Business & Information Technology Division

Business: Paralegal

Program Summary

Paralegals assist lawyers by performing legal research, writing legal documents, and preparing for court.  The academic program provides intensive training in legal concepts and vocabulary. Students develop an understanding of the law through case analysis and legal research  in the law library and online databases.  Students prepare for a career in the law through hands-on training in computer assisted legal research and computer software commonly used in law offices.  Students practice their skills by drafting legal documents as class projects. The culminating experience in the paralegal program is an internship in a law office, which provides students with an opportunity to put into practice all they have learned in the class room.

Program of Study at Herkimer

Click Paralegal for the current program of study page.

Skill Requirements

Students interested in the paralegal field need to have excellent reading, writing and communication skills. A good paralegal has an inquiring mind and a detail oriented personality.

Nature of the Work

Paralegals, also referred to as legal assistants, perform a wide range of tasks in support of lawyers and are a vital part of the legal system. Paralegals assist lawyers through legal research and writing. Paralegals help lawyers prepare for trial by investigating cases, interviewing clients, drafting court documents, and organizing and tracking litigation. In addition, paralegals help lawyers prepare for real estate closings, hearings, and corporate meetings. Other areas of work include drafting legal documents of all kinds, preparing tax returns and estate planning. The work requires precision and attention to detail. Paralegals work in many types of organizations, including law firms, corporate legal departments, banks, insurance companies, government offices and the court system.

Job Outlook

The Government Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2004 - 05 states "Paralegals and legal assistants are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. Growth will be in private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate firms, banks and other corporations. Trends also indicate that more paralegals will be starting their own businesses.