The answer to the question how to become a paralegal begins with knowing what a paralegal does. Paralegals work with attorneys and do many of the same tasks that an attorney can do, such as determining if clients have a case, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing filings such as bankruptcies, divorces and child custody paperwork and assisting in litigation. Paralegals cannot try cases, although they may assist the attorney in court.
Becoming a paralegal starts with education. Courses in how to become a paralegal are available online. Someone interested in becoming a paralegal may also choose to go through a two-year program at a local community college and earn an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences. The paralegal program itself may be called Paralegal Technology, Paralegal Studies or may fall under the school’s Criminal Justice program. Just as in a four-year school, tuition aid such as Pell grants and loans are available. Community colleges are set up to serve working adults, with night classes and flexible schedules available.
If one decides to start with community college, there will be a wider range of classes offered than through online programs. First semester classes will include introduction to paralegal studies, writing and legal research. Students spend a lot of time in the library learning to use LexisNexis, a legal database available only to law offices and law schools. Students also learn how to write basic legal paperwork and properly cite cases and law within paperwork and legal briefs. A basic computer class or office technology class is also usually offered to familiarize students with commonly used office software programs such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Basic typing tests help students improve their typing skills, because legal documents must be 100% accurate and are often prepared quickly, under deadline. Students also learn to use standard office equipment.
Second semester topics begin to grow more in depth, with classes on civil litigation and medical law. Civil litigation may involve personal injury lawsuits such as arise from car accidents or slip-and-fall situations. Civil litigation also encompasses one person suing another for monies owed, landlord/tenant disputes and medical malpractice, thus coinciding with classes on medical law. When humanities electives are offered, a good choice may be a class from the Criminal Justice program. Criminal Justice is taken by those intending to go into law enforcement, but classes such as evidence gathering or giving testimony in court can be very beneficial to the future paralegal, as he or she may find themselves interacting with law enforcement as witnesses in a case. Paralegals may decide to go to work in the district attorney’s office rather than a private law practice, so criminal justice electives would be a wise choice for students thinking of going that route.
The third semester consists of more intensive classes such as tax classes, wills and estates and real property. By the third semester, a student may be getting an idea of what type of law office they would like to specialize in, such as personal injury, tax law, bankruptcy or family law. Or, a student may prefer to go into a general law practice first. Students must take a math class at some point during their course of study, as well as the aforementioned writing classes. For those with difficulties in math and English, tutoring is available and should be taken advantage of if needed.
The final semester brings classes in legal ethics, professionalism and family law. If electives are offered, a good choice is a class in writing resumes and cover letters and how to approach a job interview.
Students should not necessarily expect to be hired as full-fledged paralegals in their first position, because although they have the education, they don’t have the experience in the actual court system necessary to work on their own. A paralegal’s title in their first position may be legal assistant or simply legal secretary. A good choice for a first legal job is a position in a general law office. There, a newly graduated paralegal can get a feel for working in a real law office with real clients, deadlines, attorneys who overbook themselves and the emergencies that inevitably arise when a client waits until the last minute to report an impending foreclosure or calls to say that they’re in jail.
While learning how to become a paralegal you will also learn how to prepare common filings such as divorces and bankruptcies on their own. Simple wills can also be drawn up by paralegals and then signed off on by the attorney. Paralegals will need to attend a simple, brief notary class so that they can notarize documents for clients.
After working in a law office for a couple of years, a paralegal may decide it’s time to specialize in something like bankruptcy, tax law, corporate law, or family law. While they may look good on a resume, paralegal certifications are not required. The corporate world and litigation attorneys are increasingly seeking experienced paralegals to support their legal departments. These areas are likely to lead to higher pay and better benefits than a general law practice.
A two-year Associate’s Degree may not be enough for large law firms and the corporate world. Students may have to finish their education with a Bachelor’s Degree. Community college classes carry over to four year schools and generally cover the basic requirements. The decision to further one’s education depends on how far the paralegal wishes to take his or her legal career. How to become a paralegal comes down to education and experience.