Overview
In this career, your responsibilities may include:
- Performing a variety of support tasks for lawyers, including research and preparation for legal cases.
- Drafting legal documents.
- Interacting with clients, witnesses, and other lawyers on behalf of your employing attorney.
Job Titles
In your job search, you may find job listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.
Academic Requirements
Typically requires an associate degree, although many employers prefer a bachelor’s degree plus a certificate in paralegal studies. Obtaining a U.S. Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) degree would allow you to work as an attorney at law or lawyer.
-
Certification
Certification is not required, but could make employers more likely to hire you or offer you a higher salary.
You may be eligible for the following certifications:
- Certified Paralegal (CP) or Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
- The Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) which leads to the CRP designation, or the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam Registered Paralegal (PACE) which leads to the RP designation, both from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
- Professional Paralegal (PP) certification from NALS: The National Association for Legal Support Professionals.
-
Licensure
No licensure is required to work as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant.
Contact us with any questions you might have.