Could A Georgia Paralegal Career Be Right For You

By Catherine Hill


Young people just graduating from college and high school haven't always decided what they want to do with their lives. They know they want good paying jobs that are interesting. It can be difficult to decide which fields are on the rise and which are waning. Some professions are always in demand however, and anything to do with law is one of them. If this is a field that interests you, becoming a Georgia paralegal could be a good choice.

Paralegals are not hired to do a lawyer's job. They are not allowed to give legal advice, handle cases, or represent clients in the courtroom. Paralegals do a lot of the background work for attorneys that is vital for proving a case. This can include collecting evidence, drafting documents, conducting research, and conducting initial interviews with potential clients.

If this kind of career is something that interests you, you probably want to know what sort of income you can expect. Salaries vary widely depending on where in the country you live, how much experience you have, and what level of education you have attained. Generally speaking, paralegals make around fifty thousand dollars a year. If you live in California, New Jersey, or Washington, D. C., you can expect to earn more.

In most law firms paralegals have demanding and busy jobs. There are certain characteristics an individual should have in order to succeed in this field. You will be interviewing clients who are experiencing difficult times in their lives. They are often emotional, and can seem unreasonable. You must be able to remain calm and professional in these situations. You will have to make clients feel confidant that they are in good hands.

Although there are no state licensing boards for paralegals in the same way there are for lawyers, most law firms prefer someone with an associate's degree in paralegal or related studies. Some lawyers in more rural areas will consider applicants with a high school diploma and a desire to learn. The more experience and education you have though, the more likely you are to be hired and offered a good salary.

You can increase your chances of being hired if you take the exams necessary to become a certified paralegal. These exams are not regulated, and are given by private organizations. To pass the tests you must be knowledgeable in federal law, legal terminology, and legal ethics. You will have to prove communication and writing skills that are expected in a professional law office.

Once you have spent some time working in a law office, you might decide you want to go back to school and become a lawyer. If you earned an associate's degree in legal studies, some of the credits could count toward your law degree. You have to get a bachelor's and attend law school before applying to the bar however.

For those interested in the law, but not necessarily interested in becoming a lawyer, there are a lot of exciting careers to choose from. Paralegals have challenging jobs. They may be looking up murder cases one day and researching dog catchers the next.




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