Paralegal Blog

So you’ve completed your classes, walked across the stage to receive your diploma, and you’ve been hired.  What’s next?  As you take the next steps in your life, an important thing to do is prepare to pay back your student loans.  

At Center for Advanced Legal Studies, where I work in the Financial Aid department, students who complete one of our paralegal programs and apply for student loans receive the following information.  This way, they can take charge of their financial situation and begin planning early for their future and their loan repayment. 

Thanks to its recognition as a highly-skilled and hugely helpful profession, the paralegal career is gaining in popularity and becoming more in-demand.  A significant number of people are setting their sights on becoming paralegals because the job is rewarding and the career outlook is sunny.  Many people desire a legal career without the time and cost of law school.  Others desire to use a paralegal career as a helpful stepping-stone to becoming an attorney.

The transition from military to civilian employment can be intimidating.  You may have made the decision to join the military for a myriad of reasons, including self-fulfillment, bringing discipline to your life, obtaining a career focus, or simply—but most importantly—service to our country.  Now that you have gained additional discipline and have fulfilled your service obligation, how do you best find continuing career focus and self-fulfillment in the private sector? 

Paralegals can take several different paths to enter the legal profession.  These typically involve different levels of education, on-the-job-training, and certifications.  Where paralegals work and what specific tasks they perform, however, depends on the kind of skills, experience, and education they have.

When you hear the words "legal profession," the first thing that usually comes to mind is a lawyer. Attorneys are often thought of in trials: questioning witnesses, evaluating evidence, working with clients. But, becoming an attorney isn't the only route to creating a legal career. Paralegals who work alongside and support attorneys often find themselves in the most satisfactory legal career of all.