Paralegal & Legal Services Degree and Programs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal employment is growing much faster than average, because cost-cutting employers are hiring them to do work that attorneys used to do. Because of these increased responsibilities, most paralegals have a paralegal or legal services degree. Aspiring paralegals who already have a bachelor's degree in another subject can supplement their college degrees with paralegal certificates. Voluntary certification can also be an advantage in the labor market.

What Do Paralegals Do?

Paralegals support lawyers in preparatory work for hearings and trials, and help to draft contracts, prepare tax returns, prepare legal arguments, and ensure that case documents are properly filed. The knowledge and skills required for this work can typically only be gained through formal career training from a paralegal or legal services program.