A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, usually works for a government agency, private law office or legal department. A paralegal can get certification by organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Currently, the paralegal field is experiencing a faster-than-average employment growth.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 71 percent of paralegals work for private law firms. The job responsibilities could include creating legal documents and correspondence, conducting legal research and interviewing clients. Often paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials and corporate meetings, as well as investigate case facts.
A legal studies degree is not just for someone who wants to be a paralegal. The degree holder can also consider an array of jobs that are still in the law field. The individual could become a legislative assistant, law clerk, bar examiner, data entry clerk, hearing officer and court clerk. And, with further education, the graduate could become an attorney, district attorney or a judge.
The graduate can also find many jobs that do not fall into the law field. The degree holder could become a mediator, auditor, appraiser, counselor, contract writer, insurance claim adjuster, fraud investigator, police officer, detective, security officer, private investigator or detective, correctional officer, forensic account and fraud examiner, emergency management direction, crime scene investigator, forensic science investigator and computer forensics investigator.
The salary of someone with this specialized degree really depends on the line of work. For an entry-level paralegal position, annual salaries start at around $35,000, according to Payscale.com. A paralegal who has worked in the field for between 10 and 19 years earns a median yearly salary of about $47,000, according to the Degree Directory website. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the annual average salary for an attorney is between $48,000 and $108,000, depending on the specific job.
It is possible that the graduate could use the legal studies degree as a steppingstone to obtaining a law degree or a graduate degree in law, legal studies or criminal justice. Most law schools do not require a specific degree for entry into the school, but the coursework that is associated with the legal studies degree could help prepare the student for additional education.