Working in the field of law can be a very rewarding experience because of how diverse it is.
Even if you have not completed tertiary studies to become a lawyer, you can still access well-paying jobs in the field.
One such job would be that of a paralegal.
Paralegal work gives people the opportunity to be very involved in legal matters being represented by lawyers without actually representing the client.
Generally, paralegals serve as vital assistants to lawyers by doing a lot of the legwork on their behalf.
A lot of their responsibility includes preparing paperwork for hearings and trials, writing reports and doing most of the research to aid the attorneys they work with.
Now, while you don't necessarily need to have a degree to become a paralegal, more value is put on a paralegal with some level of certification in the field.
Therefore, it would suit you to take a look at the steps you could possibly take to get yourself prepared for paralegal work.
High school career advisors and guidance counselors usually have useful information on institutions offering certificate and degree programs in the paralegal field.
If you are getting ready to graduate from high school, check with the career advisor for guidance.
Otherwise, you can visit the website of a few colleges and institutions in your area and request catalogs on their paralegal programs.
It makes a lot of sense to review those programs that are approved by the Bar Association because lawyers looking to hire paralegals lean towards the prospects that have completed a Bar-approved program.
Colleges and institutions offer a wide range of programs for people interested in doing paralegal work.
These range from certificate programs to bachelor's and master's degrees.
If you are particularly interested in working with a large law firm, it would be a good idea to strive for at least a bachelor's degree.
Once you have settled on an institution and the type of certification you want to pursue, you need to start looking into the area of specialty you are interested in.
Some popular paralegal jobs include bankruptcy and immigration paralegal, as well as jobs in the criminal, real estate and corporate law fields.
What helps budding paralegals is becoming proficient in legal software programs that will probably need to be used when doing research on the job.
Because of how many paralegal work opportunities exist, people who like the legal field but are not necessarily interested in practicing law can still have a rewarding career.
Start off by choosing the type of program that you will enjoy; the rest will come in stride!