Your Career As A Paralegal

If you are looking for stimulating and challenging work in a professional environment, marketable skills to build on your college education, or a higher level of responsibility in your present position, then you should consider the Paralegal Program at Oakland University. In today's legal environment, paralegals have become valued members of the legal team, helping to deliver professional services to clients. Under the supervision of an attorney, paralegals: Help interview clients Perform legal research Gather and assemble factual information Draft documents and pleadings Analyze and summarize documents File documents with courts and agencies Prepare for and assist at trials Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

If you are looking for stimulating and challenging work in a professional environment, marketable skills to build on your college education, or a higher level of responsibility in your present position, then you should consider the Paralegal Program at Oakland University.

In today's legal environment, paralegals have become valued members of the legal team, helping to deliver professional services to clients. Under the supervision of an attorney, paralegals*:

Help interview clients
Perform legal research
Gather and assemble factual information
Draft documents and pleadings
Analyze and summarize documents
File documents with courts and agencies
Prepare for and assist at trials

* Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

According to the 2008-2009 Bureau of Labor and Statistics Handbook, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses. Corporations Nonprofit organizations Insurance and health-care companies Banks Court systems Local, state and federal government agencies Real estate title companies Financial service organizations If you have an interest in the law, training as a paralegal is an excellent short-term route to a new career or a foundation for law school. Come to a Paralegal Program Career Information Night to learn more. A Comment From One of Our Graduates: "....I am employed by a firm that utilizes their paralegals to the fullest. There are four of us and we all feel that we are given assignments that require our education and training. Please let your students know that there are jobs out there and that law firms are finally becoming aware of the importance and necessity of paralegals. I recently had a senior partner tell me that he couldn't imagine how the office could run without the paralegals. (This I might add, is a partner who was totally against the idea of employing paralegals 8 years ago.)"

According to the 2008-2009 Bureau of Labor and Statistics Handbook, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.

Corporations
Nonprofit organizations
Insurance and health-care companies
Banks
Court systems
Local, state and federal government agencies
Real estate title companies
Financial service organizations

If you have an interest in the law, training as a paralegal is an excellent short-term route to a new career or a foundation for law school. Come to a Paralegal Program Career Information Night to learn more.

A Comment From One of Our Graduates:
"....I am employed by a firm that utilizes their paralegals to the fullest. There are four of us and we all feel that we are given assignments that require our education and training. Please let your students know that there are jobs out there and that law firms are finally becoming aware of the importance and necessity of paralegals. I recently had a senior partner tell me that he couldn't imagine how the office could run without the paralegals. (This I might add, is a partner who was totally against the idea of employing paralegals 8 years ago.)"

Open House Night We will have Open House Nights as an opportunity to explore career options, discuss paralegal program educational requirements, and learn about the profession from guest speakers who are program graduates working in the field. Please call 248-370-4386 . There is no cost to attend. We will also be glad to schedule personal advising appointments with any prospective students wishing to learn more about the field and about our American Bar Association certified program. For information on the next scheduled public event and to reserve a seat, call Linda Wallace, program coordinator @ 248-370-4386.

Open House Night

We will have Open House Nights as an opportunity to explore career options, discuss paralegal program educational requirements, and learn about the profession from guest speakers who are program graduates working in the field. Please call 248-370-4386 . There is no cost to attend.

We will also be glad to schedule personal advising appointments with any prospective students wishing to learn more about the field and about our American Bar Association certified program.

For information on the next scheduled public event and to reserve a seat, call Linda Wallace, program coordinator @ 248-370-4386.