Legal Career Advice & Training

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to have a law degree to enjoy a challenging, well-paying legal career. Attorneys depend on the support services of other legal professionals to handle many of the functions that were once their responsibilities.

Working in Law

People who are interested in legal careers should be discreet and organized, have solid ethics, and have the ability to multitask, communicate and think critically. There are many opportunities available in this field for people with these characteristics, including careers in legal transcription, as well as opportunities to work as a legal secretary or paralegal.

Jobs in the Legal Field

Aside from becoming an attorney or judge, both of which require many years of education, there are may other careers in law that are attainable through vocational training. Some of these opportunities include:
  • Court Reporter/Legal Transcriptionist: Court reporters interact with judges, lawyers and other professionals. Generally, legal transcription can be performed using one of three methods: stenography, audio equipment or voice writer. The main responsibility of the trascriptionist is to provide a detailed transcript of everything that is a said within a legal setting.

  • Legal Secretary: A legal secretary performs a variety of functions, including answering phones, running errands, managing files and scheduling important meetings. Legal secretaries may also be required to file documents at the courthouse or assist clients in completing legal documentation.

  • Paralegal: The primary role of a paralegal is to provide legal support under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. Most paralegals work for the government, large law firms or corporations. Responsibilities include a wide variety of tasks, including conducting interviews, evaluating cases, preparing documents and researching precedent.
 

Facts and Figures

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that job growth in legal careers is expected to increase anywhere from 9 to 25 percent between 2006 and 2016, depending on the position. As always, there will continue to be high demand for legal aid workers who have experience in a certain field, such as real estate or immigration. As of May 2006, average wages were the following:
  • Court Reporters: $45,610
  • Legal Secretaries: $38,190
  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants: $43,040.
 

Education, Training and Work Experience

Many legal secretaries and paralegals start out as administrative assistants and secretaries in other fields. With in-house legal aid training, they are eventually promoted to the more challenging roles of legal secretaries and paralegals. Some degree of legal aid formal training is usually required to qualify for these positions.
 
There are many technical and vocational institutions that offer diploma and certificate courses for careers in law. Certificate programs are popular with people who are changing their careers and, need to establish a firm foundation in the legal field.

Related Associations and Groups

If you are interested in a career in legal aid, there are several professional associations that assist in training sessions, certification programs, among offering other resources:
  • American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (APPI)
  • American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT)
  • Legal Secretaries International, Inc.
  • National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
  • National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
  • National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA)
  • National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA)
  • The National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS)
  • United States Court Reporters Association (USCRA).
 
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