| Paralegals support lawyers by organizing the | | | | about the national average, with life and health |
| massive amounts of paperwork law offices | | | | insurance benefits. |
| generate, running the office smoothly, helping to | | | | The National Federation of Paralegal Associations |
| draft documents and interviewing witnesses. | | | | estimates that 84 percent of paralegals have had |
| Paralegals may work for lawyers, corporations, or | | | | some formal paralegal education. A paralegal's |
| government agencies. In general, a college degree | | | | specialization determines what fields he could |
| is sufficient education to become a paralegal, | | | | work in, for example medical law or labor |
| although courses do exist to train and certify | | | | movement organizations. According to a 2001 |
| paralegals. The National Federation of Paralegal | | | | survey, about 25 percent of paralegals have an |
| Associations estimates that 84 percent of | | | | associate's degree, about 50 percent of all |
| paralegals have some form of form paralegal | | | | paralegals have a bachelor's degree, and eight |
| education. | | | | percent have either a master's degree or a J.D. |
| Several specific types of paralegal jobs are | | | | degree. Certificate or degree programs are |
| available. Litigation paralegals help prepare | | | | available for paralegals who wish to have more |
| documents for trials. Corporate paralegals prepare | | | | training. At a minimum, the National Federation of |
| paperwork for business dealings. Probate | | | | Paralegal Associations recommends that aspiring |
| paralegals interview clients and prepare tax and | | | | paralegals have a two-year degree with an |
| financial documents. Real estate paralegals prepare | | | | emphasis on paralegal studies. A bachelor's degree, |
| closings and research land laws. Government | | | | however, is recommended. |
| paralegals work for the White House, the Justice | | | | A paralegal's resume should list education, |
| Department, or the Federal Trade Commission | | | | experience, awards and highlight writing abilities, |
| and may organize evidence, answer questions for | | | | professional and personal skills. Sample paralegals |
| the public, or conduct hearings. Employment | | | | resumes are readily available on the Internet. Be |
| paralegals do work similar to a litigation paralegal, | | | | sure to attach a cover letter, as you would when |
| but work specifically with unions or discrimination | | | | applying for any other job, stating your interest |
| cases. | | | | and describing the skills that make you a perfect |
| The average starting salary of a paralegal is about | | | | candidate for the job. Sample cover letters are |
| $21,500 while working normal hours. Most law | | | | also posted on the Internet. |
| firms, however, require that paralegals work | | | | A simple way to find a law firm is to go to the |
| more hours than the typical nine to five, Monday | | | | local library and skim through Martindale Hubbell, an |
| through Friday work week. The extra overtime | | | | index of every lawyer in the country organized |
| could bump a beginning paralegal's salary up to | | | | by city and law firm. Online sites also allow |
| almost $60,000 a year. An experienced paralegal | | | | registered users to browse hiring law firms. |
| can expect to make around $40,000 a year, | | | | |