Becoming a paralegal can be a great aid for law firms that employ you. Additionally, it can set you on the path to go to law school and become a lawyer yourself. Here is how to become an entry-level paralegal and what it takes.
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About Entry-Level Paralegals
Entry-level paralegals are new entrants to the profession of being a legal assistant. They help established lawyers do their jobs by supporting them from underneath and helping with technical work. Normally, people who work as entry-level paralegals go on to obtain higher positions or degrees in the legal field.
Who Are Entry-Level Paralegals?
Entry-level paralegals normally are young people in their 20s who just completed their undergraduate degree. They work to assist lawyers in their work and to learn more for themselves in the legal profession. When an entry-level paralegal enters the field, much of the time, it is only temporary.
They will work until they decide to go back to school to study law. With the experience from the entry-level paralegal job, they will have more knowledge for law school and their future legal endeavors.
Tasks of an Entry-Level Paralegal
The tasks of an entry-level paralegal are not that simple. They need to do anything a lawyer needs for support in their cases.
Even though an entry-level paralegal does not have nearly as much experience as other established figures in the field, they are expected to do anything that experienced paralegals can do. Law firms that employ paralegals need help for their attorneys in any way they see fit. This includes simple skills such as knowing how to work with Microsoft Office applications and knowing how to do comprehensive research.
This includes important historical legal research that will help your firm’s attorneys be successful in cases. Also, entry-level paralegals need to know how to write well to draft documents and prepare attorneys for cases.
Requirements
The requirements to become an entry-level paralegal are not complicated at all. You only need a two- or four-year bachelor’s degree. Preferably, your degree should have something to do with law, but it is not required. You will likely need to produce transcripts proving that you maintained a certain grade point average in college.
Additionally, a law firm may require a time commitment to stay in your job because it is very common for young paralegals to leave quickly to go back to school. Not every firm has the same requirements, so you should look into each job application closely to see if you satisfy them.
Become an Entry-Level Paralegal
Starting on the paralegal career path is one of the best things you can do to learn more to advance your legal career. Whether you wish to work your way up as a paralegal or go to law school to become a lawyer, the entry-level paralegal position is the way to go to gain valuable experience.
Becoming an entry-level paralegal is an important step for embarking on a legal career. Once you have your bachelor’s degree, you are free to apply to a law firm to get hired. For additional help and information, you can visit sites like ParalegalEDU.com.
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