When earning a Paralegal Studies degree from Generations College in Chicago, you gain a valuable platform that provides the flexibility to put your education into practice in a variety of settings. Job responsibilities differ for various types of paralegals. In general, paralegals in any industry play an important role in serving clients.
Common types of jobs for paralegals include the following:
1. Corporate Paralegal
When you think of a paralegal, you probably imagine someone who works for a law firm, providing support to the firm’s attorneys and partners. While that is the career path for many people who earn their paralegal degrees, another rewarding option is to become a corporate paralegal.
As a corporate paralegal, the company is the legal department’s client. Corporate paralegals typically get involved in business tasks including matters related to the board of directors and their meetings, corporate filings and reports, merger activities, and more.
2. Estate Planning and Probate Paralegal
Paralegals who work for estate planning and probate law firms (or inside the estate planning or probate practice for firms with multiple practice areas) get to learn about helping clients pass on their financial legacies according to state trust and probate codes.
In this type of role, expect to help prepare documents and filings. You will likely work directly with clients that want to prepare or update their estate plans or that need help managing the probate court process for deceased loved ones’ estates. Some estate planning and probate practices also handle estate and trust legal contests, so paralegals’ responsibilities can include helping attorneys prepare for litigation, as well.
3. Family Law Paralegal
Clients that engage family law firms are generally dealing with emotionally stressful situations. Whether a client has hired the firm to assist with a divorce, custody battle or some other matter, family law paralegals often need to draw on their knowledge and training as well as on being empathetic listeners for clients.
As a family law paralegal, you might draft motions and agreements; compile evidence to support the firms’ cases; maintain organized records to support attorneys when legal matters go to trial; and communicate with clients, attorneys and other parties.
4. Government Paralegal
Government paralegals may work for local courts and government offices, state agencies, or federal government offices or agencies. When working for a government agency, the “client” is often the public constituency as a whole, rather than individual people or companies.
Your work as a corporate paralegal depends largely on the type of agency or government office for which you work. For example, paralegals working for agencies that deal with public housing will need to have an understanding of real estate law and regulations, whereas government paralegals working in the financial sector will work with an entirely different set of government regulations.
5. Immigration Paralegal
If you choose to work as an immigration paralegal, it will be important to understand the various types of U.S. immigration visa programs and policies. Immigration paralegals may work for the government, but they might also work for private law firms or nonprofits charged with helping people obtain citizenship or legal documentation allowing them to enter or remain in the United States.
Immigration paralegals who speak more than one language are often more attractive to potential employers, as the company’s clients may be more comfortable working with someone who is fluent in their language. In this role, you could help complete and file immigration paperwork, or help attorneys prepare for hearings and trials.
6. Intellectual Property Paralegal
Intellectual property law includes a range of legal matters including trademark law, copyright law, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary information. Intellectual paralegals could work for private enterprises or government agencies.
Your responsibilities in this role can include researching existing intellectual property filings; helping attorneys and their clients with assembling and filing applications for trademarks, patents and copyrights; responding to inquiries, communicating with clients and other parties, and preparing exhibits for litigation.
7. Litigation Paralegal
Law firms that handle litigation matters rely on litigation paralegals for a variety of tasks. Litigation often involves vast amounts of data and documents; paralegals play key roles in helping gather, review and summarize information in the discovery phase of litigation.
Litigation paralegals are also often responsible for maintaining organized records, preparing motions and other court filings, assisting with depositions, interviewing clients, and helping attorneys with other matters related to their clients’ legal cases.
8. Real Estate Paralegal
Paralegals who decide to focus their careers in the real estate field may work for Realtors, title companies, appraisers, property management and leasing companies, or corporate real estate departments.
To be an effective real estate paralegal, you will need to be well-versed in commercial and residential real estate purchases, sales and leases. You should also understand how title insurance works. Depending on your role, you might work directly with individual or corporate clients, help by preparing forms and filings for clients’ signatures, and conduct research into county property records.
Please note that paralegals may not practice law or otherwise provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
Earning your Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies degree from Generations College prepares you to succeed in any of the above types of jobs for paralegals. To learn more about this exciting and versatile degree, contact Generations College today!