When you think of a career in law, you may immediately think of lawyers and years
of expensive schooling, but lawyers are only one piece of the puzzle. Since the
law is involved in everything from petty theft to corporate takeovers, job opportunities
are plentiful, particularly for the paralegals working alongside lawyers. Working
as a paralegal is an excellent way to establish a career in law without the expense
of law school.
- Paralegals help lawyers prepare for hearings, corporate meetings, and trials by
performing delegated tasks and doing research. As law firms tighten their belts,
paralegals are assuming more and more responsibility and performing tasks that were
once assigned to lawyers.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for paralegals is expected
to grow by 22 percent from 2006-2016, much faster than the national average.
- 7 out of 10 paralegals work in law firms, while others work for corporations and
government agencies. Those in law firms occasionally work long hours to meet deadlines,
while paralegals in offices generally work a 40-hour week.
- Most paralegals hold an associate degree in paralegal studies. The degree takes
just 1-2 years to complete, and there are approximately 260 programs approved by
the American Bar Association.
- If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can earn a certificate in paralegal
studies in as little as 7 months through community colleges, technical schools,
or online degree programs.
- Assess your financial and scheduling needs to determine which program is right for
you - if you work a 9-5 day, an online degree program might be the answer.
About how a degree in Criminal Justice can help you start a career in Law.
The Criminal Justice program of study at the Ashford University teaches fundamentals
of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a
foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology.
Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections. The upper-level
courses include more in-depth study of the criminal justice systems, along with
instruction in areas such as criminalistics, victimology and computer forensics.
The Criminal Justice program of study1 at the ITT Technical Institutes teaches fundamentals
of the criminal justice system and criminal justice skills. The program offers a
foundation in criminal law, legal procedures, criminal evidence and criminology.
Areas of study include law enforcement, the courts and corrections. The upper-level
courses include more in-depth study of the criminal justice systems, along with
instruction in areas such as criminalistics, victimology and computer forensics.
Earn your Criminal Justice Degree Online.