Paralegal Schools & Legal Assistant Degrees


Your Version of Law & Order: Paralegal Degrees Get You Started in Legal Careers
Shows like "Law & Order" show veteran attorneys doing much of their own research in a fast-paced and dramatic legal world. In reality, much of the legal research and legal writing is done by paralegals and legal assistants who have paralegal degrees and work essentially as an attorney's right hand. If the legal world sounds like an exciting career choice to you, paralegal might be the right career path.

What Does a Paralegal Do?
Paralegals do much of the same work as attorneys do. Though they can't represent clients in court, and their work must be performed under the auspices of an attorney, paralegal schools graduates find themselves in the thick of legal office work. Paralegals create and track files, do client intake interviews, and write and file motions with the court and draft contracts. They're also responsible for legal research, much of it done on Internet-based legal sites.

What Kind of Classes Do Paralegals Take in Paralegal Colleges?
Classes in paralegal schools will include the following:
  •   Fundamentals of Law
  •   Case Analysis
  •   Legal Writing
  •   Legal Research

What Kinds of Jobs do Paralegal Colleges' Graduates Take?
Most paralegals and legal assistants work in law offices, but paralegals can also work in corporations and educational institutions, litigation offices and for all levels of government.
There are also different specialties of law. Graduates of paralegal schools who hold paralegal degrees can choose from:
  •   Litigation
  •   Corporate law
  •   Personal injury
  •   Criminal law
  •   Intellectual property
  •   Labor law

In addition, you can choose from many other specialties. Paralegals made median annual wages in 2009 of $46,980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you're looking for a fast-paced, intellectually-driven career in law, a paralegal degree may be the right choice.
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