Is Paralegal Education Necessary?
Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning paralegals should have a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent having two-year associates degrees. However, trends indicate that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and possibly make more money.