If you are studying to become a paralegal, you probably have a lot of questions regarding the field and what you should do. There are a lot of questions and myths regarding the paralegal workforce, and it’s important to fully understand what being a paralegal entails before going forth into a degree program.

Contrary to popular belief a paralegal and legal assistant are different. A paralegal is anyone that has a degree and certification to work as such. A legal assistant is an individual that has many years of experience in the field and could easily transfer to a law school and become a lawyer.

Paralegals will either have RP or CLA after their name. This stands for Registered paralegal and Certified legal assistant, respectively. To get these abbreviations after your name a certification by the bar exam must be obtained.

A paralegal will most likely complete their degree in two years. Advancement options are available if the student prefers to become a lawyer or if they want to specialize in a certain field. As with most law fields a specialization in a certain area can mean higher wages and greater benefits for the clients. A large firm may pay $50,000 per year, while a smaller one may only offer $42,000.

Working in a bigger firm almost always means higher salaries. This isn’t always true however, but for most it is. Working in Los Angeles will certainly provide more opportunities than working for a firm in Kenly, North Carolina will. If you feel comfortable with a small salary in a small town, go for it. If you want to work in a fast paced and busy environment, then big city jobs are best.

Paralegal programs are tough and demanding. It is always recommended that a student study underneath a lawyer or attorney for intern work. You will get hands on training for your future career as well as the opportunity to put all of your knowledge to use. In the event that you do decide to study with an internship, you may also get paid minimum wage or higher for your work.

• Types of Law Offices Where a New Paralegal Can Work
• Paralegal Jobs in Florida
• Important Electives Every Aspiring Paralegal Should Consider
• Paralegal Studies
• The Nature of a Real Estate Paralegal

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.