If you’ve decided on a paralegal career, you have made a smart choice. Paralegal is a growing occupational field that is expected to grow even more in the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 22 percent job growth rate for this occupation in the decade from 2006 to 2016. This means increasing job opportunities, and job security, for you.

Why Such Growth in the Paralegal Field?

The ever-increasing population has forced an ever-increasing need for more legal services. This has caused many areas of law—such as elder issues, healthcare, environmental law, and criminal law—to expand to meet the needs of this increased population. As law firms and legal services grow, so do the demand for good paralegals.

Another reason for the growth of the paralegal field is an economic one. As paralegals assume more responsibilities, employers see an economic advantage in hiring more paralegals to do work that was once done by attorneys.

Job Description

In most states, paralegals can do almost anything that an attorney can do except practice law. This means that they can draft legal documents, investigate court cases, interview clients, etc—but they cannot set legal fees, give legal advice, or present a case in court.

Because paralegals are increasingly assuming more responsibilities, companies other than law firms are hiring them as a way to save money in their legal departments.

Paralegal Job Duties

Under an attorney’s supervision, most paralegals have a wide range of responsibilities. Some of the duties that they perform include:

• Researching legal cases
• Drafting legal documents
• Filing cases with the court
• Preparing reports
• Summarizing cases
• Interviewing clients
• Searching records

…and many more.

Job Growth

In 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 238,000 paralegal jobs. But it won’t end there. In the decade of 2006 to 2016, the paralegal field is expected to grow faster than the growth rate of other occupations.

This will create many job opportunities for many astute and eager paralegals.

Job Opportunities

In the future, job opportunities for paralegals will likely increase in the following areas:

• Community legal service programs (those services that supply free, or discounted legal services to people who cannot afford to pay full price)
• Consumer organizations
• Courts
• State, federal, and local government agencies

In addition, those paralegals that specialize in certain legal areas—such as bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and real estate—should have excellent employment prospects.

Who Employs Paralegals?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of paralegals work in private law firms. The remainder work in government agencies and in corporate law firms.

Some of the other organizations that employ paralegals include:

• Banks
• Corporate legal departments
• Real estate and title insurance firms
• Small and large corporations of many different types

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that, in the future, these other organizations will increase their hiring of paralegals in order to minimize costs.