Imagine going from zero to career in just a few short months. Paralegal and legal assistant programs could be the way to do it. You'll be a working professional in the legal industry, doing many of the things that a lawyer does, but without the personal and financial commitment of spending several years in law school. You can train at either a local campus or an online school.

Legal Assistant and Paralegal Career Profile
Paralegals — also called legal assistants — help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. They often perform complex research duties, compiling information and writing reports that lend credibility to a legal position. Find your school.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is expected to increase 22 percent through 2016, that's much faster than the national average for all occupations. There will be an increase in the demand for paralegals with specific industry experience, such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and product liability. Career opportunities also exist in Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the court systems.

Training, Certification and Degrees
There are about 1,000 colleges and universities, law schools, and proprietary schools that offer formal legal assistant training programs either online or on-campus; of those, approximately 260 programs are approved by the American Bar Association. Academic credentials for paralegals range from a certificate to a Master's degree.

With respect to certification, The National Association of Legal Assistants offers the Certified Legal Assistant, the Certified Paralegal, and the Advanced Paralegal Certification. In addition, the National Federation of Paralegal Association offers the Registered Paralegal certification to professionals who have a bachelor's degree, at least two years of experience, and can pass the examination test.

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