Online Paralegal/Legal Assistant Degrees
The demand for paralegals, also known as legal assistants, is one of the fastest growing occupations. Those earning their legal/paralegal degree often find themselves in high demand, and are employed in law offices, government agencies, insurance companies, and banks. Paralegals perform many of the same tasks as lawyers, including drafting contracts, estate planning, legal case research and preparing legal arguments for litigation.
Employment Opportunities
The profession is growing rapidly. Legal assistant employment is projected to rise by 21 to 35 percent, according to the Department of Labor. As of 2008 there were 250,000 legal assistant jobs. Most legal assistants are hired in the private sector by law firms or legal divisions of corporations.
However, legal assistants are also hired in government. In 2008, the average legal assistant earned approximately $49,000 a year. Because legal assistants vary greatly in skills and experience, the profession’s pay scale varies greatly. As lawyers and legal professions specialize further, you might consider specializing in specific type of law if you decide on this career path.
Legal/Paralegal professionals may work in a variety of environments, including:
- Law offices
- Insurance companies
- Government agencies
- Real estate and title agencies
- Banks
Skills
Legal/Paralegal professionals need a wide range of capabilities, including:
- Attention to detail
- Ability to analyze legal materials
- Excellent communication skills
- Library research skills
- Strong writing skills
Industry Spotlight
Employment opportunities for paralegals are strong. In fact, it is projected that this field will grow by almost 22% over the next 8 years alone. Demand will be equally great for paralegals with specialty emphasis in fields including insurance, intellectual property, elder care and international law.
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