If you have ever thought of becoming a paralegal, this article is for you. I am writing this article to help people who want to learn about this profession, and to guide them in their life goals.
Being a paralegal can be extremely stressful and challenging.
Paralegals assist lawyers, notaries, judges and other professionals.
Paralegals perform various tasks such as legal research, drafting legal documents, preparing trial briefs, making arrangements for the trial, interviewing clients, assisting lawyers in preparing for mediation and court settlements of disputes, preparing legal correspondence and perform general office tasks, and much more. The tasks depend on which branch of law you plan to work in.
Paralegals work in various types of organizations and legal specialties, such as in law firms, government agencies, consultancy firms, companies, and non-profit organizations.
You can apply to the Paralegal Technology Program at Ahuntsic College or O'Sullivan College. These colleges on the island of Montreal offer a 3-year training program. Ahuntsic College offers courses in French, while O'Sullivan College offers courses in French and English. Upon completion of the program, you can start working as a legal assistant in law firms or other legal establishments. However, if you are interested of working in Ontario, you need to take the Paralegal Licensing Exam to receive accreditation by the Law Society of Upper Canada. You must also pass an exam in order to be considered a paralegal and to practice this profession outside Canada.
In Quebec, paralegals make on average of $58,100 per year. The salaries depend on regions and work experience.
Paralegals not only have to complete college, but they also have to take internships or on-the-job training before being employed. However, you need to have paralegal certificates or paralegal degrees if you want to work outside of Quebec.
Paralegals can make mistakes in their research that could change a person's life. The person can hold grudges and take revenge on paralegals. Also, the environment can take a toll on their work-life balance and overall well-being.
It is unlikely that paralegals will be completely replaced by robots. However, some tasks will be taken by robots such as data analysis, document review, and some aspects of legal research. Paralegals will still be able to keep their jobs. The advantage of robots is that they can perform due diligence tasks at a faster pace, so it saves time. Robots also reduce human error, and are cost-efficient. Paralegals will be able to concentrate on more complex aspects of their work and enhance their skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving that machines lack.
Paralegals can retire at 65.
As you can see, being a paralegal requires a college diploma and on-the-job training. You can also pursue a higher level of education, such as earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in legal studies to become attorneys.
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