Legal Degrees

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The projected employment growth for legal assistants from 2004-2014 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is to be much faster than average, about 27%. Becoming a Legal Assistant There are two common ways you can become a legal assistant. You can enrole in a legal assistant program where you can earn a certificate in paralegal studies in only a few months. It can open up a lot of career opportunities, especially if you already have a bachelor's degree.Or you can enroll in a college program where you will be able to get your associate's degree. There are 260 legal assistant, also referred to as paralegal, graduate programs, approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) available across the United States. Paralegal Graduate Programs The length of graduate programs ranges from 2 years for an associate's degree to 4 years for a bachelor's degree. Many of the programs will help you with job placement, and some offer the chance to do an internship. You will usually enhance your job chances by going to ABA-approved program. Once You Are a Legal Assistant Your main job as a legal assistant is to perform preparatory work such aspre-trial investigation, legal research, and drafting documents. Your duties will differ depending on if you are employed with a small firm, large corporation, or in the public sector. Seven out of ten people entering a career as a legal assistant work in law firms and government offices. Employers are currently hiring more legal assistants versus lawyers to save money. With 224,000 job opportunities for legal assistants in 2004, and projected growth in the industry on the upswing, it is a great time for you move forward with your career as a legal assistant.

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