In today’s world where terminology is frequently changing, the terms themselves and what is associated with them can often be confusing. In the legal field, an example of this is that while terms such as paralegal, legal assistant, and legal secretary, are all used on a regular basis, it can leave many people wondering what these roles consist of, as well as whether or not there is any significant difference between them. After you have some of the basic facts, you should not find it all to be so confusing.

A legal secretary is precisely what the term implies. Up until quite recently, this role was the one which most non-attorneys held in a law office. Legal secretaries, who were usually female, were not much different from secretaries of any other type, with the exception that a legal secretary often had specialized training in order to be more knowledgeable about matters specific to the legal field, resulting in being more effective and efficient at the job. While legal secretaries occasionally had a college degree, it was generally more up to the discretion of the employer rather than due to any professional requirements.

In contrast, when legal assistants became an everyday part of most law offices, the entirely different role necessitated more and different qualifications. In taking a much more active role in the law office, a legal assistant needed to be much more familiar with all aspects of the legal system in general. While working as a legal assistant was basically a matter of being a helper to an attorney, it was a job which consisted of a decidedly hands-on approach.

These days, the terms legal assistant and paralegal are often used interchangeably. Although many who work in this field tend to prefer the latter term, there is actually not a difference between the two. While the duties of a legal secretary consists primarily of a clerical nature, this is not the focus of a paralegal.

The majority of a paralegal’s work consists of legal duties; although it is usually required that these duties are assigned and carried out under the direction of an attorney, it is generally a matter of the paralegal lightening the attorney’s workload by taking on responsibilities and tasks for which she is qualified. For example, interviewing witnesses for a court case is one such duty. Instead of basic clerical work, a paralegal’s duties often include such examples as researching statistics, case information, and other facts which are vital to the attorney’s ongoing work.

In today’s world, the role of paralegal is quite often filled by men. While there are still more women paralegals, many men have also found this field to be both professionally and personally rewarding. Although there were very few male legal secretaries in the past, the widening role and opportunities for paralegals have led many men to find this line of work to be quite appealing.

In short, a paralegal is a professional in the law office or other business where he or she works. The paralegal has a distinct role, and the qualifications necessary to be effective in that role.

Although there are a number of different types of credentials for paralegals, and, therefore, variations in the lengths and types of coursework which one must successfully complete in order to receive his or her credentials, they all have the common purpose of educating the individual to take on an important role in the legal field. This education gaining the knowledge necessary to do the job, and the skills necessary in order to be able to put it into practical use. Both aspects of one’s education are equally important.

Basic paralegal training generally consists of an overview of the legal system as a whole, specialized areas of practice, and the skills which are applicable to this line of work. Don’t make the mistake of letting this brief description give you the idea that there is anything vague or minimal about paralegal training, however, because the coursework is very complete, and quite intense. It is also one of the most interesting and enjoyable types of coursework that you can possibly put your time into studying!

After you have completed basic paralegal coursework, you will have learned nearly everything that there is to know about the American courts and justice system. This includes the history of this system, how it evolved into the way it is today, and details surrounding how the courts and justice system operates both in terms of the laws and the roles of legal representation. You will also learn the fascinating details about codes, procedure, both the criminal and civil arenas, and how all of these things are applicable to the workings of the courts and justice system as a whole.

During your paralegal training you will also become very well acquainted with specialized areas of law. Business, family, corporate, tax, family, and other specialties are covered in detail. Not only will you learn what these areas are about, but you will also be taught everything you will need to do on an everyday basis if you elect to work in any of these areas. You will not simply learn about the area you may wish to enter, you will be equally prepared for them all.

As working in the paralegal field requires one to be more than competent in a number of essential skills, you will enhance the skills you do have and prepare yourself with the others. Working with computer programs, math, written and verbal communication skills, are all basic parts of a paralegal’s everyday work life. You will need to know how to conduct interviews, use spreadsheets, operate data bases, and other essentials; all of these skills and many more will be addressed in your coursework.

Whichever method you choose to begin your studies, whichever specific type of credentials you wish to work toward, the period of time it will take for you to earn your credentials, or the individual school that you elect to study from, you can be completely assured that after you have successfully completed your training you will be well-informed and well-prepared to begin your exciting new career as a paralegal!

As a paralegal, it is essential to have good resources. This is true whether you are still studying, or whether you are already working in the field. Everything from the regions which offer the most jobs, particular hiring processes, salary information, and regulations surrounding educational requirements, are all topics that it is wise to keep up-to-date with their current status.

There are a number of good resources which will help you to stay well-informed on every aspect of the paralegal field. All you really need to do is make a bit of effort in making them an ongoing part of your life. One form of resource is a discussion group. You may wish to form or join such a group in your own locale; but branching out to the types of discussion groups that you can find online will provide you with a much wider range of perspectives from paralegals all over the United States.

In this type of discussion group, you will also have the opportunity to get to know many people who are in different stages of their paralegal careers– from students to beginners to those who have worked in the field for many years. You will see that each person has his or her own very unique experiences, feedback, and viewpoints to contribute. If you take part in a discussion group on a regular basis, it will be a very positive experience.

On a wide scale, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the National Association of Legal Assistants are excellent resources. As most states have at least one and usually more associations for members of this field, most of these groups are connected with either one or the other of these nationwide Associations. In addition to providing a wealth of information regarding the essential aspects of the paralegal field, you can also find assistance in continuing your education and gaining a higher tier of certification. Becoming a member of either NFPA or NALA is one of the best decisions you can possibly make toward enhancing your career.

In addition to these interactive resources, subscribing to a trade magazine will also help to keep you well-informed and current in your field. “Legal Assistant Today” is one which you might like to consider. Although this widely-circulated magazine is available in print form, you can also find it online, which will give you the opportunity to check into the prior issues in the archive, as well as the current edition.

As the paralegal field is not an isolated type of work, seeking out all of the resources which are available to you will be a wonderful aid to your career. As this is a field where the more you know the better your chance of success, as well as the need to stay updated with all of the changes in the field, it is unwise to try to navigate all of the necessary information without electing to use a number of relevant resources. Whether you choose magazines, Association membership, or a combination of resources, you will find that they are a very positive influence on your career.

Believe it or not, a paralegal (or legal assistant) is not a licensed profession in the United States. While some paralegals originally received on the job training when the profession came into existence in the 1960s and 1970s, more people entering the field today do so with certification. Certification is voluntary, not a requirement to be a paralegal. However, a paralegal with certification and special training is generally better prepared for promotion and will stand out in a field of candidates who might likely meet most qualifications but who are not certified.

To get certified as a paralegal or legal assistant (the terms are used interchangeably), one must pass a test from one of several paralegal organizations. Certification for paralegals is a little like that of attorneys. Just because an attorney passes law school doesn’t make him or her a lawyer. They must first pass the bar exam. The same situation is true for paralegals. Completion of a certification program does not make one a certified paralegal. It’s passing the exit exam that issues that certification.

In addition to entering the field as a certified paralegal, most of today’s legal assistant professionals choose to continue their education as an on going process. Some want to specifically develop certain areas of their work — like receiving additional training in commercial law, criminal law, estate planning, etc.

When you are searching for a certificate program to either begin or continue education in the paralegal field, you will have to weed out those programs that are not right for you. There are quite a few programs out there. Some say they are approved by or compliant with the American Bar Association. The best way to check is to contact the bar association in your state. Tell the bar association representative that you are seeking information about either entering the field or continuing professional development certification and ask for program referrals. While most states do not require certification for people to be a paralegal, the state’s bar association will be able to hook you up with some of the organizations and programs they do recognize as reputable.

If you are looking into various online certification courses or correspondence courses, check with your state’s attorney general’s office and better business bureau to see if any complaints have been filed about the institution offering the courses. The state’s bar association would be another good source of information as well.

While selecting your choice of study for paralegal certification may take some legwork initially, it will pay off for you in the future. Besides, the research you do as you search for certification information will better prepare you for the types of research you may end up performing as a legal assistant. Additionally, it may save you a lot of expense and heart ache in the future. Nothing would be worse than “completing” a paralegal training program only to find out that its certification is not recognized widely and after the expense and time, you basically have nothing to show.

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