The U.S. Department of Labor ranks the paralegal profession as one of the five fastest growing in the United States. The employment outlook for nurse paralegals parallels the extremely positive outlook for personal injury paralegals. In addition to private law firms, paralegals are employed by state and U.S. government agencies, insurance companies, corporate legal departments, banks, and business and real estate concerns.
Many paralegals choose to freelance, providing support to law firms on an as needed basis.
Others, establish their own legal document preparation business and assist with simple, non-contested legal matters for the public at large in the areas of divorce, child custody, wills and trusts, immigration, etc. A paralegal with medical background has many more opportunities to work independently. He or she can work for personal injury, medical malpractice, general litigation law firms or insurance companies on a project basis, work for a legal staffing employment agency, or join a growing trend and become self-employed by establishing a legal nurse consulting business. These are perfect alternatives for nurses whose personal lives can no longer meet the constraints associated with full-time hospital shift work.