The Profession Announcements Resources Paralegal Studies Program Southern Illinois University Carbondale Information About the Profession Paralegals belong to one of the ten fastest growing occupations in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Paralegals work under the supervision of lawyers to provide legal services.
They have more responsibility than legal secretaries and theoretically can do any type of legal work except advising clients or representing them in court. Paralegals might prepare probate inventories of an estate and fill out inheritance tax forms, or take depositions, or attend legislative hearings and agency meetings. They are increasingly involved in developing computer systems to meet the needs of the legal profession. Paralegal professionals must combine a blend of general and technical knowledge with the skills needed for solving problems, dealing with people, and planning, organizing, and managing law offices. They must also have an awareness of the role of law in society and of trends in legal proactive, as well as an informed concern for the actual quality of legal services.