What do you need to become a paralegal?

Question

What do you need to become a paralegal? Is there a special training course, or can you be trained in-office?
What about a legal secretary?

Answer 1

The only state with requirements is California. Other states are considering regulation of paralegals, and others have voluntary certification programs, but don't have any requirements yet.

Essentially, it boils down to what the hiring attorney wants. For some, on-the-job experience or training is fine. For others, a bachelor's and ABA certificate are necessary. You'll need to ask paralegals and lawyers in your area.

Be somewhat cautious...since the title isn't regulated, an attorney may call anyone in their office, file clerks and secretaries included, a paralegal. When you are asking for the requirements, also ask about the job functions, so you can make an appropriate analysis.

I'm not as familiar with legal secretarial requirements. If you have excellent secretarial skills, it might be possible to find a job through a placement agency, or else you can ask them what is requirement for such placements.

Answer 2

Take an ABA (American Bar Association) approved paralegal course at an accredited university. Go on line to find that out.

I am not sure if on-line courses are acceptable by companies or not.

legal secretaries don't get paid as much, they may only require some community college classes.

call a college/university and ask a counselor to be sure. I am certified, but not working in the field.

Answer 3

bypass on your nearest college/college and learn Paralegal learn. maximum employers (usually regulation companies) STRONGLY prefer workers with bachelors tiers, and a few won't evaluate something much less. those "certificates" classes are merely scams - the "certificates" merely isn't somewhat certainly worth the paper that's outlined on. I additionally think of you'll be able to have not have been given any thought what you're getting your self into. Jobs in the sphere of regulation are drying up quickly!! that's not a sturdy container to take a place time and/or money in. Many motives. human beings (mistakenly) think of they could do their very own criminal paintings now attributable to the internet. additionally, we've way TOO MANY criminal specialists - we've a GLUT!! ("criminal specialists" contains, yet isn't constrained to: attorneys/attorneys, Paralegals, criminal Assistants, criminal Secretaries, Bailiffs, courtroom newshounds, etc, etc.) The job industry for the sphere of regulation is SHRINKING - it is it - undeniable and straightforward. Now the regulation faculties won't permit you be attentive to the reality > that the industry/economic gadget is SATURATED. The regulation faculties will feed you a fairytale. regulation faculties LOVE regulation scholars - a regulation student is easy money for a regulation college - a regulation college has to make little or no investment in a regulation student, whilst in comparison with different factors of learn. What this implies is that once you end your learn, you will not have the potential to locate a job. with the aid of fact the job industry in the sphere of regulation is shrinking so quickly, there are a number of attorneys/attorneys working "down" as Paralegals, criminal Assistants, criminal Secretaries, Bailiffs, courtroom newshounds, etc, just to attempt to pay a number of their expenditures < this could be your opposition. And the contest is FIERCE! Now, in case you like a job once you're accomplished with your learn, look into and consider the sphere of HEALTHCARE!< that's the place the jobs are! and scholarships! sturdy success.

Answer 4

Warning! It is not a good idea to invest your time and/or money into the vocational field of Law. We simply already have an absolute GLUT of Legal Professionals, with not enough jobs to go around.

Google: "student sues law school".

If you want a good vocational field to invest your time and/or money into, look into >Healthcare.

Answer 5

In our country, we are advised to go for a degree called C.S, wherein person are trained for this job