What Are The Latest Trends In The Paralegal Market?
By Carole Bruno

Excerpt from LESSONS From the Top Paralegal Experts, the 15 Most Successful Paralegal and What You Can Learn From Them

The paralegal profession is growing so fast and schools are popping up everywhere. The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) presently has more than 450 members. AAfPE member schools currently enroll nearly 50,000 students and have nearly 200,000 graduates; 260 of them are ABA-approved. The public is becoming more knowledgeable about paralegals. Paralegals are rarely called legal assistants even though they may type on a computer. Seminars are being held by various institutions, paralegal associations and private companies.

Besides California’s latest statute, Business & Professions Code, Section 6450, which has already been amended, many associations for paralegals have sprung up, such as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), which was organized in the 1970's; the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA); and the American Alliance for Paralegals (AAIPARA).

Higher Educational Standards Are Now Required

With the State of California adopting legislation that defines the titles “paralegal” and “legal assistant” and setting educational criteria and continuing education requirements for paralegals, a new precedent has been set (and quite possibly other states may follow). Section 6450 defines “paralegal/legal assistant” as “a person who contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California….” The statute is intended to differentiate paralegals who work under the supervision of an attorney from persons who provide services directly to the public and are required under California law to be registered as legal document assistants (LDA).

The standards in the legal profession are high, and most law firms require some college background, preferably a four-year degree, and formal paralegal education. Large firms usually require a bachelor’s degree. Employers also require paralegals to have highly developed oral and written communication skills,[i] plus organizational and computer skills. However, there are many ways you may become a paralegal: (1) by obtaining a college degree and certification; (2) with a community college and associate’s degree; (3) or through on-the-job training; and a (4)bachelor’s and master’s degrees in paralegal studies. Other entrants have experience in a technical field that is useful to law firms, such as a background in tax preparation for tax and estate practices or in criminal justice, nursing, or health administration for personal practices.[ii]

According to The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook[iii], paralegals and legal assistants held about 200,000 jobs in 2002 ,and 224,000 in 2004. Private law firms employed seven out of 10 paralegals and legal assistants; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government.

Within the Federal Government, the United States Department of Justice is the largest employer, followed by the Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Treasury. A small number of paralegals own their own businesses and work as freelance legal assistants, contracting their services to attorneys or corporate legal departments. However, recently the number of freelance paralegals is increasing.

Technology Is Reinforcing and Expanding the Role and Professional Nature of the Paralegal Profession

Technology is changing the face of the profession as paralegals learn new software programs and take charge of cases with a significant volume of documents. Now some paralegals are writing programs to meet their firm’s needs. “Paralegals are becoming more accessible to attorneys as the cost of new hardware decreases,” says Gary Melhuish, former president of The International Paralegal Managers Association (IPMA). With new software constantly being created and its use updated in almost every area of law, paralegals are able to perform their tasks with increased speed and accuracy. Law libraries in law firms are literally discarding their books in favor of online services for legal research. Paralegals who keep current with technology become invaluable to the firm, especially because they tend to stay with the firm, while associates and attorneys tend to rise up through the ranks or change firms. Paralegals become the institutional memory of the firm.

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[i] California Business and Professions Code, Section 6450.
[ii] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants.
[iii] Ibid.