Paralegal Degree

There are many factors that lead someone to obtain a paralegal degree. Many people holding these degrees started out as legal secretaries and pursued the degree to advance their careers. Many students working their way through college and into law school earn a paralegal degree to get a head start in the legal profession. Others come to it from outside the legal field, as career changers looking for more satisfying work. Either way, many criminal justice schools offer paralegal classes online as well as in the more traditional classroom setting.

Since many paralegals, or legal assistants, come to the work as a result of a secretarial background, most of them are already computer literate. The legal profession at every level relies heavily on computers to produce and track important documents. Add an inquisitive mind to a legal background with computer fluency and work in the world of computer forensics becomes a possibility. Many schools that offer a criminal justice degree program also offer computer forensics training classes, too.

Interest in the legal field often develops as one’s immersion in the work expands. It’s not unusual to find many people attending criminal justice schools online and off are pursuing a higher education to enter the field of law enforcement outside the courtroom. In fact, the growing interest in national security means many paralegal students often pursue a homeland security degree to position themselves in careers that satisfy national loyalties as well as financial and professional success.

In 2008, there were 263,800 people in the United States holding the position of legal assistant and / or paralegal, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That number is expected to grow to 337,900 by 2018, or an increase of 28%, representing an additional 74,100 new jobs.

The income of workers with a paralegal degree varies according to where and what type of work they do. The BLS says 71% of all paralegals / legal assistants are employed in law firms but the government and other industries rely on them as well. A quick breakdown of industry and median annual wage reveals:

Federal government / Executive Branch - $58,540

Private companies and enterprises - $55,910

Insurance companies - $52,200

Employment services - $50,050

Legal services - $44,480

Paralegal pay isn’t restricted to income alone. Most people working under a paralegal degree enjoy bonuses, reimbursement for continued education within the legal field, and excellent benefits that usually include paid vacation and sick leave, various insurances, and personal savings plans.