A paralegal is not a lawyer, but is someone who assist lawyers or attorneys in a myriad of legal-related activities.
Among the things paralegals do are conduct research for court cases, write-up contracts, monitor case loads, assist in trials, and prepare all sorts of legal documents.
Many a times they are also called upon to help interview witnesses or conduct investigations.
They are so well-versed with legal work that they are often mistaken to be lawyers by members of the public! So, how much are they paid? Well, the answer is that their salaries vary quite widely for it depends on a number of factors such as experience, training, and where they work.
But in the United States, the average salary is about 50,000 USD per annum.
Like other professions, when their experience goes up, so will their pay.
For example, those with less than two years of working experience may get around 43,000 USD but this may skyrocket to around 70,000 USD after more the eight years in the line.
Most individuals who work as paralegals have associate degrees, while some have bachelor and even master degrees.
In reality, if you harbour becoming a paralegal, its good to aim for these certifications which can be obtained online studies.
But before you register with any school, do scout around to see how much each and every school you are interested in charge for their courses.
If you know anyone in the legal fraternity, ask for their advice.
And, yes, do a bit of research to be certain that there is a demand for paralegals in your area.
In a nutshell, if you are interested in law but don't feel like going to law school, than becoming a paralegal is an excellent alternative.
They are respected in society and their pay is decent.