurately with minimal supervision
Ability to handle multiple projects and perform complex and routine tasks
Concern for people and a desire to assist them
Courtesy and tact in stressful situations
Observation of ethical standards of the legal profession
Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
Computer skills

NATURE OF THE WORK

Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, including:

Law firms
Corporate legal departments
Various levels of government and courts
Various types of business entities
Legal aid and low cost legal clinics
Banks
Insurance companies
Real estate and title insurance firms
Hospital administrative offices

They may work in all areas of the law, including:

Litigation
Personal injury
Corporate law
Criminal law
Employment law
Bankruptcy
Intellectual property
Labor law
Real estate
Family law
Immigration law
Contracts
Wills, trusts and estate administration

The duties of paralegals differ widely based on the type and size of organization in which they are employed. Some specialize in one aspect of law; some work in general practice law offices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Paralegals employed by corporations and the government usually work a standard 40-hour week. Although most paralegals work full-time, some enjoy working on a part-time or temporary project basis.

Some paralegals are classified as "support" personnel subject to set hours and overtime pay; others are considered "professional" personnel who work required hours to meet deadlines and are rewarded with year-end bonuses and additional time off.

Paralegals do most of their work at desks in offices and law libraries. Occasionally, they travel to gather information and perform other duties.

Paralegals must stay informed of new developments in the laws that affect their area of practice. Participation in continuing legal education seminars allows paralegals to maintain and expand their legal knowledge.

SALARIES AND BENEFITS

Earnings of paralegals vary greatly. Salaries depend on education, training, experience, type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. In general, paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

Private law firms employ the vast majority of paralegals; most of the remainder work for corporate legal departments and the various levels of government. Within the federal government, the Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Departments of Treasury and Defense, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Other employers include state and local governments, publicly funded legal service centers, banks, real estate development companies, and insurance companies. A small number of paralegals own their own businesses and work as freelance paralegals, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments.

Increasing demand for qualified individuals who are prepared for the paralegal profession has occurred every year for the last three decades, and this demand will continue into the future. Consult the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for median salary ranges and occupational growth projections.

Employment growth stems from law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hiring paralegals to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services. Small and medium-sized establishments also are employing growing numbers of paralegals.

Job opportunities for paralegals continue to expand in the public sector as well, such as in:

Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, aged, minorities, and middle-income families
Federal, state, and local government agencies
Consumer organizations
Courts

CERTIFICATION

Although most employers do not require certification, earning a certificate from a professional society may offer advantages in the labor market. The National Association of Legal Assistants, for example, has established standards for certification requiring various combinations of education and experience. Paralegals who meet these standards are eligible to take a 2-day examination, given three times each year at several regional testing centers. Those who pass this examination may use the designation Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP). In addition, the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam, established in 1996 and administered through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, offers professional recognition to paralegals with an associate's or bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of experience. Those who pass this examination may use the designation Registered Paralegal (RP). The Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which offers "board certification" for attorneys in Texas, now allows paralegals to take paralegal exams in six areas - civil trial law, criminal law, estate planning law, family law, personal injury trial law, and real estate law. Those who pass these exams are designated "Board-certified" paralegals.