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Paralegal: My New Beginning in Life Anthony Williams Everest University Paralegal: My New Beginning in Life The Legal system has always been a part of my life. Being young and black, in the south and living in the “hood”, the legal system was common to all households as was spaghetti and catfish on Fridays. My inner city view of “the system” as we called it, was warped by the cries of the so called innocent that I came in contact with. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I was fortunate enough to see the real inner workings of the system I had for so long shunned. This was my first moment of intrigue with law or anything legal for that matter. Years would pass before my calling to the paralegal profession would be heard. My decision to enter the paralegal field was due to circumstances surrounding my late great uncle, Doug. An army veteran of the Korean War, he was severely injured during the Korean War yet was not receiving the proper benefits for his injuries. The overdrawn battle with the Veterans Administration, to have his benefits enhanced was my deciding factor. It was now time for me to try to change these injustices against our American veterans. Becoming a paralegal would be my way to give back to my fellow veterans. In researching the profession of a paralegal, I discovered it involved a multitude of responsibility, strict adherence to ethical rules and required a high level of dedication. Described, as the grunt work of law, it’s the job of the paralegal to do the majority of the behind the scenes work. (SearchbyDegree.com, 2010) This includes preparing for trials, legal hearings, client meetings and closings. They research and evaluate the facts of a legal case, verifying if evidence and relative information can be considered in a court of law. (U.S.news.com, 2010) A paralegal can assume more responsibility by specializing in specific areas such as criminal law, family law, litigation, personal injury, real estate and military benefits, to name a few. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013) This array of specialized areas in which a paralegals career could focus was a huge plus in pursuing this field. To me, this meant I could impact fellow veteran’s lives in many different ways during my career. The path to becoming a paralegal varies from state to state as well as the personal aspirations of the individual pursuing the profession. Because some states do not have specific educational guidelines to become a paralegal, one could receive on the job training from their employer in order to be labeled a paralegal. (U.S.news.com, 2010) However, this route would yield limited employment opportunities. For my home state of Tennessee, there are no education or certification requirements. Taking the simple path would limit my career and my goal to assist my fellow veterans. So, my research turned toward how to increase my opportunities within the paralegal profession. About 1,000 colleges, universities and law schools offer formal training programs. Approximately 260 paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Although many employers do not require such approval, graduating from one of these programs can improve employment opportunities. (SearchbyDegree.com, 2010) In addition to gaining a college degree, having national certification increases employment opportunities greatly. This combination of a college degree and national certification would demonstrate dedication to the profession and the necessary knowledge, keeping my talents in demand in a career market with growth, expanding at 18% a year. In 2010, the median pay for a paralegal was $46,680 per year, whereas the top 10% made $74,870.00 per year. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013) It is this top 10% I am positioning myself to be in. A paralegal possess certain qualities in order to be effective and successful. They must have excellent organizational skills, in order to deal with multiple cases and changing deadlines. Paralegals must have great research skills to conduct effective legal research. They should also have exceptional computer skills to conduct legal research, to organize and maintain documents, as well as for litigation support. Additionally, a paralegal possess outstanding interpersonal skills to relax and comfort the client sharing personal information. Lastly, and equally important, a paralegal must have good writing and speaking skills in order to sufficiently document and present their research to the supervising attorney. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013) These are skills I currently have and I will advance them in my quest to be a top 10% paralegal. In concluding my research of the paralegal profession, I am certain that my goal to assist in correcting the many injustices inflicted upon my fellow veterans can be accomplished in this field. It is not going to be an easy task learning the terminology of law or the structure of the court system, but I am certain that the path I have chosen is for me. Becoming a paralegal is my new beginning in life and I have embraced it. Top 10% here I come. References Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012-2013).Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from United States Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm searchbydegree.com. (2013). Search by Degree. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from Paralegal Salary and Job Description - Paralegal Careers and Career Program Information: http://www.searchbydegree.com/paralegal-career.html usnewsuniversity.com. (2013). US News. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from University Directory,Paralegal Job Description, Certification and Salary Information: http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/careers/paralegals-and-legal-assistants_10705.aspx#.UVCs01dfaSq