Becoming a Paralegal for a Challenging, Flexible Career
The paralegal career is a challenging job in the legal field that’s far more involved than simply being a lawyer’s assistant. If you have an interest in becoming a paralegal, you’ll be performing many of the same tasks a lawyer would, although there are a few key tasks that you will not be licensed to perform.
The greatest advantage in becoming a paralegal is that you may be able to keep more regular or more flexible hours than a lawyer, although you should prepare yourself for the possibility of overtime in some practices. Becoming a paralegal is also an excellent way to build up experience in the legal field as you continue your studies to become a licensed lawyer. However, you may find a fulfilling career as a paralegal and not wish to pursue full licensure as a lawyer, especially when you consider the extra cost of schooling and the additional stress that comes with training to become and practicing as a lawyer.
The paralegal may not present cases in a court of law, nor may she set legal fees or give any legal advice to clientele. However, many responsibilities of the paralegal intersect with that of the lawyer. As a paralegal, you may prepare a lawyer for a trial, hearing, or closing with research and drafting paperwork. As a paralegal, you must have a thorough and up-to-date knowledge of law so that you can apply the law to your current caseload. The paralegal in a law office can even help draft arguments and cases to be presented in court, assist with filing lawsuits, and assist lawyers during trials in court. You may also find yourself in charge of organizing and keeping track of important documents as a paralegal.
The primary function of the paralegal is to support the attorney or attorneys for whom she works. However, you, as a paralegal, will be expected to have a thorough knowledge of law and court proceedings in order to perform your work. As a paralegal, you’ll have a demanding, challenging career, but you’ll also potentially have the opportunity to create your own work schedule, get regular or flexible hours, and feel less stressed out by the legal work than you would as a lawyer.