Frequently Asked Questions
What
are the job prospects for paralegal graduates?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the paralegal job
market is one of the fastest growing occupations though the year
2008. In fact, of all non-computer related occupations, the paralegal
profession is predicted to be THE FASTEST GROWING non-computer occupation, outranked only by computer engineers,
computer support
specialists, systems analysts, database administrators, and desktop
publishing specialists.
What
exactly is a paralegal?
According to the American Bar Association definition a paralegal is "a person,
qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained
by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and
who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer
is responsible."
What does
a paralegal do?
Anything that an attorney might do that is not prohibited by the unauthorized
practice of law statute. Specifically, that means that paralegals cannot represent
clients in court, give legal advice, or set legal fees. Aside from that, however,
you will find paralegals doing anything that absent the paralegal would be done
by an attorney. For example, paralegals interview clients and witnesses, they
gather factual evidence, they conduct legal research, and they draft legal documents
for review by their supervising attorneys.
What
qualities make a person well suited to paralegal
studies?
To do well in paralegal studies, you must enjoy reading, research, and writing.
You must be the type of person who enjoys a challenge and does not have to have
all of the answers presented in black and white terms. Ambiguity is the name
of the legal game. You must also be able to pay attention to detail. (Even a
missing comma in a legal document can cost a client thousands of dollars!) Also,
you must be able to work independently. Good communication skills are a must
- both oral and written. Finally, you must care about people and their problems.
After all, if you choose to work in the law, most of the clients with whom you
will be dealing will be people in trouble who have turned to the legal system
for help. In fact, one way of looking at the study of law is that it is the study
of people's stories and how the legal system can or cannot help them.
What qualities
do employers look for in hiring a paralegal?
Not surprisingly the same qualities that make for a good paralegal student also
make for a good paralegal employee. In addition, employers will be reviewing
your academic background. In our area, most employers are seeking someone with
either an Associates or Bachelors degree along with an ABA approved certificate
of paralegal studies. A few employers require the Bachelors degree.
Where do
Elms college graduates work?
Elms graduates can be found dispersed throughout the country. For example, one
of our graduates works for Walt Disney World in California. Most of our graduates
choose to stay within New England, in law firms, social service agencies, corporations,
and many other settings.
For more information, contact:
William Donovan, chair, business and law division
413-265-2362
donovanw@elms.edu |
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