Thursday, March 6, 2008

What is a Paralegal Program?

Who better to ask about the duties of a paralegal than the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistants? They define a paralegal’s job as “specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.” What does that mean? It means that paralegals are expected to be familiar with the responsibilities and documents that a lawyer might use and be able to perform these tasks and fill out and file these documents as a lawyer needs them.

What courses can I expect to take in a paralegal program?

As a paralegal, you will be asked to research cases and perform management tasks for them, draft documents and create exhibits for trial as well as interview clients. A paralegal program prepares you to handle these tasks with ease. Some courses you can expect will cover topics such as:

Computer skills
Basic legal concepts
Overview of core areas of law
Court systems.
Drafting legal documents
Interviewing clients
Conducting independent non-legal research
Conducting legal research
Drafting legal memoranda

What jobs will I qualify for with a certificate or degree from a paralegal program?

Paralegal programs will train you specifically to work as a paralegal but you will find that a few specialty courses can make you a shoe-in for the environment or law office of your choice. Whether you work in the district attorney’s office, a private law firm, a bank, corporation, hospital or government agency, your official job title may be any one of the following:

Paralegal

Legal secretary

Legal assistant

Legal receptionist

Legal administrative assistant

Executive secretary

Office administrator

Office manager

Depending on whether you choose a certificate or degree program and the specialty law courses you choose, you could start in any one of these positions immediately upon graduation, no certification exam required!


Recommended Paralegal Schools

Kaplan University

Kaplan University
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work. Kaplan offers working adults like you online programs in Criminal Justice, Technology and Design, Paralegal Studies, and Business. Don't need a degree? Kaplan University also offers Continuing Education certificates in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning, and Financial Planning.

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Keiser University eCampus Online

Keiser University eCampus Online
For over 30 years, Keiser University has provided student-centered, quality career education. Keiser University eCampus Online offers degree programs online to prepare students for high-demand professions. Associate and bachelor's degrees are offered with a curriculum that is in pace with technology and workforce demand trends in business, criminal justice, healthcare and computer technology. Our “one-class-at-a-time” approach allows busy students to focus on their education and balance the demands of work and family.

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Post University

Post University
Now you can earn an online degree from an accredited, traditional four-year university in as little as 18 months. Post University's online degree programs - master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, associate's degrees and certificate programs - offer the same accredited curricula as their on-campus equivalents. Post University offers accelerated online degree programs and professional certificates designed specially for adults looking to resume or advance their careers while juggling work, family, or other commitments.

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