Everything You Need to Know About Paralegals

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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NATURE OF WORK Paralegals, or legal assistants as some people call them, work under the direction of a lawyer or lawyers in law offices. Paralegals perform tasks that are delegated to them by lawyers. They perform many of the same duties as lawyers, but without legal jurisdiction.
QUICK FACTS • Paralegals, or legal assistants, assume a large range of tasks in legal offices. They perform many of the same tasks as lawyers; however they are prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be practice of the law • The average annual salary is $53,000 [1]. • In order to become a paralegal, you must particpate in

a training program from a college that either leads to an Some tasks include helping lawyers associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies. prepare for closings, hearings, trials and • Jobs as a paralegal are projected to increase 22% in corporate meetings. Paralegals also the next six years, which is much faster than average investigate facts for cases and make sure compared to all other occupations [2]. that all information pertaining to the case is considered. Paralegals identify all laws, regulations, similar case hearings and any other material pertaining to the case at hand. They ensure that the lawyer has all necessary information when dealing with a case.

Paralegals also work drafting contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements. They assist in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds, and planning estates. They may prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings, and motions to be filed in court. They get affidavits, assist lawyers during trials and do anything else lawyers need them to do. Their job is to make lawyers’ lives more organized. Percentage of tasks done by paralegals [3] * Assist at a trial Court Filings Law Library Maintenance Assist with Client Contact Fast Checking Deposition Summaries Document Analysis Personnel Management Calendaring Deadlines 79% 22% 76% 16% 14% 59% 14% 53% 12%

Prepare and Attend Closings 64%

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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Prepare/Attend Depositions 49% Cite Checking Train Employees Investigation 49% 48% 23%

Draft Pleadings, etc… General factual Research Case Management Draft Compensation

12% 11% 5% 5%

Client/ Witness Interviews 39%

*The total adds up to more than 100% because paralegals normally perform more than one task. SPECIALTY AREAS Paralegals usually work in a specific area of law within the organization they are employed. Some of these specific areas of study include litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. Paralegals are typically employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. Depending on which organization they are employed determines the tasks they perform. Tasks of some specific specialties include [3]: Litigation Paralegal Interviewing witnesses Analyzing and digesting legal document Investigating facts Performing legal and factual research Drafting pleadings, legal memoranda and briefs Keeping track of court dates and deadlines Assisting in trial preparation and at trial Aiding in preparing appeals Estate Planning and Probate Paralegal Interviewing clients Arranging for collection Valuing and transferring assets Administering estate accounts Drafting and filing state and federal tax returns Drafting wills and other estate planning documents

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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Corporate Paralegal Drafting partnership and corporate formation documents Maintaining corporate minute books and resolutions Fulfilling securities reporting requirements Helping prepare and file annual financial reports Conducting due diligence for business transactions Drafting shareholder agreements and stock-option plans Monitoring and reviewing government regulations to ensure legal business operation Conducting patent and trademark searches Preparing for board meetings Employment Law or Labor Law Paralegal Drafting employee policies and employment handbooks Drafting pleadings and affidavits in employment disputes Investigating wrongful termination or other claims Helping facilitate positions in organized labor campaigns Performing work similar to litigation paralegals when preparing for trial Real Estate Paralegal Drafting transaction documents Preparing for closings Performing due diligence Managing and indexing transaction documents and closing binders Coordinating closing of escrow

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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PERCENTAGE OF PARALEGALS WORKING IN EACH SPECIALTY AREA [3]* Civil Litigation Corporate Contracts 51% 32% Criminal Workers Compensation Intellectual Property Employee Benefits Elder Law Tax Mergers & Acquisitions Mass Tort Litigation Environmental Law Securities/ Antitrust Immigration Legislative Lobbying Entertainment 13% 13% 13% 11% 11% 9% 9% 9% 9% 8% 6% 5% 5%

Real Estate

29% 27% 26% 23%

Personal injury Government Labor Law Insurance Probate

20% 20% 19% 19% 14% 14%

10%

Trusts and Estates Family Law Bankruptcy

Banking/Finance Product Liability

15%

*The total adds up to more than 100% because paralegals often work in more than one specialty. TRAINING & EDUCATION In order to become a paralegal you must participate in a legal assistant training program that results in either a degree or diploma. For those just out of high school, or without any previous post secondary educational experience getting your associate’s or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies is the best way to go. For those who already have a post secondary degree, you will need to complete a training program to receive a paralegal certificate upon completion. Getting certified only takes a few months to complete, however, training is intense. You can be trained or gain an education in paralegal studies from colleges, universities, law schools, and proprietary schools. Most of these programs train you in legal research, legal applications of computers, and offer practical experience. It is important to complete an internship or assistantship program in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. JOB OUTLOOK Jobs in legal assisting are projected to increase 22% in the next six years [2]. This is much faster than average compared to all other occupations. Jobs in Federal, State and Local government agencies are projected to increase which provides many job opportunities for paralegals in the future.

13%

Admiralty/ Maritime

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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EARNINGS Paralegals earn a competitive salary that varies based on education, training, experience, employer, and location. According to indeed.com, the average annual salary for paralegals in 2009 is $53,000. Paralegals receive great bonuses and benefits including, vacation, paid sick leave, 401(k), life insurance, personal paid time off, dental insurance, and reimbursement for continuing legal education. Average Earnings by Experience [8]
$43,877$38,273$52,918 $31,157-$44,237 $29.132$39.209 $41,423$59,760 $63,972

Less than 1 year

1–4 years

5–9 years

10–19 years

20 years or more

A more in depth look at salary by years experience [3] EXPERIENCE 0-2 years 2-5 years 5-8 years 8+ years Paralegal Manager LOWEST 10% $31,194 $39,287 $43,388 $50,586 $56,709 AVERAGE SALARY $42,798 $52,133 $56,016 $66,576 $82,409 HIGHEST 10% $56,307 $65,030 $70,224 $86,868 $116,795

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARALEGAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANT CAREERS

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LINKS American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.: http://www.aapipara.org/ American Association for Paralegal Education: http://www.aafpe.org/ National Association of Legal Assistants: http://www.nala.org/ National Association of Legal Secretaries: http://www.nals.org/ National Federation of Paralegals Associations: http://www.paralegals.org/ Standing Committee on Paralegals: http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/ REFERENCES [1] Indeed.com, “Paralegal Legal Assistant Salaries,” [Online document], 2009. [cited 2009 September 9], Available HTTP: http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=paralegal+legal+assista nt&l1=&tm=1. [2] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Paralegals and Legal Assistants,” [Online document], 2008-09. [cited 2009 September 9], Available HTTP: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm. [3] All Criminal Justice Schools, “Hottest Paralegal Practice Areas,” [Online document], 2009. [cited 2009 September 9], Available HTTP: http://www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/criminal-justiceresources/paralegal_specialties. [4] Pay Scale, “Paralegal,” [Online document], 2009. [cited 2009 September 9], Available HTTP: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Paralegal/Salary.

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