What is the career path for a paralegal?

The career path for a paralegal involves jobs as a legal intern, paralegal, and lawyer. However, paralegals that wish to become lawyers must go back to law school in order to do so. The career path for a paralegal is straightforward in terms of education, skills, certifications, and professional experience, but there can be a variance in the specialization.

Here is a closer look at the career path of a paralegal:

• Education

Aspiring paralegals have a few options in terms of higher education. Some states require a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies to be a paralegal, while other states allow you to have an associate's degree in paralegal studies. Here are some of the options for a paralegal education:

• Paralegal certificate program

• Associate's degree in paralegal work

• Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies

Some even choose to earn a master's degree in legal studies (MLS). This comprehensive degree covers courses like:

• Negotiation

• Intellectual property law

• Employment law

• Legal writing

• Trial advocacy.

This prepares graduates to take on a variety of tasks as paralegals or other legal professionals.

• Different types of paralegals

There are many different types of paralegals. Depending on the area of focus, a paralegal might make different decisions in terms of education and professional certifications. Here are some examples of different types of paralegals:

Litigation Paralegals

Litigation paralegals work with trial lawyers through a variety of phases in a court trial, from investigations to pleadings, and discovery.

Government Paralegals

Government paralegals typically work with politicians, law enforcement, or regulatory agencies.

Estate Planning and Probate Paralegals

Labor Law Paralegals

Labor law paralegals deal with issues between employers and employees, such as poor working conditions or discrimination.

• Professional certifications

In addition to a degree, it is recommended that all aspiring paralegals obtain a paralegal certification. These are available through the following organizations:

• The Certified Paralegal certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

• The Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) certification, which is also from the NALA

• The Professional Paralegal certification from NALS (National Association for Legal Professionals)