How Do You Become A Paralegal? 6 Big Steps to Take

Are you interested in a career in the legal field? Do you know what it means to become a paralegal?

Becoming a paralegal may be the perfect opportunity for you. Paralegals are an important part of the legal process, providing invaluable support to lawyers and their clients.

A paralegal is a person who assists lawyers in delivering legal services. They are responsible for conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and performing other tasks to support the work of attorneys. Paralegals may work in law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies.

Paralegals are not licensed to practice law and cannot provide legal services directly to the public. However, they play a vital role in the legal system by helping attorneys prepare for hearings, trials, and other legal proceedings.

Becoming a paralegal can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice, but it does require a certain amount of preparation and dedication. If you are looking to become a paralegal, this blog post outlines the steps that you should follow to make it happen.

So, without further ado, let’s get straight to the point.

Step 1: Earning a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step to becoming a paralegal is to meet the educational requirements. Earning a bachelor’s degree can help you to meet those requirements. While a specific major is not required, many paralegal positions require at least a bachelor’s degree, so earning one can make you a more competitive candidate. 

Some employers may prefer candidates with a degree in a related field, such as criminal justice, political science, or business. 

A paralegal with a bachelor’s degree in business may be well-suited for a role in corporate law. However, if you are interested in a career in criminal law, subscribing to a bachelors in criminal justice online degree program can serve the purpose. This program provides a strong foundation for further study in law or a related field and typically covers topics such as law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and criminal law. 

A bachelor’s degree will help you learn legal principles and terminology and critical thinking and communication skills.

Step 2: Complete a Paralegal Studies Program

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you should consider completing a paralegal studies program. Community colleges, vocational schools, and four-year universities typically offer these programs. 

Paralegal studies programs typically cover a wide range of topics relevant to the field, such as legal research, legal writing, ethics, and substantive areas of law. 

Completing a paralegal studies program can be an important step toward becoming a paralegal. In addition to providing knowledge and skills relevant to the field, these programs can help students meet the educational requirements for many paralegal positions. 

Many employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal paralegal education program, and some may even require it.

This step can be a valuable investment in your career as a paralegal. It can help you gain knowledge and skills, enhance your career opportunities, and give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Step 3: Determining a Speciality

As a paralegal, you can specialize in a particular area of law or type of legal work. Some common specialities for paralegals include:

• Corporate law

• Real estate law

• Family law

• Criminal law

• Estate planning

• Intellectual property law

To determine your speciality as a paralegal, you may want to consider your interests and strengths and the job market in your area. You may also want to consider seeking internships or entry-level positions in different areas of law to get a feel for which speciality you enjoy the most.

Step 4: Gain Work Experience

To increase your chances of finding a job as a paralegal, it is a good idea to gain some work experience in the field. It can be done through internships, volunteering, or part-time work. 

By working on real-life legal cases, you can develop a wide range of skills valuable to paralegals, such as research skills, writing skills, and the ability to organize and analyze complex information.

Gaining experience can also help you build relationships with other professionals in the legal field, which can be valuable for finding job opportunities and advancing your career. 

As you gain experience, you will become more confident in your ability to handle the tasks and responsibilities of a paralegal, which can make you a more effective and valuable legal team member.

Step 5: Obtain Certification

Obtaining certification as a paralegal is not required in all states, but it can help you stand out in the job market and may lead to higher salaries and better job opportunities. 

Obtaining a certification can also be a way to continue learning and growing in your career, as many certification programs require ongoing continuing education to maintain the credential.

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the Certified Paralegal (CP) credential, which requires applicants to pass a comprehensive exam. Other organizations that offer paralegal certification include the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAP).

Step 6: Attending Workshops

Attending workshops can help you become a paralegal because they provide an opportunity for you to learn and stay up-to-date on developments in the legal field.

By participating in workshops, you can learn expertise that can make you a more capable paralegal. 

In addition, attending workshops can provide you with an opportunity to connect with other professionals in the legal field, which can be valuable for finding job opportunities and advancing your career.

Other important Tips to Become A Paralegal

• Stay Up-to-Date on Legal Developments

To stay competitive in the legal field, it is important to stay up-to-date on legal developments and new technologies. This can be done by reading legal news, attending continuing education courses, and joining professional organizations.

• Network and build relationships

Building relationships with lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals can help you to learn about job openings and advance your career.

• Be organized and detail-oriented 

Paralegals are responsible for managing large volumes of information and completing tasks accurately and efficiently, so strong organizational and attention-to-detail skills are essential.

• Be flexible and adaptable 

The legal field is constantly changing, so adapting to new situations and technologies is important for success as a paralegal.

How can I become a paralegal?

Becoming a paralegal is a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the legal system. Here are some tips to help you become a paralegal:

• Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

• Complete a Paralegal Studies Program

• Determine a law speciality

• Gain work experience

• Obtain paralegal certification

• Attending law workshops

By following the steps and tips outlined above, you can gain the education and experience needed to succeed in this field. Whether you are just starting or looking to advance your career, these steps and tips can help you achieve your goal of becoming a paralegal.