Legal Support Services Studies
A Career in Legal Support Services
Money Magazine projects paralegals will see a 3% increase in employment over the next decade. Salary.com quotes the median salary of a paralegal or legal assistant at $53,7 a year. These factors are two of the reasons an education in Legal Support Services Studies has grown in popularity. A Legal Support Services Studies degree program provides the foundation necessary to begin a career in the legal system.
Education
There are a variety of programs leading to a career in legal support services. A Legal Secretary certificate, an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, and Master of Science in Legal Studies are all degree programs that qualify graduates for a career in legal support services.
Certification or a degree is not a requirement for a position as legal support. However, legal assistants of all kinds perform duties across all levels, including those assigned to attorneys. As preparation for these duties a foundation in Constitutional law as well as experience executing the basic duties of a legal office are often necessary. A degree in Legal Support Services Studies gives paralegals, legal secretaries, and other legal assistants the ability to standout in a competitive job market.
An education in Legal Support Services Studies also prepares legal assistants to become earn certification through examinations offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Association for Legal Professionals(NALP), and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
An Online Degree in Legal Support Studies
Legal Support Studies degree programs are available online as well as at brick-and-mortar colleges. Online degree programs make the same materials available to students but give students freedom to study at their own pace from their homes. Many online degree programs are regionally and nationally accredited. For a degree to count towards eligibility for legal assistant and paralegal certification the program must be recognized by the NALA, NALP, or NFPA.
After a Legal Support Services Studies degree has been earned, graduates may want to participate in an internship or volunteer at a legal center to gain valuable experience before entering the field.