So, you’ve decided you want to be a paralegal. When you consider going to or back to college, there are a lot of important decisions to be made. Where should you go? When should you apply? How much are you willing to spend? These are just a few of the many choices you will have to make. But at the end of the day, since you know you want to be a paralegal, you should make the choice of what to specialize in easily.
When it come to paralegal specialization, you should note that it is not as rigid as other professions. A specialization is more of a focus area that you may not stick to 100%, and there are many reasons as to why you may choose to specialize. Perhaps you will choose a specialization based upon your own keen interests. Others may choose to specialize because it is required by their employer to have a vast knowledge base. It also may serve you to specialize to enhance your resume or gain a salary increase.
The following explore the X paralegal specialization options:
- Corporate
This type of paralegal contributes to the behind the scene work of an entire company or corporation. It involves contract reviews, research, and ensuring proper business protocol. - Estate planning
As an estate planning paralegal, you will mainly be responsible for creating wills, planning estates, and divide property and deeds. In addition, you may be required to sort inheritance taxes and other administrative tasks. It is important that you are an empathic person who feels comfortable working with people who are grieving or planning their imminent death. - Family law
This position also requires an empathic person who can easily handle sensitive family situations. Many of your cases will involve custody battles or other family circumstances. - Immigration
As an immigration paralegal, you will work on behalf of immigrants in regards to their legal proceedings. These may include applying for visas, filing deportation petitions or advocating for asylum. It is beneficial to be able to speak an additional language. - Intellectual property
This type of work mainly deals with trademarks and patents. It is of the utmost importance to keep up to date with new intellectual property legislation. - Litigation
This is a broad specialization that can include any type of work where legal action is being taken. Most likely, this type of paralegal will work with clients who are suing someone. This is a fast-paced specialization area. - Real estate
When a client decides to buy real estate, it is the job of a real estate paralegal to process the necessary paperwork. This could include reviewing documents or being the liaison between the client and property owner.
While choosing a paralegal specialization option isn’t mandatory, it may help you to hone in on your personal course of action. Having a specialized focus can make you stand out from others in your field and make your learning experience much richer.
