Salary Survey Report for Job: Paralegal or Legal Assistant

If you've earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, our new certificate program is a great way to begin your career in the paralegal profession. It will also provide you with foundational coursework to become a certified legal assistant.

You will learn how to communicate effectively in a legal environment, conduct legal research, and evaluate legal sources. You will also become skilled at applying concepts to relevant legal arguments and examining ethics in legal environments.

This is a professional certificate offered by the Kaplan University School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

The George Washington University is proud to offer its prestigious Master's Degree in Paralegal Studies in two formats: a traditional classroom-based format at our exciting Washington DC campus, just four blocks away from the White House, and a convenient, rigorous, fully online format.

Both programs, identical in every respect except the mode of delivery, will provide you the opportunity to earn the most prestigious paralegal credential available from a top-tier university and obtain the skills, knowledge, and abilities you need to enter this challenging and important profession with complete confidence.

A highly rigorous program open to the finest students

The GW master's degree in paralegal studies is not for everyone.  We require a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, two excellent letters of recommendation and demonstrated writing ability.

If you meet these standards and are admitted, you will be eligible to obtain the most prestigious credential available for paralegals and will have the opportunity to work in the finest law firms, corporations, agencies and institutions.

The paralegal studies programs offered in the traditional on-ground classroom format at the Columbia, SC, Montgomery, AL, Savannah, GA, and West Palm Beach, FL locations are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Additionally, South University's Savannah, GA campus has been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) to offer 7 legal specialty courses from its Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies program in an online 5½-week delivery format. Students are also required to take 4 specific courses in an 11-week, on-ground campus setting.

The Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies program provides an excellent foundation for those who are seeking entry-level employment in the growing profession of paralegals and legal assistants. Paralegals assist attorneys with the preparation of criminal and civil cases by interviewing clients, investigating facts, drafting legal documents, researching law, and assisting the attorney at trial. The Paralegal Studies program at South University gives you the opportunity to become part of this fast-growing field.

Join a profession that is ranked among the fastest-growing occupations in the United States! There is a growing need for legal assistants and paralegals in the legal profession. They continue to assume a growing range of tasks and perform many of the same jobs as lawyers. This program will give you the training you need, providing a complete overview of practical litigation skills and tasks.

The program prepares future Legal Assistants and Paralegals to carry out tasks such as:
• Researching legal issues
• Drafting legal documents
• Preparing pleadings
• Summarizing documents
• Organizing trial notebooks
• Interviewing clients

Learn fundamental knowledge about the formation of contracts, breach of contracts, and remedies for the breach of contracts. Become familiar with the terminology, policies and procedures applied to: estate planning, wills, trusts, estate taxes, estate sales, and joint tenancy.

Family and criminal law are other principal subjects covered in this program. Family law specializes in: divorce, separation, custody, adoption, guardianship, and community property. Criminal law covers: common law, statutory crimes and punishment, crime classification, principles of liability, and basic criminal procedure concepts.

Some career opportunities include:
• Legal secretary
• Litigation secretary
• Executive assistant

The Associate in Science Degree in Legal Assistant/Paralegal provides you with the skills to interview, gather, review, and analyze factual situations; research the law; prepare and interpret legal documents; conduct day-to-day operations of a legal office.

The field of law in could not function without Paralegals. They can be found in courtrooms, corporations, insurance companies, governmental offices and banks, as well as in attorneys' offices. With the Paralegal Degree from Virginia College Online, you can enter a career that offers prestige and a brighter future where you can positively affect the lives of others.

Every year more lawyers join the workforce, and more organizations are seeing the benefits of having skilled paralegals on staff. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, as employers try to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by lawyers. Classes are taught by instructors with real-world experience. Move toward an exciting new career without sacrificing commitments to work, family or service to your country.

The Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies is taught by instructors with real-world experience. Getting your Paralegal degree online means you can complete the program in our "Anytime, anywhere" format that fits into your busy schedule. Move toward an exciting new career without sacrificing commitments to work, family or service to your country.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by lawyers.*

In response to this growing need for knowledgeable, skilled paralegal professionals, the AS in Paralegal Studies is designed to provide students with a real-world understanding of:

• The legal process and the role of the paralegal in providing legal services.
• Legal research, analysis and writing skills.
• The steps of the litigation process.
• Legal technology commonly used by paralegals.
• The interpersonal and organizational skills that allow the student to work effectively as a problem-solving team member.
• Key legal concepts and terminology.

This real-world degree program features course content covering civil litigation, torts, contract law, criminal law, legal technology and numerous other career-focused topics.

Courses are taught by instructors with applicable experience in the paralegal field. Students can absorb relevant perspectives and professional insights from people who can help them acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for in-demand positions like Paralegal 1, Legal Secretary, Law Clerk, Legal Aid 1, Court Clerk and many others.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm#outlook (visited November 12, 2007).

 Earn your Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies — at home, at your own pace with Penn Foster College.

There are certain skills you need to begin a career as a Paralegal professional. With Penn Foster distance learning, you can earn your Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies quickly and conveniently. Learn valuable skills with these courses and more:

    * Legal Terminology and Thinking Skills
    * Interpersonal Communications and Ethics
    * Legal Writing and Research
    * Civil and Criminal Litigation
    * Family Law, Real Estate Law, Wills and Estates

And you’ll earn your Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies at home – no classroom needed!

Start a rewarding new career in the growing Paralegal field.
Why earn a distance learning Associate Degree? With the right credentials, you can:

    * Work for private law firms or government agencies.
    * Work for a real estate agency, bank, or in the legal department of a large corporation.

As the need for legal services grows, attorneys turn to paralegals to help provide the services requested by their increasing number of clients. This means more opportunity for you!