Consider becoming a paralegal. This column was edited by the Special sections staff of the Advertising Department of the Los Angeles Times. Is Booming saw a slowdown in demand the first quarter of this year, but said demand has picked up again recently. The long-term prospects for paralegals are excellent because paralegals deliver tremendous value for the client dollar. Like the attorneys they work for, paralegals have the option of specializing in a particular area of the law.
Recruiters say demand is strong in several specialties at the moment.
Marge Dover, executive director of NALA, said paralegal salaries vary considerably as a result of several factors, including the paralegals' years of experience as well as the size and geographic location of the law firms employing them. The NALA survey found that the area of law in which a paralegal specialized also had an impact on compensation. They're split on whether or not a paralegal certificate is necessary. Without such relevant work experience, Yanagimoto recommends completing a formal paralegal program, as does Hangley. NALA's Web site, nala.org, also offers a wealth of information about the profession.