LEGAL STUDIES--PARALEGAL/PRE-LAW
Mission
and Vision
Activities
CAREER
FIELDS AND REQUIRED DEGREES
Paralegals:
As a Paralegal, you work for an attorney as you investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. Included is the identification of appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials. After you analyze and organize the information, you prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining the ways cases should be handled. You also assist in drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, trusts, and the like.
You may qualify to work as a criminal law paralegal, a real estate paralegal, or a litigation paralegal. Positions are available in private law firms, corporate law departments, and local, state, or federal agencies.
Lawyers:
American lawyers are in private practice, ranging from small, one-person offices to large firms. They work for government agencies, for private industries and associations as salaried lawyers or as managers, for legal aid or as public defenders, and in legal education.
Many lawyers develop expertise in a particular field of law. The areas of specialization include: criminal law, civil law, corporate law, tax law, labor law, patent law, real estate law, immigration law, international law, and environmental law.
Those with a flair for writing have the option of entering the field of journalism where they use their professional training as a lawyer to report various legal issues. Most of the leading newspapers and magazines utilize these legal correspondents. Teaching is another viable option.
Court Administrators:
Court administrators are responsible for the administration and management of the court system. Duties include the following: continuous survey and study of court organization and operation; examination of the status of dockets in terms of personnel assignment; investigation of complaints; collection and analysis of statistical and other data relating to the business of the courts; implementation of court standards and policies; supervision of the fiscal unit; examination of arrangements for the use and maintenance of court facilities and judicial equipment and supplies; planning for the organization and operation of clerical offices; implementation of preservice and inservice training programs for nonjudicial personnel; provision for court security; liaison with the executive and legislative branches and other public and private agencies; and submission of an annual report of the activities and accomplishments of the office for the preceding year.
Web Sites for Career Searches
For general information, go to
www.nycareerzone.org
For further information, use the following Search Engines:
www.ask.com
www.google.com
www.yahoo.com