A Day in the Life: Paralegal

Great lawyers need exceptional assistants. There's just too much researching, interviewing, information processing, writing, and paperwork filing for one person to do it all alone. That's where paralegals like me come in. My name's Amy, and I want to show you why becoming a paralegal is so rewarding.

What Does a Paralegal Do, Exactly?

The short answer is, paralegals complete all the tasks that lawyers do not have time to finish themselves. This could include: researching legal precedent, preparing legal documents, conducting investigations, maintaining clients' files, communicating with clients, and many other activities. Paralegals should be flexible to meet the law office's needs and organized to keep track of many different projects.

What's a Typical Day Like for Paralegals?

When I first arrive at my office, I check in with the lawyers to see what needs to be finished by the day's end. If there's a lot of urgent work, I may end up earning overtime to meet the deadline. Otherwise, I continue down the list of tasks I need to complete for a particular case.

No day is the same because every case is unique. Some days, I spend all of my time researching the facts for a case and drafting documents. Other times, I interview clients for my boss, asking lots of questions about their particular cases. Occasionally, I'm asked to run errands such as sending out the mail. Since I work for a small law firm, I have a wide variety of responsibilities. You could choose to work for a large law firm and narrow your focus to more specific duties.

What Career Opportunities Exist for Paralegals?

Paralegals have many career opportunities because law is such a vast field. Are you people-oriented? Perhaps a career in family law would suit you best. Do you want to work toward improving the environment? There's an area of law dedicated to that as well. You don't have to work in trial law, either. You could choose to work in corporate, real estate, bankruptcy, civil rights, entertainment, international, or one of many other types of law. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that between 2018 and 2028, the number of paralegal positions would increase by 12%.¹

Why Choose Rockford Career College?

At Rockford Career College, you could earn your paralegal diploma in as little as 10 months! If you want to continue your education after graduation, the associate degree program only requires an additional seven months. Best of all, both programs are completely online, giving you the freedom to study at home on your schedule.

Courses include: Ethics and Technology in the Law Office, Contract Law, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Litigation, and Professional Success Strategies, to name a few. These paralegal programs are designed to develop your oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. As a student, you will also have access to many free resources such as tutoring and career services assistance. The college also offers financial aid to those who qualify.

Why wait any longer to start your career training? Call 888.680.6682 or submit the Request Information form online to learn more. See for yourself why paralegal is such a rewarding profession.

Reference:
¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm (visited August 30, 2020).

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