This guide for paralegal schools in Kansas is designed to provide the information you need to decide where to get a paralegal degree or certificate in the state. A wide range of paralegal programs are available in Kansas, from certificate programs to master`s degree programs. You can also find an online paralegal degree program that`s right for you, as these types of programs can offer more flexibility to working students. Learn more about paralegal employment opportunities in the state in our Kansas Paralegal Career Guide. Legal assistants mainly take care of administrative work in the office, interviews with clients, calendar creation and legal correspondence. Paralegals are involved in trial preparation, application writing, participation in hearings with counsel, examination of witnesses with counsel, and in some states, paralegals may represent clients. As a legal assistant, your understanding of the law and the needs of the lawyer is crucial. That`s why your legal assistant instructors at Northwest Career College are comprised of experienced legal professionals, including lawyers, paralegals, and seasoned specialists, who will not only teach you about law, but also teach you the many ways a legal assistant integrates with a Las Vegas law firm. The Security Bureau estimates that employment opportunities for paralegals are expected to increase by 12% from 2018 to 2028. This figure is higher than the US average of five percent. On the other hand, the employment of lawyers is expected to increase by six per cent. So why is the number of legal assistants growing almost twice as fast as the number of lawyers? Money is an important factor.
No matter where you work as a legal assistant, you need to be organized. Even a small mistake can lead to problems in a law firm. This is just one more reason to train in a targeted way. “I`ve been teaching at OU for over 15 years because I wanted to make a real difference for students by teaching from a paralegal`s perspective, and that`s how I still feel today. It is important to me that students receive real paralegals for their tasks, so that they can see what they will do as paralegals in everyday life. My goal has always been for students to succeed in my classes and get the personal attention they deserve. I like to keep in touch with students for support and guidance during their other courses and after graduation. – Elaine Haack, Lecturer Washburn University (WU) offers a Bachelor of Juridical Studies (BLS) with 120 credits for students pursuing a career as a paralegal or paralegal. The four-year law program will help students develop knowledge of legal concepts, critical thinking, and an understanding of legal work ethics.
The courses involve a mix of general education and the study of law. Practical legal skills are developed through courses such as interviews and investigations; Legal research; and legal drafting. Law electives allow students to take courses focused on legal specialties such as elder law, personal injury law, and capital punishment. Practical experience is available through the required internship course. BLS students also have the opportunity to pursue an international study program that familiarizes them with the legal profession in another country. Students who already have a degree can enroll in WU`s Certificate of Legal Studies program or pursue a Master of Laws Studies (MSL) at the WU School of Law with a bachelor`s degree. Think about the big opportunity: Legal assistant programs offer optimized opportunities to prepare for a career in law that offers a lot of variety and the opportunity to take on interesting tasks. As a legal assistant, you can play a key role in organizing all kinds of information and helping lawyers with many aspects of their work. In fact, today`s paralegals (sometimes called paralegals) often perform many tasks that were previously assigned to new lawyers. In addition, the law clerk school is much shorter and cheaper than the law school.
And after graduation, you can pursue a good job and even explore opportunities for specialization. When you become a legal assistant, you are at the center of an exciting and rewarding career in the legal field. When you join our legal assistant school, you`ll learn how to become a legal assistant to some of Las Vegas` most experienced lawyers, from lawyers and paralegals to subject matter experts. The duties of the legal assistant also vary depending on the type of organization you work for. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) indicates that about 73 percent of paralegals work in law firms, while 11 percent work in local, state, or federal offices. Three percent work in fields such as insurance or financial companies. In addition, legal assistants who work in small offices often have more diverse tasks than those who work in large offices. In large offices, legal assistants sometimes focus on one area, such as contract management. That`s one of the coolest things about the field: there`s no typical day for paralegals. You will enjoy a lot of variety in this career. Some of your tasks may be: Of course, salary, as well as professional obligations, may vary.
This is good news for ambitious lawyers. In fact, a salary guide from Robert Half Legal states that paralegals with more than seven years of experience can earn between $60,250 and $102,000. You should also enjoy working with people. Finally, you can interview witnesses or take testimony. Indeed, a legal assistant will often have more contact with a client than with the lawyer he assists. The duties and responsibilities of a legal assistant vary from law firm to law firm, but typically involve a variety of administrative and client support tasks. Legal assistants manage the schedule, prepare documents, and assist the legal team with tasks such as providing administrative support during process preparation, sending emails to clients, or organizing client files. According to OOH, the median annual salary for paralegals in 2018 was $50,940. This is more than the national median annual salary for all occupations, which was $38,640.
OU Law`s ABA Recognized Legal Aid Certificate prepares you to work with lawyers in public and private legal practice, the judiciary, business, and government. Law firms want to cut costs. Since paralegals make less money than lawyers, it makes sense to hire more paralegals rather than more lawyers. As a result, the tasks of legal assistants are constantly expanding as they take on new tasks that previously belonged to new lawyers. This trend creates many interesting tasks for legal assistants with the right training. The ABA-accredited Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies offered at Middlesex Community College (MCC) prepares students to analyze evidence, prepare legal documents, and examine legal issues in the context of professional law firms, corporations, and other legal environments. The 60-credit paralegal studies program is based on a liberal arts foundation that includes general education courses from various disciplines, as well as paralegal courses. Legal specialty courses emphasize hands-on learning and train students to apply critical thinking and analytical skills in paralegal problem solving. The paralegal curriculum is flexible, with students choosing four of the eight legal electives offered, including contract law, criminal law for paralegals, and intellectual property law. All paralegal students must complete a paralegal articling or take an online simulation course in law firm management. The MCC also offers a 27-credit ABA-approved Postdoctoral Paralegal Certificate for students who already have a degree and wish to change careers and enter the paralegal field. So, find a legal assistant program that can help you advance your ambitions.
To get started, simply enter your postal code into the search tool below! It`s also important to remember that paralegals aren`t allowed to do certain things. For example, they cannot represent a client in court and they cannot give legal advice. However, they play a key role in assisting lawyers in almost every other aspect of legal work. The Legal Assistant Training Department, established in 1968 by the OU Law Centre, reflects the growing importance of paralegals in the legal profession. As a legal assistant, you should also be familiar with technology, including databases. That`s because “eDiscovery” is now an important part of that career. Ediscovery means working with digital data or information. This includes things like searching the web, searching databases, or organizing emails that can be used as evidence.