Great Career Opportunities Projected for Paralegals

17 June, 2010 (11:14) | Careers | By: Sandy

If you are interested in a legal career, but not interested in accumulating the debt that comes with years of law school, you may consider the option of earning a degree to become a paralegal instead. Other than the fact that paralegals cannot present a case in court or give official legal advice, they perform basically the same type of tasks as lawyers.

Career Growth Opportunities

Demand for paralegals is expected to grow by 28 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than average, according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the market for attorneys is projected to grow by only 18 percent. Many employers are now hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers.

Projections indicate that areas like intellectual property, healthcare, environmental law, criminal law, international law and issues involving the elderly will be in high demand for those working in the legal professions.

A qualified paralegal can find employment in a wide range of work environments – private law firms, corporations, banks, local, state and federal government, consumer agencies and more.

Reading, Writing, and Research

If reading, writing and research are things you enjoy doing, a career as a paralegal might be a great option for you. Paralegals do a lot of research and report writing of their findings for lawyers to use in cases of all types. They often help to prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings, motions to be filed with courts, assist in drafting contracts and all types of legal agreements.

One thing for sure, this is one field where there is lack of boredom. Every day will hold new and interesting opportunities for discovery. You can earn your paralegal degree on any level. Earn an Associate, Bachelor, or Master’s in Paralegal Studies online to prepare for entering the field or to improve your options for professional growth if you are already working a legal assistant.