Guide to Paralegal Programs and Education

Guide to Paralegal Programs and EducationGuide to Paralegal Programs and EducationParalegal educational programs can vary considerably in term and substance in the U.S. With the exception of the state of California, the paralegal profession is leid presently regulated. Individuals using the titles paralegal and legal assistant are not required to be licensed or to meet any specific educational or experiential qualifications. That said, some education and certain skills can put you at the top of the list among candidates if youre job searching. Types of Paralegal Programs Over 1,000 institutions across the U.S. offer formal paralegal education programs leading to either a degree or certificate, according to the American Bar Association. unterstellung programs include Home study and online paralegal programsAssociates degrees offered by two-year community and junior collegesCertificate programs offered by business and proprietary schools, ranging from several months to a yearFour-y ear college and university programs offering degrees in paralegal studiesAdvanced degree programs offering masters degrees in paralegal studies, legal administration, or legal studies Paralegal Coursework According to the American Association for Paralegal Education, quality paralegal education programs assist students in acquiring these essential related competencies Critical-thinking skills, including analysis, judgment, research, and problem-solvingCommunication skills, including oral, written, non-verbal, and interpersonalComputer skillsComputational skillsUnderstanding of ethicsOrganizational skills Programs should also give paralegals a basic understanding of American history, business, and political systems. Most paralegal educational programs incorporate an academic curriculum comprised of both substantive legal courses and professional skills that incorporatelegal theory with an understanding of practical applications. Typical substantive legal courses include Introduct ion to the Legal System and Paralegalism, Ethics, Civil Litigation, Contracts, Torts, Real Estate Law, and Domestic Law. Skills courses include Legal Writing, Legal Research, and Case Analysis. Many paralegal programs also require students to complete an internship with a legal employer in exchange for school credit. ABA Approval The American Bar Association has established Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs to promote high standards of quality. A paralegal program must have been in operation for a extremum of two academic years and satisfy all requirements of the ABA guidelines to be eligible for ABA approval. Schools that have obtained ABA approval must seek periodic reaccreditation. The ABA maintains a list of ABA-approved paralegal programs. Graduates of ABA-approved paralegal programs have a distinct advantage in the paralegal job market over graduates of non-approved programs. Many employers use ABA approval as a way to select the best-qualified ca ndidates. Your Ticket to Success Paralegals with certain educational backgrounds have the most employment opportunities and the highest earning potential A four-year degree in paralegal studies or related paralegal fieldA bachelors degree in any field combined with a paralegal certificate from a program approved by the American Bar AssociationA bachelors degree in any field combined with a masters degree in paralegal studies or a related field. Some paralegals in the legal market have no formal education, or they obtain their education through home study or web-based paralegal programs. But these educational backgrounds can limit your employment opportunities and income potential as paralegal educational standards increase and employers become more selective. If You Have Law School Aspirations The paralegal field is a great way to gain first-hand legal experience and insight into the practice of law if you think you might eventually want to go to law school. A paralegal educ ation is not the equivalent of a law school education, however. Graduates of paralegal programs are not qualified or eligible to take the bar examination in most states. Academic credit for paralegal courses is not transferable for advanced standing in law school. Paralegal Specialization Some paralegal programs allow you to choose an area of specialization. Hot legal specialties for paralegals include complex litigation, corporate law, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and real estate, according to Charles A. Volkert, III, executive director of Robert Half Legal, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of legal professionals. Paralegal Certification Paralegal certification- not to be confused with a paralegal certificate- is a growing national trend that confers special recognition to paralegals who have satisfied certain predetermined qualifications. Certification isnt mandatory, but it demonstrates a commitment to the field and it can enhance your professional credibility and employment prospects.

How Many Resume Versions Are Too Many

How Many Resume Versions Are Too ManyHow Many Resume Versions Are Too ManyA generic resume isnt doing you any favors. But a dozen tweaked versions may reveal an unrefined search.As I coach executive-level clients across every function and industry, I hear a lot of questions about how far one resume can stretch. How many versions of my resume do I need? Can you make the resume general, or do I need distinct versions? How can the resume be adapted for other stttes or industries?The answer is that, ideally, you should need only one version of your resume.However, not every situation is the same activities - and few are ideal.Why one resume is bestIn a perfect world, you are pursuing an executive position that lines up neatly with your most recent work and marks a new logical step in the types of positions through which you have progressed across your entire career. And to make the fit even more comfortable, youre pitching yourself to companies that are in the same or related industries .If your career path is a straight line, a single resume version will meet the needs and expectations of the recruiters, HR folks and hiring executives youll encounter along the way.Great But most of us live in the real world, where things are not so linear or clear cut. If your job trajectory has more curves ahead, a single version of your resume would either miss the mark or be too broad to prove your specific qualifications for each situation.When a second version is requiredIf you need to address distinct audiences, youll need more than one version of your resume. However, lets not go crazy. Here is the basic wisdom on when to create a new versionsaatkorn industrySame positionOne master resume can do all the heavy lifting.Slightly different positionA tweak will do. If you are pursuing positions that are very similar, but not exactly the same, a few strategic adjustments to the main resume should be enough to make it look like you wrote the document specifically for that role. In these cases, I wouldnt consider these documents a new resume version, just tweaks or amendments to the original.Multiple positionsA second resume version is required. You want to create a completely distinct resume version when you are pursuing totally unrelated positions or positions that are highly specialized. If you want to target large corporations, the CEO and CIO positions will be quite different, and the company will be looking for a candidate who is very focused on one particular role. In this case, lets say youve held both positions at different times. You would prepare a resume that highlights your technical leadership accomplishments for the CIO job and a separate resume that details your organizational leadership achievements to align with a companys need for a CEO.New industrySame positionA tweak will do. If you are pursuing the same position but decided to target a new industry, you neednt create a whole new document. Example Youre a sale executive whos worked in mul timedia advertising, and you would like to pursue sales positions in advertising as well as an unrelated field - lets say medical devices. Simply tweaking the content in your summary, keywords and other critical areas may suffice to demonstrate that youre ready to apply your sales experience to a new industry.Slightly different positionOne master resume is enough. Make sure your career goal is refined, and try to stick to one new version that emphasizes your new goal throughout. Switching industries and positions is the toughest of all job moves. Consider the skills and strengths that are important for the position and industry you want to be in, then frame your prior work history so that it demonstrates how you fulfil those expectations.Multiple positionsA second resume version is required. You cant target a director of marketing position and a VP of client services position in the same resume. Again, consider the traits and achievements that are important for each distinct role a nd then make sure the resume version you provide highlights those critical areas.Why a general resume never worksI am an executive, you say. Does it really matter if I am that specific on a resume? Yes, I believe that it does matter.In todays environment, most organizations use executive search firms or recruiters to hire for high-level jobs. For the most part, the individuals involved focus their searches on candidates whose most recent work history, accomplishments and focus match exactly the position at hand.Listing general executive management duties will not resonate with this crowd, even though many think it will give them a broader appeal. Instead, it makes them less attractive to more people. Refine your career goal and use no more than two versions of your resume to beistand your proven track record and winning personality.

Celebrate Small Business Saturday 2014 with Simply Savings

Celebrate Small Business Saturday 2014 with Simply SavingsCelebrate Small Business Saturday 2014 with Simply SavingsIf youre one of the 28 million American small businesses, its your time to celebrate.Small businesses account for49 percent of private sector employment and 64 percent of new private sector jobs. Data fromSimply Post,Simply Hireds posting product for small businesses, showed an increase in small business hiring last month, with posting volume up 21.3 percent from September to October 2014. Total postings reported in ourNovember 2014 U.S. Employment Outlookwere up 3.17 percent in the same time period, indicating that small business hiring is in a major upswing.This infographic looks at the top hiring industries, locations and positions associated with small businesses based on our Simply Post data.Because many small businesses dont have dedicated recruiting staff, the task of finding new employees is left to owners, administrators or HR generalists. Simply Post is a simp le, cost-effective solution for reaching qualified candidates in your area.To help small businesses celebrate their contribution to the economy were offering a Simply Savings discount of 10 percent off your posts through the end of the year. Now youll be able to get a head start on your 2015 goals at a price you can afford. Enter the code HIRENOW at checkout.