Paralegal Studies

By: Chris Lewis

Students are enrolled in colleges and universities throughout the nation in order to pursue their dreams, utilize their talents, and improve the world for future generations.

If you are one of these students, and you are unsure about your career path, you may be interested in learning about the numerous opportunities that a paralegal career has to offer.

Aside from earning a degree, you must also improve your writing and analytical thinking skills throughout your college career in order to succeed as a paralegal.

By sharpening your skills in organization, project management, and attention to detail, you can easily transition from being a student to having a career as a professional once you walk across the podium and receive your degree.

While you are still enrolled in a college or university paralegal studies program, you should strive to meet as many people in the legal field as you can. By joining a paralegal association, you will have an opportunity to meet various legal professionals, who will provide you with career tips, resources, and new networking opportunities.

Networking contacts can offer advice and recommendations, and can also support you during your search for new opportunities to use your talents, education, and past work experiences to positively impact the legal industry. Networking can help you pursue more business relationships, mentorships, and new jobs.

Project management services are in constant demand by law firms. As a result, while handling large discovery requests, attorneys often seek help from their paralegals, who will supervise document review, especially at firms that do not have permanent project management teams or large discovery litigation.

In 2007, the federal rules that governed electronic discovery (eDiscovery) were changed, driven by continued growth in litigation, as well as the explosion of electronic data in recent years.

Paralegals are now needed to operate the remote, modular facilities that create paperless, Web-based review systems, as a process-driven model for electronic discovery, has been widely adopted, featuring the metrics and collaborative elements required to ensure a truly defensible process.

Experienced paralegals can develop skills in organization, communication, delegation, and evaluation, making them just as effective as project managers. Law firms need to utilize the skill sets of paralegals to operate in an efficient manner.

As technology continues to evolve, paralegals can keep pace by increasing their knowledge of telecommunications, databases, Excel spreadsheets, and legal research software. In recent years, legal technology has created two new paralegal niches―litigation support and eDiscovery.

By advancing their technological skill sets, paralegals will have a competitive advantage within the legal profession, as they successfully support law firms in both litigation and eDiscovery implementations.

By earning a degree and obtaining work experience through internships, you can have a highly rewarding and satisfying position as a paralegal professional.

To obtain a position, you will need an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, or a four-year degree in any discipline, in addition to a certificate in paralegal studies. By acquiring a high-quality liberal arts education, as well as a thorough understanding of the legal profession, you will be well-prepared for future career success.