Division of Continuing Professional Studies
Career Outlook for Paralegal Studies
The paralegal profession is one of today’s fastest-growing, most dynamic employment fields. The work of paralegals helps increase the availability of quality legal services and makes those services more affordable. Such efforts allow paralegals to make significant contributions to the workplace and to society.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by lawyers.
Corporations in particular are boosting their in-house legal departments to cut costs. Businesses are increasingly relying on paralegals to monitor and review government regulations to ensure that new regulations are met and that the company is operating within the law.
As the law has become more complex, paralegals have become more specialized. For example, some may concentrate exclusively on employee contracts, shareholder agreements, stock-option plans, and employee benefit plans. They also may help prepare and file annual financial reports, maintain corporate minutes’ record resolutions, and prepare forms to secure loans for the corporation.
Paralegals who specialize in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and product liability should have ample employment opportunities. The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services.
Job opportunities for paralegals will expand in the public sector as well. Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, elderly, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Federal, state, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts also should continue to hire paralegals in increasing numbers.
For more information, see the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition.