With increased quantities of paperwork and administration, lawyers are now turning to paralegals to carry out a range of duties and legally related procedures. If you decide to become a paralegal, you could be responsible for a range of duties such as preparing standard documentation, legal research, checking details and arranging interviews and appointments. You might also expect to accompany an attorney to court as well as ensuring that documentation is easily accessible and available during the session. All of this support work allows attorneys to free up their time and concentrate more on constructing cases rather than time consuming routine work.

There are a couple of routes you could take to become a paralegal. You might be interested in studying an associate's degree in paralegal studies, or you might want to enjoy a broader based education by earning a bachelor's degree (say criminal justice) then applying yourself to a certificate in paralegal studies. The first path is more vocational in nature. The second would allow you some degree of flexibility to alter your career path at a later date. Having a bachelor's qualification can open up other employment avenues. You will need to be able to offer close attention to detail and be methodical and precise in your approach. You will need to be organized, and be flexible since a case can often change direction, and you will need to adapt quickly to changing objectives.

The following schools offer criminal justice degrees which can help you gain the skills to become a Paralegal: