Our panel felt that several factors contribute to the apathy of non-performing paralegals. Our panelists disagreed on the necessity of paralegal programs. Large firms, because of the way they use their paralegals in their litigation practice , do not require paralegals with certificates. By contrast, paralegal training is particularly important in smaller firms because paralegals receive more substantive assignments than their large firm counterparts. The paralegal preparation provides them with more focus and orientation to the type of work they have to do.
Most paralegal programs are very broad in their curriculum.
Our recruiter felt that an integration of paralegal studies into an undergraduate program as some major universities currently do would be more beneficial. There are no clear career paths in the paralegal profession. Currently, paralegals who want to advance in their careers have few choices. Some move to other firms as paralegal or litigation managers. Others pursue a law degree.