Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Georgia Paralegal

By Catherine Hill


If you are graduating from high school or college, you may have some idea of what you want to do with the rest of your life. On the other hand, many young people come out of school without any idea about what to do next. Certain areas of business are booming, while others seem to be declining. There are professions however, that will always be in demand, and the field of law is one of them. Maybe you should consider a career as a Georgia paralegal.

Paralegals are not lawyers. They do not handle cases, give legal advice, or represent clients in court. Paralegals do assist lawyers though. They conduct interviews, do research, collect evidence, and draft documents. A good paralegal is invaluable to a law firm and the attorneys who work there. They are often as familiar with a complicated case as the lawyer who is in charge of it.

You probably won't get rich working in this field, but the job does provide a steady income. Most paralegals can expect to earn somewhere in the range of fifty thousand dollars and, in certain areas of the country the median income is higher. New Jersey, Washington, D. C., and California paralegals are among the highest paid. The more qualified you are however the more likely you are to earn a salary in the upper range.

In most law firms paralegals have demanding and busy jobs. There are certain characteristics an individual should have in order to succeed in this field. You will be interviewing clients who are experiencing difficult times in their lives. They are often emotional, and can seem unreasonable. You must be able to remain calm and professional in these situations. You will have to make clients feel confidant that they are in good hands.

Although there are no federal or state licensing and certification requirements when it comes to this position, those who have an associate's degree in paralegal studies or have served as an intern in a law firm, will probably have an edge over the competition. Some law firms do require applicants to have an associate's or bachelor's degree in a related subject in order to be considered.

In order to increase your chances of getting a good position, you can become certified. Certification is handled by private organizations and not regulated by any governmental entity. Certified paralegals are those who have shown a proficiency in various areas of legal ethics, federal law, and legal terminology. They have successfully completed examinations designed to test their communication and written skills.

If you have an interest in furthering your education and are curious about pursuing law studies, you might consider taking steps to become a lawyer yourself. If you have an associate's degree in paralegal studies, some of the credits may go toward a law degree. You will have to get a four year bachelor's degree and go on to law school though.

For those interested in the law, but not necessarily interested in becoming a lawyer, there are a lot of exciting careers to choose from. Paralegals have challenging jobs. They may be looking up murder cases one day and researching dog catchers the next.




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