Certificate in Paralegal

About Paralegals
Paralegals are law professionals who assist lawyers and perform a wide number of clerical and managerial duties in law firms, banks, insurance agencies, government agencies and various other businesses. Paralegals are charged with carrying out legal research, drafting agreements and dealing with all sorts of paperwork. Paralegals also file tax returns, prepare various contracts, appraise property, arbitrate disputes between persons and prepare wills. As officers of the Justice Department, paralegals may work as court officers, process officers and investigators. Owing to their knowledge of law, computer training and clerical skills, paralegals are ideal for a variety of jobs in a number of fields.

Certificate in Paralegal Programs

About the Degree
Paralegal certificate programs are offered by a number of bodies, including the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Most certificate programs require one to two years of paralegal studies at an accredited college. One of the most popular certifications is the “Certified Paralegal” (CP) certification which is the minimum requirement for entry level positions in most law firms. After two years of work experience, the “Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam”(PACE) can be taken and used to obtain the “Registered Paralegal” (RP) designation. The ‘Professional Paralegal’ (PP) certification is also available to experienced paralegals and paves the way for better paying positions.

Career Prospects
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for paralegals are expected to grow by as much as 28% during the next ten years. This tremendous amount of growth is due to the fact that more and more legal duties are being performed by paralegals instead of attorneys. Paralegals working at entry level positions earn an average of $47,000; while more experienced paralegals make about $75,000 per year.

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