Four Trends Every Paralegal Should Know

Long ago and once upon a time, being a paralegal didn’t take much more training than a general office assistant position. These days paralegal degrees are a necessity, and with good reason — thanks to an evolving profession and ever-changing technology, there are always new innovations within the profession that demand a professional’s expertise. This week in The Complete Lawyer, author Chere Estrin highlighted four trends predicted to change the face of the paralegalism, such as the advent of social networking:

Even if you don’t understand what all the excitement is about (particularly if you are past 40), web-based social networking is hotter than ever. Sites such as Facebook, My Space, Linkedin, and other Web 2.0 communities have enabled millions of people to amass a rich network of old and new friends. With the click of the mouse, you can learn more about them than you could have shared in years.

[...] Be advised, though: by participating in social networks, you’re giving employers and potential employers the opportunity to learn about you and check your references. No employers investigate only the references a potential employee supplies; today, even Googling is but one small component of background checks. Whatever you post on your site becomes available to those who want to learn about you. Make sure that you don’t post more about yourself than you’d feel comfortable having your employer know.

Think you already know all there is to know about social networks? The article also covers outsourcing, regulations, and electronic research — but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. If you find yourself wanting more, maybe it’s time to look into a paralegal degree of your own. Check out the traditional and online paralegal degrees available at Get Degrees right now!

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