| Paralegals help lawyers prepare for trials, do client | | | | representation is permitted by statute, court rule, or |
| interviews, assist in hearings and closings, perform legal | | | | administrative rule or regulation.Find descriptions from |
| research, prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings and | | | | other states at Requirements:2 year associates |
| motions, obtain affidavits and assist during | | | | degree in paralegal studies or 4 year bachelor's |
| trials.California Definition:Paralegal is a person who | | | | degree plus paralegal certificationSkills Needed: Good |
| either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, | | | | research abilities, investigative and organizational skills, |
| law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other | | | | understanding of legal terminology, knowledge of legal |
| entity and who performs substantial legal work under | | | | software applicationsCertification: National Federation |
| the direction and supervision of an active members of | | | | of Paralegal Associations: Opportunities: 70% of |
| the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060, | | | | paralegals work for private law firms, a small |
| or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of | | | | percentage free lance and the rest work for the |
| this state, that has been specifically delegated by the | | | | governmentIncome:Starting salaries are $25,000 to |
| attorney to him or her. Tasks performed by a | | | | $79,000 per year based on education, training, and |
| paralegal include, but are not limited to, case planning, | | | | experience. The average in 2004 was $39,000. Other |
| development and management; legal research; | | | | salary factors include location and size of the office. |
| interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving | | | | The US federal government starts at $59,370 per |
| information; drafting and analyzing legal documents; | | | | year.Resources:US Department of Labor: Education: |
| collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to | | | | Organization: Directory of Accredited Schools: out how |
| make an independent decision and recommendation to | | | | you can enter this exciting field at Schraier is a web |
| the supervising attorney; and representing clients | | | | site designer and owner of Way Out West Products. |
| before a state or federal administrative agency if that | | | | |