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High-stakes, high-speed,

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and—at times—high-stress,

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the workings of the world of law

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are supported by the efforts of

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paralegals and legal assistants.

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These law professionals help lawyers

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prepare for hearings and trials,

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draft documents,

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and coordinate electronic materials,

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such as emails, accounting databases,

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and websites related to a trial or investigation.

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They gather case facts and dig into related laws

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and regulations, write up reports,

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and schedule meetings and interviews

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with witnesses, lawyers, and others.

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Not all paralegals work with trial lawyers …

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Corporate paralegals

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help prepare employee contracts,

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shareholder agreements, and financial reports.

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They stay current with regulations

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to give up-to-date information.

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Paralegals also specialize in areas such as

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criminal law, intellectual property,

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immigration, and family law.

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Most paralegals work for law firms.

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Some are employed in government

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or the finance and insurance industries.

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In small firms,

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paralegals’ have more varied duties

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and their work lasts the duration of a case…

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while in large firms,

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paralegals may focus on a

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particular phase of a case.

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Most paralegals and legal assistants

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work full time in an office environment,

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adding overtime to meet deadlines.

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They may occasionally travel for research

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or preparation for trials.

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Most employers prefer applicants who have

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an associate’s degree in paralegal studies,

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or a bachelor’s degree in another field,

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sometimes with a certificate in paralegal studies.