Corporate Law

4 Interesting Legal Careers for Those with an Associates Degree in Paralegal

Law Hammer Books

A paralegal degree is an excellent way to get yourself started in the exciting world of law. There are all kinds of opportunities and jobs available in all different areas of law. Take the time to decide what you’re most interested in and then check out all the options available to you.

Becoming the Perfect Paralegal

If you have a paralegal degree, then becoming a paralegal is a rewarding choice. All it takes is a two-year degree and, for most jobs, at least two and a half years’ worth of training or experience. If you’re looking to get into a private law firm, go to work with the in-house counsel in a corporation, or if you’re interested in another sector, you’ll have to start at the bottom. You may need to serve as a legal secretary, a legal assistant, or an administrative assistant and learn office protocols and on-the-job experience before getting a promotion.

After that, the sky’s the limit. Remember that you can get a job with any kind of lawyer or law firm. To gain experience, you might try working in several different sectors:

  • Experiment with real estate law
  • See if you have what it takes to become a litigation paralegal
  • Take a look at business law
  • Explore the realms of family law
  • Practice being a probate paralegal
  • And consider finance by looking into bankruptcy law

Investigating Investigative Opportunities

Your paralegal associates degree opens many doors within the law, which represents a broad spectrum of criminal law. Think about becoming a public or private investigator, especially if you’re good at digging up information. Other investigative opportunities include:

  • Becoming a claims investigator or examiner
  • Working as a compliance officer or inspector
  • Getting certified as an evidence or fingerprint technician
  • Becoming a corrections officer
  • And working as a parole officer

Getting a Great Government Job

There are also many government jobs available for paralegals. Again, in addition to your two-year degree, you’ll need to get government or courtroom experience, so it’s a good idea to get started at the bottom of the ladder. It might seem frustrating, but you’ll learn every possible facet of government or courtroom work.

Your degree gives you the chance to become a clerk, reporter, or interpreter for the court, a judicial assistant or consultant for juries, a law clerk or librarian, an analyst for legislation, a victim advocate, or you could coordinate trial court for law students and other paralegals. These jobs may pave the way for opening your own paralegal company.

Netting a Non-Profit Position

Non-profit institutions and organizations desperately need legal representation and they, like the public, frequently turn to paralegals and not lawyers, who are often too busy and too expensive. All you’ll need is your certification and you can make a big difference for legal aid defense organizations, programs focusing on domestic and family abuse, victim advocate groups, and non-profits designed to help the poor.

As you’re completing your degree, think about the areas of the law that most appeal to you. What do you intend to do with your paralegal degree?

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Danuta Smoluk is a teacher with over three decades of experience teaching both children and adults. She specializes in teaching the Polish language to English-speakers. She has a master's degree in primary and early childhood education from WSP Słupsk (currently Pomeranian University in Słupsk) and had her degree validated by University of Toronto. Aside from education, she also has an interest in real estate and home improvement. She has planned and supervised many house renovations. She loves interior design, cooking, and gardening.

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