Online Paralegal Degrees Launching Your Career in 2 Years or Less

Paralegals assist lawyers with briefs, investigation, research and trial preparation. The future for new paralegals is bright, as more companies cut costs by having paralegals do jobs that lawyers used to do.

According to Careerbuilder.com, paralegals, legal assistants and lawyers ranked among America's top 50 jobs in growth and earnings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for paralegals to grow much faster than average in the next eight years.

The latest statistics show that the median salary range for paralegals is $35,270 to $57,500. The top 10 percent earn more than $71,480 a year. Salaries vary according to education, experience, type of employer and location. In general, big-city paralegals and those who work for large law firms earn more than those in other areas. But paralegals working for the federal government do the best on average, making $59,180 per year.

Most students seeking an online paralegal degree can earn an associate's degree in two years or less. Those who already have a bachelor's degree can earn a paralegal certificate in less than a year. A small number of schools offer bachelors or master's degrees in paralegal studies, but a higher degree isn't necessary to get a job in the field.

The quality of online paralegal degree programs varies; do your research to find the right one for you.

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