Careers in Law and Paralegal

A lawyer and a paralegal (or a legal assistant) are two sides of the same coin. Or one can say both are employed to work in the same field of law. While a lawyer holds a master's or a bachelor's degree in law, a paralegal's duty is to function under the supervision of the licensed lawyer. The duties or the responsibilities of a lawyer include the application of legal theories to find solution to a range of individual problems. As a part of his legal procedure or duty, the lawyer can either defend or compensate a party. The work profile of a paralegal is, therefore, different from that of a lawyer. A paralegal has the capability of performing legal work, but they have no legal authorization to complete the whole legal task. A lawyer is responsible for conducting necessary researches into a case and drafting legal documents. Finally, the lawyer has the duty to give briefings to the court about the details of a case that they are taking care of. While the lawyer readies themselves for the court, the paralegal can function as an assistant in this whole procedure.

Paralegals vs Lawyers

While a paralegal performs his duty under the supervision of an authorized lawyer, the lawyer should have expertise in resolving issues related to individuals. The lawyer should possess the skill set required to apply theoretical knowledge into practice. To practice as a lawyer, one must obtain a bachelor's or a master's degree in law. Paralegals are also employed to do the same task but they are devoid of any credentials. Whether it's the lawyer or the paralegal, they strictly need to abide by the ethical guideline defined within the law. Prior planning is required if you wish to become a lawyer, as you have to face competition. The major factors that play a key role while you apply for a law school include an excellent grade point average and a high LSAT exam score. A lawyer should earn a JD or the Juris Doctor Degree and then they are required to get through the national bar exam. It only after this degree and the certification that lawyers can begin practicing.

Also referred to as legal assistant, the paralegal has a variety of work to do, particularly in places like the United States and Canada. Though the major roles of a paralegal include reviewing documents, drafting motions and filing documents in courts, they have many working options to avail from. A career in paralegal gives you the option of working either as freelancers or in private practice with a lawyer. In addition, a paralegal can also join in the corporations. In organizations or establishments where a general knowledge of law is required, paralegals can easily join and do their work. Most of the law firms have their own attorneys. In this case, the paralegals work under the guidance of these in-house attorneys.

Law and paralegals careers have proved to be much fulfilling. Even when you want to start your career as a paralegal, you can easily earn an associate degree, a certification or a bachelor degree from any of the nationally accredited colleges or universities. The best advice would be to go for one of those paralegal degree programs that have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). A Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam needs to be passed to start working as a registered paralegal. Internships experience is always an added advantage for paralegals.

Career Opportunities

Careers in law and paralegal are considered to be money-fetching professions. There are numerous law firms, companies, corporate houses and government agencies where lawyers and paralegals are required on a regular basis. At the beginning of their career, the lawyer can just say ‘yes' to any type of cases. With more practice and experience, they get some specialization in specific cases like divorce or malpractice. So, law firms or companies that need lawyers specializing in particular cases employ specialized attorneys who are well versed in specific types of cases. And mostly when a lawyer is employed, there remains a vacancy for paralegals to ease the load of documentation work pressure of the former.

Earning from Law and Paralegal Careers

A career in the field of law and paralegal offers great earning potential. Lawyers can earn or can be paid in numerous ways. If a lawyer is employed by a corporation, he works on a fixed salary. In government organizations, lawyers can also earn on a case-to-case basis. Lawyers in private practice can earn by the hour. For paralegals, the federal government agencies prove to be the best in terms of earning. With a few years of experience under the belt, paralegals can really look forward to earning a handsome salary.

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