Paralegals play a key role in helping lawyers prepare for cases and complete work for their clients. Paralegals perform their duties under the supervision of licensed attorneys in law firms, and they may also work in government agencies, for insurance firms or on corporate, in-house legal teams.
If you’re ready to start a new career as a paralegal, there are a few things you should consider first. In this article, we discuss how to become a paralegal, including what these professionals do and the requirements you’ll need to meet if you choose this career path.
What Does a Paralegal Do?
Paralegals are not clerical staff; they are an essential part of any legal team. Paralegals do much of the initial legwork for cases, and they continue to assist as attorneys prepare for court cases, consultations, appointments and other tasks.
As a paralegal, your responsibilities may vary according to the type of job you are doing and whether you work in a law firm or in a corporate setting. Depending on your situation, you may work with issues related to criminal defense, bankruptcy, divorce, tax law, corporate law, estate planning or personal injury, among other legal matters.
A paralegal’s duties may include:
- Researching and gathering information
- Interviewing clients, witnesses and other relevant parties
- Drafting wills, correspondence, pleadings, motions and other legal documents
- Writing summaries of depositions and testimonies
- Managing case files
- Tracking time and keeping financial records
- Attending the execution of wills, depositions, hearings and trials
Paralegal Specializations
While paralegals can be generalists who are qualified to work in a variety of legal areas, many choose to specialize in particular facets of the law. By specializing, you gain extensive expertise in a certain area, which can help boost your career opportunities and earning power.
Paralegal specialties include:
- Banking and finance
- Bankruptcy
- Corporate
- Criminal defense
- Estate planning
- Family law
- Immigration
- Intellectual property
- Litigation
- Personal injury
- Real estate
How Much Does a Paralegal Make?
Paralegals earned a median annual salary of $56,230 in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10% of earners made less than $36,410, and the top 10% earned more than $88,640.
The job outlook for paralegals is excellent, with employment expected to increase by 14% from 2021 to 2031. This rate is much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations nationwide.
According to the BLS, this projected growth is due to law firms increasingly hiring paralegals to do the work that lawyers would typically do. When comparing paralegals vs. lawyers, paralegals are much less expensive to employ, so this technique can greatly reduce costs at law firms.
How to Become a Paralegal
Since there are no national standards governing the educational or certification requirements for paralegals, each state determines its own requirements for how to become a paralegal. If you’re planning to become a paralegal, check with your state for more information about its specific requirements.
In most cases, prospective paralegals need to complete some form of paralegal training. They may also become certified. Below we explore some of the typical education and certification requirements for paralegals.
Paralegal Education Requirements
While there is no national standard for paralegal education requirements, you should expect to complete some type of paralegal education program. Most employers expect this, and it may be difficult to find a job without completing such training.
Paralegals typically have at least an associate degree, and many have bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you may complete a master of legal studies (MLS) degree to prepare for your new career. MLS programs cover a variety of legal issues that a paralegal should understand.
Many paralegals opt to earn certification. Certification programs are available through proprietary schools and colleges across the country. Many of these certification programs take less than a year to complete. This article explores paralegal certifications in more detail below, but it’s important to note that certification programs often set education requirements for candidates.
Two popular national certifying bodies for paralegals are the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). NALA requires paralegals pursuing its Certified Paralegal designation to meet at least one of the educational requirements below:
- A bachelor’s in paralegal studies
- A graduate certificate in paralegal studies
- A paralegal program consisting of at least 60 semester hours, 15 of which must be in “substantive legal courses”
- A paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
- An associate in paralegal studies
NFPA’s educational requirements vary by credential. The Core Registered Paralegal (CRP)™ designation calls for at least a high school or GRE diploma in addition to five years of substantive paralegal experience. CRP candidates with more advanced degrees don’t need as much professional experience.
The Registered Paralegal (RP)® certification, also administered by NFPA, asks candidates to have an associate degree and seven years of substantive paralegal experience. However, those with bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies need only two years of paralegal experience.
Paralegal Certification
Paralegals are not required to earn certification, but they may do so voluntarily through NALA, NFPA or another certifying body. Many states offer paralegal certifications as well.
Paralegals in Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas and Florida can become certified through their state bar associations. In Arizona, California and Washington, paralegals can become registered to provide some services, such as legal document preparation, without being under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
While certification is not required, it can give you an edge over other applicants in the job market. A reputable paralegal certification proves that you have a thorough understanding of the laws, regulations and legal principles you need to know to be competent in this demanding profession.
State-Specific Regulation of Paralegals
As of 2022, California is the only state that directly regulates individuals who use the title of “paralegal”. In California, paralegals must meet specific requirements, such as earning a certificate of completion through an ABA-approved paralegal training program, completing related college coursework or working under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
The state of Washington has established education and experience requirements for its “Limited License Legal Technician” designation, which paralegals can use. The State of Utah has also established education and experience requirements for its “Licensed Paralegal Practitioner” designation, also of use to paralegals.
