Associate in Legal Paralegal

Lawyers aren’t the only professionals practicing law. Paralegals play an important role as well. Working behind the scenes and assisting lawyers and attorneys in every way they can, they are responsible for carrying out legal research, organizing, filing and drafting documents. With the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicting a 17 percent growth rate in the employment of paralegals and legal assistants, looking into legal paralegal associate programs may turn out to be beneficial.

Legal Paralegal Associate Programs:

Many accredited schools and institutes offer Associate in legal paralegal degree programs. They are available both on campus and online. The specific admission requirements for these programs usually vary from school to school, but generally, students need to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate in order to secure an admission. Legal paralegal associate programs are generally two years long. Students may not be required to do an internship. The focus of these programs is basically on teaching courses in legal research, combining paralegal training with other skills such as learning related applications on computers. The general curriculum of legal paralegal associate programs will focus on courses such as:

• Administrative law
• Family law
• Criminal law
• Corporate law
• Torts
• Civil litigation
• Bankruptcy
• Cyber laws
• Work ethics
• Legal research and writing
• Law office management

Benefits of online associate in legal paralegal programs:

Online legal paralegal associate programs are a popular choice among students due to the number of benefits they come with. These degree programs are helpful for working students and other professionals who do not have the time to enroll in full time on campus classes but who want to advance their learning. Associate programs are also a viable option for those students who are looking for a career change .They are flexible, in that students don’t have to disrupt their work routine and can study at their own will and at a pace they consider convenient.  Furthermore, students who enroll in online associate programs have the advantage of studying according to their own schedule. E learning programs use a variety of instructional techniques, making use of textbooks, online classes and exams, webcasts, and other media to make the lessons as interactive as possible. Also, instructional technology is more cost effective as students save on commuting costs. Associate programs also offer their students the option to transfer credits to bachelor’s programs if they wish to do so.

Job Outlook and Pay:

The job outlook for formally trained paralegals is quite promising. With a 17 per cent projected growth in employment from 2012 to 2022 and law firms trying to increase their efficiency by hiring more paralegals, it is worth looking into comprehensive and accredited associate legal paralegal programs. With regard to the pay, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for paralegals and other legal assistants in May 2012 was $46,990.