Online Paralegal & Legal Services Degrees and Careers
While lawyers function as the most well-known face of the legal field, most attorneys couldn't carry out their jobs without the help of a network of assistants and administrative staff members. Chief among these are paralegals and legal services employees, who carry out many different legal, administrative, logistical and research tasks.
Although the responsibilities that can be assigned to paralegals differ from state to state, many professionals in these roles carry out many of the same tasks that a lawyer performs, with the exception of offering legal advice and making court appearances.
Education & Career Opportunities in Paralegal & Legal Services
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegal and legal assistant jobs are expected to grow at a faster-than-average pace (up to 28 percent) between 2008 and 2018. However, competition, however, should remain significant, and the most lucrative and stable positions should be reserved for candidates with a degree or other formal training.
In the legal services field, paralegal and legal services degrees can impact earning power. Experienced and educated paralegals at high-end law firms can earn annual salaries in the high five figures, while those just starting out at a government agency may make less than $30,000 a year. In 2009, paralegals earned a median annual wage of $46,980, while the top ten percent earned $75,700.
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- Liberty University provides a worldclass education from a christ-centered worldview
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- No standardized testing if student meets admission requirements
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