Online Education Options for Degrees in Paralegal
Online educational options for degrees in paralegal cover a broad range of paralegal specializations at several different levels, although some course work is standard across them. Those who choose to pursue an online paralegal degree can expect to study criminal law, environmental law, civil procedure, constitutional law, torts, contracts, the history of the legal system, legal ethics, legal writing and research. From these courses, students will gain skills analyzing legal problems, reading cases, condensing facts, and applying the law to facts.
Online options for paralegal exist at the following levels:
For someone interested in a career as an attorney to go beyond the paralegal studies, pursuing a Juris Doctor degree online is an option. This includes more specialized courses in intellectual property law, environmental law, international law, administrative law, tax law, antitrust law, admiralty law, venture capitol law, and corporate law. Online paralegal degree coursework at this level of advancement will require students to read cases and make arguments as a reference to their knowledge of the legal system. Students will learn legal reasoning skills that are essential for effective paralegal practice.
Degrees in Paralegal Career and Salary Information
Career opportunities for those who have earned an online degree in paralegal are quite varied. Legal assistants, paralegals, legal secretaries, and law managers are in high demand now as they perform many of the tasks once handled by attorneys. Paralegals assist lawyers with trial preparation as well as preparation for hearings, meetings and other important events. A paralegal typically is responsible for gathering information and possibly preparing reports for the attorney to help the attorney make key decisions. In addition to gathering information, paralegals will assist with the drafting of documents such as mortgages, contracts, and separation agreements. Persons in the criminal justice field could benefit from an online degree as well. An online degree in paralegal could be good background for a police officer, corrections officer, juvenile case worker, or court reporter as well.
Legal service providers such as paralegals, legal secretaries, and legal managers make between $30,000 and $65,000 depending on their geographic location and years of experience. Lawyers have the potential to earn quite a bit more than legal service providers and law enforcement officials. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median salary for a lawyer at $90,300.