Park Ranger

Job Duties

Park rangers work in many different types of parks, including national, state, municipal, and special district parks, as well as historical sites, nature reserves, and recreation parks. They protect the lands and cultural heritage of these special places and ensure the safety of the people who visit them. Rangers design recreational activities, conservation programs, and tours to help educate the public about the significance of an area. They create exhibits and brochures for visitors. They assist with conservation, habitat restoration, and ecology efforts. They attempt to reduce pollution from areas outside the park by monitoring the air and water quality in different sections of the park. They also study wildlife behavior.

Park rangers register vehicles and visitors entering the park. Many rangers are also peace officers who carry firearms and are responsible for law enforcement within the boundaries of the park. They respond to emergency situations that arise within the park, such as lost hikers, stranded climbers, wildfires, and injured visitors. Park rangers also supervise assistant park rangers, seasonal rangers, and concession attendants.

Job Skills

Individuals interested in becoming park rangers should have excellent interpersonal communication skills because they work with so many different types of people. They should be able to work independently. They need to be able to think clearly, especially when faced with an emergency situation.

Income

Salaries for State park rangers range from $26,460 to $32,820 per year. Rangers employed by the Federal government earn salaries between $19,407 and $24,038.

Training and Education

Some agencies require applicants to have a bachelor's degree. For those interested in advancing to supervisory positions, a master's degree can be extremely helpful. Other positions require work experience plus some college course work. Even where it is not a requirement, almost all park rangers hold at least a bachelor's degree. Preferred degrees include park and recreation management, business or public administration, or the natural sciences. For those interested in becoming park rangers who also have peace officer status, completion of a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified police academy course can be a major advantage.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of park rangers is expected to increase about as fast as the average. While public interest in increased law enforcement in general is expected, budgetary constraints at the State level will result in only modest growth. These are very sought after positions, and competition is expected to remain very high. There will continue to be fewer jobs than there are qualified applicants.

To learn more about becoming a park ranger, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Paralegal Careers

Paralegals are a growing branch of law professionals, performing many of the more mundane tasks for lawyers, and some of the administration of legal cases. Paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings and trials, and for corporate meetings. They conduct much of the research necessary for these activities, looking at appropriate laws, judicial decisions, articles in journals and similar activities and present written reports summarizing and analyzing this information. They also help draft contracts and other legal agreements and documents, and help in tax planning and estate management. However, they are explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties which are considered to be the practice of law, for instance giving legal advice, and presenting cases in court.

Employers usually require formal training in the form of an associate or bachelor’s degree. Paralegal training programs are offered by many paralegal schools, and include the study of law and legal research methods, and some specialized areas of law such as estate planning, litigation, family law and criminal law. Students will increasingly study administration and legal information systems.

Prospects are good, with jobs projected to grow faster than average according to the US Department of Labor. Earnings are good too, with an average salary of around $35,360 and the top 10% earning as much as $56,060 in 2000.

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Legislator

The role of all top executives is to identify the goals and objectives of an organization, and then to devise and implement strategies that will ensure the organization meets those goals and objectives. Legislators are elected by the public to develop, enact, or amend laws. Specific examples include Senators and Representatives at the Federal and State level, and county, city, and town commissioners and council members. They prepare bills by studying staff reports and hearing testimony form interested parties. Then they introduce, examine, and vote on whether or not to pass those bills into official legislation. They approve budgets and appointments, and in some cases, may appoint the city, town, or county manager.

Job Skills

Legislators must have well-developed, above-average interpersonal skills. They must be excellent communicators. They also need to be capable of analyzing large amounts of data and the interrelationships between multiple factors. In addition, they must also have leadership skills, self-confidence, motivation, decisiveness, flexibility, sound judgment, and determination.

Income

In 2002, legislators earned a median annual salary of $15,220. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10 percent, who earned less than $12,130, and the highest 10 percent, who earned more than $69,380.

Training and Education

Candidates for legislative positions need to meet minimum age, residency, and citizenship requirements, but other than that there are no formal education, training, or experience requirements. They come from any number of backgrounds - such as lawyer, private sector manager, or business owner - but usually they have some sort of political experience. Due to increasing campaign costs, fundraising skills are essential. Management-level work experience or public service can help a candidate develop necessary campaign skills such as budgeting, public speaking, and problem-solving.

Employment

In 2002, legislators held about 67,000 jobs. Some legislators do not work full-time or year-round in their legislative position; these legislators usually continue to work in the position they held before they were elected.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of legislators is not expected to change significantly. This is because few new governments are likely to be created at any level. However, a slight increase will occur in local governments because counties, cities, and towns are expected to hire professional managers and move away from volunteers to paid executives.

Please visit our page about MBA Programs for information on becoming a legislator.

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Legal Secretary

Legal secretaries are a very necessary part of any legal practice or government law office. Their duties include preparing correspondence and legal papers such as summonses, complaints, motions, responses, and subpoenas under the supervision of an attorney or paralegal. They are often involved in a variety of legal research including reviewing legal journals, verifying quotes and citations in legal briefs. They also undertake some of the normal functions of a secretary such as scheduling meetings and appointments, managing projects and providing information via telephone, postal mail and email.

Legal secretaries usually undergo specialist training before applying for their first post, and as the role of secretary is changing due to the advent of new technology, it becomes more usual for secretaries to have a degree. There are many specialist courses available, giving training in legal secretarial duties, and subjects studied include office skills and keyboard training, training in specialist legal word processing packages, office administration, legal research techniques, legal vocabulary and some knowledge of the law.

Legal secretaries can acquire certification as a legal secretary, gaining the designation ALS (Accredited Legal Secretary), and later advanced certification with PLS (Professional Legal Secretary). They can also gain their CLSS (Certified Legal Secretary Specialist) after 5 years of law-related experience.

Average earnings are in the region of $35,000, with top secretaries earning as much as $51,000. Prospects are good for well-trained legal secretaries with good skills in office technology, especially as the job expands and allows more exciting and interesting work.

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Lawyer

Job Duties

Lawyers, often referred to as attorneys, serve as the backbone of the entire legal system. They play two key roles in society: the role of an advocate and that of an advisor. In the role of advocate, they represent individuals or parties in criminal or civil trials. They present evidence and argue the case of their client in a court of law. In the role of advisor, they provide guidance and counsel to their clients regarding legal rights and obligations, and they give advice concerning various courses of action that could be taken by their clients. Most of a lawyer's work revolves around researching and applying the law to the particular circumstances of their client.

The specific type of work a lawyer does is largely dependent on their specialization, and there are many types of specializations. Trial lawyers focus on criminal and civil trials, have special knowledge of the intricacies of a courtroom, and are excellent, authoritative speakers. Even trial lawyers spend a majority of their time outside the courtroom interviewing witnesses, preparing paperwork, and researching the law. Some lawyers specialize in bankruptcy, probate, international, elder, or environmental law. An increasing number specialize in the field of intellectual property rights, assisting their clients in claiming copyrights to artwork, product designs, and computer programs. Others advise insurance companies or work for the government.

Job Skills

Lawyers hold a great deal of responsibility and those seeking a career in the occupation should be ethical and responsible individuals. They need to have the ability to earn the confidence and trust of their clients, associates, and the public. Lawyers should also have perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability.

Income

In 2002, lawyers earned a median annual salary of $90,290. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $44,490, to the highest 10%, who earned more than $145,600. The following shows the median annual salaries in the industries employing the highest numbers of lawyers:

• Management of companies and enterprises -- $131,970
• Federal government -- $98,790
• Legal services -- $93,970
• Local government -- $69,710
• State government -- $67,910

Training and Education

To practice law, lawyers must be admitted to a State's bar by passing that State's bar examination, which includes a written section and a section on ethics. To qualify to take the State bar examination, applicants must hold a college degree and a degree from an accredited law school. An entire law education usually lasts 7 years, including 4 years of undergraduate school and 3 years of law school. In order to qualify for admission to law school, applicants must have a bachelor's degree. A multidisciplinary undergraduate background is preferred, as opposed to a specific major. Courses may include English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science. Admission to law school is competitive and may be determined by the applicant's grades, prior work experience, and sometimes a personal interview.

Lawyers must complete continuing legal education through law schools and many State and local bar associations. These courses help lawyers stay in touch with the latest developments in the field. Newly hired lawyers usually begin as associates with more experienced lawyers serving as mentors. After a few years, they may begin to receive more responsibilities, and may eventually be admitted to partnership in their firm or develop their own independent practice. Some lawyers with significant experience are elected or nominated to judgeships.

Employment

In 2002, lawyers held about 695,000 jobs. 75% operated a private practice, either a partnership or a solo practice.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of lawyers is expected to increase about as fast as the average. This will be due to population growth as well as growth in the general level of business activities. Growth will be highest in such specializations as elder, antitrust, environmental, and intellectual-property law. Due to the growing number of students graduating from law school each year, competition for jobs will remain high.

To learn more about becoming a lawyer, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Judge

Job Duties

Judges preside over trials or hearings, listen to the arguments put forth by attorneys representing both sides of a dispute, rule on the evidence presented in court, settle attorney disputes regarding the proceedings, and generally determine the way the trial is run according to various rules and procedures. They hold pretrial hearings, decide whether a case will be heard, determine whether individuals should be held in jail prior to trials, set conditions for the release of individuals being held, and, in civil cases, impose certain restrictions on both parties before the trial is completed.

Judges oversee cases in courts of law and other legal processes at the local, State, and Federal level. The range of cases is as broad as society itself and may include everything from traffic offenses to disputes over the management of professional sports or the rights of corporations. Judges have a responsibility to make sure that trials and other types of hearings and proceedings proceed fairly and that the rights of individuals and other parties are protected.

Job Skills

Judges hold a great deal of responsibility and those seeking a career in the occupation should be ethical and responsible individuals. They need to have the ability to earn the confidence and trust of the public. Judges should also have perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability.

Income

In 2002, judges earned a median annual salary of $94,070. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $24,250, to the highest 10%, who earned more than $138,300.

Training and Education

The minimum requirements for judge positions are a bachelor's degree and work experience. Most judges have a career as a lawyer before moving into judgeships. Federal and State judges are almost always required to have been lawyers. Some lower State jurisdictions allow judges to serve without having experience as a lawyer, but opportunity is limited without formal law experience. Federal administrative law judges are appointed for lifetime tenures by Federal agencies. The majority of State judges are elected in State elections, and many have fixed renewable terms that can range from 4 to 14 years. Newly elected or appointed judges always go through some sort of orientation which is usually provided by The Federal Judicial Center, American Bar Association, National Judicial College, and National Center for State Courts. General and continuing education is typically required and lasts from a few days to 3 weeks.

Employment

In 2002, judges held about 27,000 jobs. Most worked in State and local government.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of judges is expected to increase more slowly than the average. This will be due to budgetary constraints in government, and most job openings will be the result of judges retiring. Occasionally new positions are created when mandated by new legislation. However, demand will not decrease for judges, as the public will remain concerned about crime and safety as well as more willing to go to court to settle various kinds of disputes. Judgeships are highly prestigious positions, and competition among qualified applicants will remain keen. The competition will be lessened by the increasing number of qualified applicants who instead decide to seek work in the private sector.

To learn more about becoming a judge, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Hearing Officer

Job Duties

Hearing officers, often referred to as administrative law judges, work for various government agencies and are charged with the responsibility of making decisions that affect those agencies. They rule on matters such as an individual's eligibility for various Social Security or worker's compensation benefits, environmental protection, the enforcement of health and safety regulations, employment discrimination, or compliance with economic regulatory requirements. Hearing officers oversee cases at the local, State, and Federal level. Hearing officers have a responsibility to make sure that trials and other types of hearings and proceedings proceed fairly and that the rights of individuals and other parties are protected.

Job Skills

Hearing officers hold a great deal of responsibility and those seeking a career in the occupation should be ethical and responsible individuals. They need to have the ability to earn the confidence and trust of the public. Hearing officers should also have perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability.

Income

In 2002, hearing officers earned a median annual salary of $64,540.

Training and Education

The minimum requirements for hearing officer positions are a bachelor's degree and work experience. Most hearing officers have a career as a lawyer before moving into judgeships. Federal and State judges are almost always required to have been lawyers. Some lower State jurisdictions allow judges to serve without having experience as a lawyer, but opportunity is limited without formal law experience. Federal hearing officers are appointed for lifetime tenures by Federal agencies. The majority of State hearing officers are elected in State elections, and many have fixed renewable terms that can range from 4 to 14 years. Newly elected or appointed hearing officers always go through some sort of orientation which is usually provided by The Federal Judicial Center, American Bar Association, National Judicial College, and National Center for State Courts. General and continuing education is typically required and lasts from a few days to 3 weeks.

Employment

In 2002, hearing officers held about 19,000 jobs. Most worked in State and local government.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of hearing officers is expected to increase more slowly than the average. This will be due to budgetary constraints in government, and most job openings will be the result of officers retiring. Occasionally new positions are created when mandated by new legislation. However, demand will not decrease for hearing officers, as the public will remain concerned about crime and safety as well as more willing to go to court to settle various kinds of disputes. Hearing officer positions, like judgeships, are highly prestigious, and competition among qualified applicants will remain keen. The competition will be lessened by the increasing number of qualified applicants who instead decide to seek work in the private sector.

To learn more about becoming a hearing officer, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Fish And Game Warden

Job Duties

Fish and game wardens serve as law enforcement agents for State and Federal fish and wildlife agencies, enforcing laws that are designed to protect and conserve fish and wildlife. They patrol various wilderness areas, they search for individuals who are breaking wildlife laws. When they find such an individual, they may choose to arrest them or give them a lighter penalty such as a warning or a citation. They may also confiscate any fish or game that is related to the law being broken. Fish and game wardens also observe and report on the condition of fish and wildlife within their jurisdiction. They also may supervise the work of other seasonal wildlife workers.

Beyond their typical duties, fish and game wardens may have additional responsibilities such as investigating wildlife crop damage or advising owners of preventative measures they might be able to take. They may investigate commercial fishing operations, issue hunting licenses, teach hunter safety courses, or help with controlled hunt operations. They may supervise or participate in rescuing individuals stranded in wilderness areas. And sometimes they may even give lectures at civic, sporting, and conservation events.

Job Skills

Fish and game wardens should have a strong, assertive, authoritative personality. They should also have a strong interest in law enforcement and experience hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking in wild areas.

Income

Fish and game wardens usually work for government agencies and earn salaries ranging from $2,244 to $3,467 per month. Hours are typically irregular and may include evenings and weekends.

Training and Education

A majority of fish and game wardens work for State Departments of Fish and Game. Qualifying tests for these departments are given once every two years and include sections on law enforcement, conservation, ecology of wildlife, and logical reasoning. A physical examination is usually required, as well as vision and hearing screening. Some fish and game wardens work for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service. Applicants for Federal positions must have at least two years of college and a substantial number of credits in police or biological science.

Once a cadet is hired, they attend a fish and game law enforcement training program that is accredited by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards. High school courses that can help build a strong foundation for this career include biology, math, physical education, and team sports. From the Cadet position, fish and game wardens can advance to higher positions such as patrol lieutenant, patrol captain, and patrol inspector. Promotions are based on the results of competitive examinations, experience, and job performance.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of fish and game wardens is expected to increase about as fast as the average. While public interest in increased law enforcement in general is expected, budgetary constraints at the State level will result in only modest growth. These are very sought after positions, and competition is expected to remain very high. There will continue to be fewer jobs than there are qualified applicants.

To learn more about becoming a fish and game warden, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Fingerprint Classifier

Job Duties

Fingerprint classifiers identify individuals by examining, classifying, and searching for fingerprints. Fingerprints, the unique ridge-like patterns found on the tips of everyone's fingers, cannot by altered to conceal identity. When a person is arrested, they are usually fingerprinted to find out if they are wanted for other crimes or have a previous criminal record. People applying for jobs that include security clearance are routinely fingerprinted, as are people applying for certain types of licenses and permits. Most fingerprint classifiers working in city and county police departments focus on solving robberies and burglaries.

Fingerprint classifiers visit crime scenes, locate and lift fingerprints from the scene, and cross reference any prints found with prints of known criminals. They may fingerprint corpses or appear in court as expert witnesses. Fingerprint classifiers also work to make positive identifications of individuals. Far from the days of manually searching through catalogs of index cards for a match, today they utilize computer database technology to instantly search automated file systems.

Job Skills

Fingerprint classifiers must have the ability to manage numerous details at the same time and make connections between multiple factors . They should have a strong analytical aptitude. They also need to be able to deal effectively with people because they are often called upon to present their findings to officers, detectives, and administrators. They should have excellent speaking skills as they are often called upon to testify in courts of law.

Income

Fingerprint classifiers may earn $2,244 to $3,523 per month. Fingerprint classifiers working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation earn $26,000 to $36,000 per month.

Training and Education

Applicants for fingerprint classifier positions are typically required to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Most compete for jobs by taking a civil service examination, although some agencies require applicants to hold an associate of arts degree or courses in criminology, law enforcement, or police science. Some agencies only hire applicants who have prior experience in fingerprinting or have worked as records of fingerprint clerks. Courses in chemistry as well as health and safety can be advantageous because many of the processes used in the occupation are chemical in nature.

Applicants can complete courses lasting 1 to 2 weeks at community colleges or through the FBI. Computer courses can also give applicants a significant edge over the competition. Other special requirements include proof of good eyesight and memory, a valid driver's license, and typing ability. Applicants with arrest records or even minor traffic citations may by disqualified from the application process. Some agencies offer little opportunity for advancement unless the individual is also a police officer. Promotion in most government agencies is based on civil service examination scores.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of fingerprint classifiers is expected to increase faster than the average. This will be due to rising societal concerns regarding security and an increased focus on crime prevention and public safety. Demand will be high and job prospects excellent for all types of postitions in police services.

To learn more about becoming a fingerprint classifier, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Criminal Justice Careers

A career as a criminal justice lawyer can be both interesting and rewarding. Lawyers in criminal justice usually act as advocates, either on behalf of the defendants in a criminal action, or as prosecutors for the government. As advocates they present evidence and argue their client’s case in court. Sometimes they act as advisors, pointing out the consequences of particular actions to clients who need to clarify the legal consequences of their action.

Criminal justice lawyers either work in private practice, being retained by individuals who have been charged with crimes as a trail lawyer. Some work for either State government in the State attorneys general department, or in the US Department of Justice and other agencies.

Criminal justice Lawyers have to be licensed by the State or Federal courts. An applicant has to graduate from an accredited school – usually by the ABA (American Bar Association) with a four year degree. They then have to study for three years in a Law School, and pass the required Bar examinations. Competition for places at law school is often intense, and only the better graduates are taken. May schools include practice trials and students and projects under the supervision of practicing lawyers, giving students opportunity to experience situations they will be faced with when they are working.

Earnings for criminal justice lawyers are good, median earnings for lawyers being around $88,000 according o the US Department of Labor.

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Crime Analyst

Job Duties

Crime analysts have the responsibility to predict and prevent crime. Their work is multifaceted and involves many different types of tasks. In general, they study crime and profile suspects. They analyze crime data in order to determine when particular crimes will occur. They strengthen the efficiency of law enforcement by communicating their findings on crime patterns to detectives and other officers in the field. Crime analysts typically work in police departments, but most are not police officers. They do not inspect crime scenes or evidence, but instead work on a computer analyzing crime-related data from police reports.

Crime analysts work in one of three areas: tactical, strategic, or administrative. Tactical crime analysts focus on crimes that pose an immediate threat such as rape, burglary, robbery, and serial murders. They determine patterns for these crimes by tying together certain factors and then reporting their findings to detectives who can prevent the crimes from occurring. Strategic crime analysts make decisions regarding various levels of police presence to prevent crime. Administrative crime analysts present special reports to chiefs of police and city councils, give speeches on crime prevention, write grants to increase their agency's budget, and study criminal relationships and organizations.

Job Skills

Crime analysts must have the ability to manage numerous details at the same time and make connections between multiple factors . They should have a strong analytical aptitude. They also need to be able to deal effectively with people because they are often called upon to present their findings to officers, detectives, administrators, and politicians.

Income

Crime analysts who are starting out in the profession and have little experience earn between $1,900 and $2,500 per month. Those who have gained experience earn between $2,600 and $3,000 per month. Experienced crime analysts may earn $3,300 to $4,200 per month.

Training and Education

Most crime analyst jobs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree with majors in Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Sociology. A few police agencies require only two years of college and two years of experience. Some agencies require their applicants to complete a certificate program approved by the state Department of Justice before becoming eligible for employment. Most police departments require at least one year of experience, usually in dealing with criminal information or in analytical information processing in an area unrelated to law enforcement. Knowledge of law enforcement can be a major advantage in the hiring process. Some applicants who do not have any work experience may be required to complete a 400-hour practicum in addition to holding their degree or certificate. This practicum program takes the form of an internship in a crime analysis unit. Many crime analysts enter the occupation at the supervisory or management level. Crime analysts who accumulate e nough experience in an agency may become senior or supervising analysts.

Job Outlook

According to the International Association of Crime Analysts, the demand for crime analysts has risen ten-fold in the last 15 years. The occupation is subject to changes in State budgets and levels of Federal grants, but funding is expected to increase because of more public concern regarding crime and safety. As funding for law enforcement agencies increases, so will the job opportunities for qualified crime analysts.

To learn more about becoming a crime analyst, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

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Court Reporter

Job Duties

Court reporters play an important role in courtrooms and at every type of meeting where spoken words must be captured and preserved in the form of a written transcript. They take verbatim reports of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, and other events. They charged with the responsibility of ensuring a complete, accurate, and secure legal record. In addition to preparing these records, court reporters also may assist judges and trial attorneys by organizing and searching for information in the official record or making suggestions to judges and attorneys regarding courtroom administration and procedure.

Court reporters use two main methods: stenotyping and voice writing. Stenotypists use a stenotype machine that allows them to press multiple keys at a time to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words, or phrases. These symbols are recorded onto computer disks and translated into text by computer-aided transcription. Voice writing involves speaking directly into a stenomask - a hand-held mask with a microphone and voice silencer.

Job Skills

Court reporters must have speed and accuracy, as well as excellent listening skills. They must have good English grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation skills. They need to be aware of business practices and current events, as well as the correct spelling of names of people, places, and events that may be mentioned during their proceedings. Those who work in courtrooms need to have a working knowledge of legal terminology and criminal and appellate procedure. They must be able to operate computer hardware and software applications. Voice writers must learn to listen and speak at the same time and very quickly.

Income

In 2002, court reporters earned a median annual salary of $41,550. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $23,120, to the highest 10%, who earned more than $73,440. Earnings varied depending on type of job, experience of the reporter, level of certification, and the region of the country.

Training and Education

Court reporters have varied degrees of training, depending on the type of reporting they choose to learn. Voice writers can complete their training in less than a year, while stenotypists require an average of 33 months of training. 160 postsecondary vocational and technical schools and colleges offer programs, and 82 of those have been approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). In order to qualify for graduation from NCRA-approved programs, students must be able to capture a minimum of 225 words per minute, the same requirement for Federal government jobs.

Different States have various requirements for court reporters. Some require them to be notary publics, while others require the Certified Court Reporter (CCR) designation. The NCRA offers the entry-level designation of Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), a voluntary designation requiring a four-part examination and participation in mandatory continuing education programs. Additional certifications are offered, such as Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) or Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR), the highest certification offered. Some States require voice writers to pass a test and obtain a State license.

Click here for more information on Court Reporting Schools and the programs that they offer.

Employment

In 2002, court reporters held about 18,000 jobs. 60% worked for State and local governments, and most of the remainder worked for court reporting agencies. 11% were self-employed.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of court reporters is expected to increase about as fast as the average. Demand will continue for accurate transcription of court proceedings and pretrial depositions, and for the creation of captions for live or prerecorded television. Few people are entering the profession, creating good to excellent job opportunities for those looking for jobs.

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Become A Paralegal

Paralegal Careers Overview

This article provides an overview of paralegal or legal assistant careers and the requirements to become a paralegal. This article will outline paralegal job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects, as well as discuss the career's necessary skills, training, educational requirements, and certification requirements to become a paralegal.

Paralegal Job Duties

Paralegals, or legal assistants, perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. In fact, they are becoming more popular as many enterprises attempt to cut costs by pushing more legal work from lawyers to lower cost paralegals. It is important to note, though, that there are some things that paralegals are prohibited from doing such as setting legal fees, offering legal advice, and presenting cases in court. Beyond that, a paralegal can have a very wide range of job duties, including:

• Helping lawyers to prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and meetings.
• Investigating facts, and identifying laws, legal precedents, and judicial decisions for lawyers.
• Analyzing and organizing information and preparing written reports.
• Organizing and tracking legal files.
• Preparing draft contracts, mortgages, agreements, separation agreements, wills, and trust documents.
• Monitoring and reviewing laws and government regulations.
• Preparing informative or explanatory materials on laws and regulations.

Paralegals work in all types of organizations with most working in law firms, corporate legal departments, and various branches of Federal, state, and local government. Depending on the type of organization, paralegals can become involved in many different areas of law including litigation, personal injury law, labor or employment law and employee benefits, corporate law, criminal law, bankruptcy law, immigration law, family law, and real estate law.

The duties of a paralegal in smaller enterprises tend to be more varied and broad. Those working for larger enterprises tend to specialize in one or a few aspects of law.

Paralegal Job Skills

Paralegals need to have many of the same skills as lawyers. Common skills needed by a paralegal include:

• Excellent investigative and research skills including the ability to conduct on-line Internet searches.
• Familiarity and comfort with computers since they will regularly have to do research in legal databases and on the Internet, interact with and use document imaging systems, and retrieve, organize, and index various materials.
• Excellent written communication skills to document and present findings, or draft legal documents.
• Excellent verbal communication skills as they will have to verbally present their findings to supervising attorneys and potentially interact with clients or the public.
• Strong ethical and confidentiality standards because of the type of work that they perform and the type of sensitive information that they regularly handle.

Paralegal Income

Salaries for paralegals vary greatly depending on education, training, and experience. In addition, the type and size of employer can impact salary. As one would anticipate, paralegals that work in large enterprises or in large metropolitan areas tend to make more. As of 2002, salaries for paralegals were around $37,950 including bonuses, with the top 10% earning more than $61,150. Earnings for paralegals vary by industry segment with the median annual incomes for the industries employing the largest number of paralegals being:

Industry Median Salary
Federal government $53,770
Legal services $36,780
Local government $36,030
State government $34,750

Training and Education Required to Become a Paralegal

There are an estimated 600 paralegal training programs offered by colleges, universities, and proprietary schools in the United States. About 250 of these are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). While it is not required for a paralegal program to be approved by the ABA, graduating from such a program can enhance one's employment prospects. Paralegal programs include:

1. 2-year associate degree programs from community colleges. This is the most common way to become a paralegal. There are also a small number of bachelor's and master's degree programs in paralegal studies.
2. Bachelor degree programs with a certification program. Another common approach for people who already have a 4-year bachelor's degree is to attend a paralegal certificate program. These programs typically take a few months to complete.
3. Some employers also provide on-the-job paralegal training.

The requirements for admission into these programs vary significantly. All paralegal programs provide intensive paralegal training. Some programs also include internships where students can gain practical experience. This experience can be very valuable when seeking a job after graduation.

Paralegals are not required to become certified. Paralegal certification is available and can offer advantages when entering the job market. There are two main certifications available to paralegals:

1. Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) available from The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). This certification has standards for education and experience as well as a 2-day examination.
2. Registered Paralegal (RP) from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Paralegals with a bachelors degree and at least 2 years of experience can take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to earn this designation.

Many different colleges and universities provide the training required to become a paralegal. A good list of such institutions can be found on this page of college and universities offering information on Paralegal Schools and related training.

Paralegal Employment

In 2002, there were about 200,000 paralegals and legal assistants in the United States. Of that, about 70 percent work in law firms. The bulk of the remainder work in corporate legal departments and Federal, state, and local government.

Paralegal Job Outlook

The need for paralegals and legal assistants is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over most of the next decade. Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals but growth is expected in all other sectors that make use of paralegals.

Competition for paralegal jobs is expected to be strong, however, highly skilled, trained, and certified paralegals should have excellent employment prospects. Paralegal jobs are, to a limited extent, subject to the fluctuations of the business cycles. It is not uncommon for paralegals to lose their jobs when business contracts. This decline can be mitigated somewhat by the fact that during economic downturns the need for the legal services provided by paralegals may increase.

http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/legal_careers/become_a_paralegal

Arbitrator

Job Duties

Arbitrators oversee a process called appropriate dispute resolution (ADR), an alternative to more formal litigation that can be used to settle disputes between parties. ADR hearings are private, confidential, and less formal than a trial, and if no resolution is reached and the dispute goes to trial, no statements made during ADR can be admitted as evidence. Arbitrators usually have worked as attorneys or businesspersons and have extensive expertise in a particular field. Opposing parties submit their dispute to the arbitrators, and the arbitrators have the responsibility of crafting a decision that will be binding. Before the proceedings, the parties both agree that they will be bound by the decision, and, consequently, few arbitrated proceedings are reviewed by the courts.

Job Skills

Arbitrators hold a great deal of responsibility and those seeking a career in the occupation should be ethical and responsible individuals. They need to have the ability to earn the confidence and trust of their clients. Arbitrators should also have perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability.

Income

In 2002, arbitrators earned a median annual salary of $47,320.

Training and Education

Specific training requirements for arbitrators who practice in State- and court-funded arbitration programs vary from State to State. In most States, private arbitrators are not required to obtain a license, certification, or specific training. Most arbitrators complete some type of training and have agreed to abide by certain ethical standards. The American Arbitration Association (AAA) requires those listed on its panel to complete an AAA training course, receive recommendations from the trainers, and complete an apprenticeship. Independent organizations and programs offer arbitration training. About 16 colleges and universities in the U.S. offer master's degrees in dispute resolution or conflict management. Degrees that provide a strong background for arbitrators include public policy, law, and other related fields.

Employment

In 2002, arbitrators held about 6,100 jobs. About half worked for State and local government, and the rest worked for labor organizations, law offices, insurance carriers, and other private companies and for organizations that specialize in providing dispute resolution services.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of arbitrators is expected to increase about as fast as the average. More businesses than ever are attempting to avoid litigation. Arbitration and other related processes help them avoid lengthy delays, high costs, unwanted publicity, and ill will. Arbitration is faster, less expensive, and more conclusive. All this will help to increase demand for arbitrators.

To learn more about becoming an arbitrator, please visit our section on schools offering Legal Training for more information.

http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/legal_careers/arbitrator