According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in the paralegal field is expected to be 27% or more through the year 2014. The driving force behind this predicted increase is the attempt to provide more affordable and efficient availability of legal services in the coming years. Although many students enter the profession through formal paralegal training programs, a degree in criminal justice is an alternative path to joining the rapidly expanding discipline of paralegal studies.
What is a Paralegal?
Paralegal jobs with a criminal justice degree involve many of the same tasks performed by an attorney. Lawyers delegate tasks, such as researching facts and preparing documents for court, to the paralegal with a criminal justice degree. Paralegals are also able to help draft contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, and tax returns. In fact, the only activities paralegals cannot legally perform are the five activities categorized as practicing law: giving legal advice, signing legal pleadings and papers on behalf of a party, appearing in court on behalf of another, and setting and collecting fees for legal services.
Paralegals use legal terminology, and document their findings and opinions related to assigned cases to a supervising attorney. As the law becomes larger, professionals who pursue a paralegal career, with criminal justice degree credentials, typically specialize in a certain area of the law. Possible areas of concentration include labor law, intellectual property, criminal law, immigration, and real estate.
Educational Requirements to Work as a Paralegal
There are approximately 1,000 official paralegal training programs at the associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree level. However, many professionals choose to use a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice to enter the field. Often employers will provide on-the-job training in legal activities for the worker with a criminal justice degree or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, there are also formal certification and training programs available. Certification as a paralegal is not required for employment, but it may increase competitiveness in the job market.
Opportunities for Advancement as a Paralegal
As with many other occupations, as a paralegal gains more experience, he or she is typically given more responsibility and less supervision on the job. A paralegal career with criminal justice degree credentials may also lead to supervising other paralegals or obtaining a management position within a law firm or corporate legal department. Some paralegals also choose to go on to law school after gaining experience in the legal field. Working as a paralegal can offer insight into a professional’s interest in law, can teach legal terminology, and can provide case reading prior to even stepping foot in a law school classroom.
Earning a Degree in Criminal Justice
A host of criminal justice degree programs exist as well. Typical programs, such as the criminal justice degree online offered at Warren National University, offer education in both administrative and hands-on aspects of the field. Students working towards a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice study courses such as: administration of justice, criminal investigation, written communication in criminal justice, and the American court system.
Florida Metropolitan University Online has a Paralegal Associate’s Degree as well as a Paralegal Bachelor’s Degree for students interested in the field. Kaplan University offers an Associate of Arts and Sciences in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies. Their Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies extends to its students such specializations as Alternative Dispute Resolution, Office Management, and Personal Injury. Kaplan also has an advanced program for their bachelor’s degree called Advanced Start in BS Paralegal Studies.
Attending an online college for a criminal justice degree can be a convenient way to maintain work and family responsibilities and gain access to programs that would otherwise be unavailable in some locations.
The occupation of paralegal encompasses a wide variety of activities and career paths. Salaries range from $34,000 with state government positions to more than $80,000 for private law-firm positions. Becoming a paralegal is just one job option for the versatile degree in criminal justice and can lead the way to a lucrative, stable career or be followed by a challenging three years of law school.
Click on a program or degree below to request information from the school of your choice.
There are no obligations and it's completely free!
|
Westwood College isn't your typical institution of higher learning. With our career-focused education, students can earn a bachelor's degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months.
|
|
|
|
|
|
With convenient class locations as well as online learning, University of Phoenix makes quality higher education highly accessible. Whether you’re seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, we can help you reach your goal while you work – and much sooner than you might expect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At ITT Tech we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in fields involving technology, criminal justice, and business.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whether you want to change or advance your career, Kaplan University will help you get the education you need for the life you want to live. Offering online flexibility, the personal attention of a campus-based experience, reduced costs, financial aid assistance, and a quicker path to your degree, Kaplan University is a smart choice for working adults.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As an accredited university, Capella University takes online education to a higher level. We believe that real, life-changing learning happens in an environment of academic excellence, challenge, and personal connection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Founded in 1970, American InterContinental University offers a wide range of Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. Our institution of higher learning is focused on helping students acquire industry-current knowledge and skills as they pursue, build and advance their careers in many of today's most in-demand fields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Programs at Argosy University are geared to your lifestyle. Depending on the program you select, you may be able to choose from day, evening and weekend schedules. Many of our classes are accessible online providing outstanding instruction and resources no matter where you are or what time of day it is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tags: criminal justice, paralegal
This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Law and Social Sciences.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
