How Do You Become An Independent Paralegal?
A paralegal is a person trained in the law who works in a law office or as an independent contractor for lawyers and firms. While paralegals are not allowed to try cases, they can assist lawyers during trials and are involved in all aspects of law, including interviewing witnesses, doing research, writing legal documents for presentation in court, drafting and drawing up legal agreements, such as for separations and financial matters. Many paralegals choose to specialize in a particular area of the law, such as tax law, family law, real estate, litigation or criminal law. Paralegals are not required to hold a degree or have special training in the law prior to beginning work for a lawyer or firm; however, many law firms prefer to hire paralegals with a degree or certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants, which offers the Certified Legal Assistant standing to its members. As an independent paralegal, you can work for a variety of clients on a freelance basis, charg
