Should You Become a Paralegal or Lawyer?
Posted in Career Planning
Going into a law career does not necessarily mean becoming a lawyer. There are other career choices available in the said field such as becoming a paralegal. Choosing what path to take for a career would depend on your own preferences and personal choices. But before you do choose, you might need to know what makes a lawyer different from a paralegal.
Defining a Paralegal
Most people already know what a lawyer is. But a lot of people may not always know what a paralegal is. In simple terms, a paralegal is a person with adequate legal training but is usually working under a a direct supervision of a lawyer. A paralegal can be found in all areas that a lawyer works in. there are paralegals in real estate, in government, in criminal law, etc. Paralegals are usually persons who help and assist lawyers in delivering legal services.
Advantages Of A Paralegal
Law careers as a paralegal have its own advantages. One of them is the cost of education. Pursuing a law career through the paralegal course is usually more affordable than pursuing a course that leads one to become a lawyer. In the same sense, a paralegal may enter a law field or career without having to worry about repaying debts associated with law school education.
Another advantage of a paralegal career is that one can enter into the field of law without having to pass through a required exam. For lawyers, the career begins once one passes the required bar exams. Failure would mean disaster. In this way, it is easier for a paralegal to enter into a law career than a lawyer in terms of qualifications.
Another advantage of a paralegal career is that it is considered as an in demand career whereas a lawyer may only have an average outlook at best. Paralegals also have to deal with less stress at work as well as limited responsibility.
Disadvantages Of a Paralegal
One of the disadvantages of a paralegal over a lawyer is that the career may have a limited path for advancement. A lawyer may have a broader career path and have a lot of advancement opportunities. Another thing is that a paralegal is not qualified to practice law but is only limited in legal research and document preparation. Paralegals are always being supervised by lawyers.
