Financial Resource

Are you looking for paralegal jobs in Texas? Well then you should have some certification in that field. There has been a growth in Texas paralegal jobs in recent years due to the high expansion of the legal field here. Let’s take a look at the condition of paralegal jobs in this state.

Educational Qualification

It is important for you to have a high school diploma if you want to do Texas paralegal work. It also helps if you have two or four year degrees more in addition to the high school diploma. Though college diploma is not a must, the competition for paralegal jobs is so high in the state that most lawyers will only employ assistants who have certification and degree.

If you have a degree in paralegal studies then it helps a lot. There are many colleges which will help you get that. But it probably is a relief that though employers look for a college education, they generally don’t look for graduate or undergraduate degrees in paralegal studies. However you can always get one to your benefit.

However even though they do not look for degrees in paralegal studies, they always look for certificates in paralegal studies. These certificates have to be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Right now there are six legal schools in Texas that are approved under the ABA.

These include the Southwest Texas State University in Sam Marcos, Lee College in Baytown, Southeastern Paralegal Institute in Dallas, Southwestern Paralegal Institute in Houston, the Center for Advanced Legal Studies in Houston and El Centro College in Dallas.

You can also look for online programs that grant degrees in paralegal studies. Unfortunately the problem is that as of date the ABA has not approved of any online courses for the same.

Professional Paralegal Associations

If you want to do Texas paralegal work then you have to join and become involved in the paralegal division of the state bar. It is also mandatory for you to join one of the many professionals associations that have been set up for Texas paralegals only.

There are many such associations throughout the state so you can choose one that is near to your location. Also you will also be required to join a national organization like National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

There are many reasons why you should join an association like this. It will help you to keep abreast of the new Texas laws that are being implemented and your network among paralegal professionals will grow. This will help you to find newer and better paralegal jobs in Texas.

The Job

In Texas, you need to work on an internship before you can start your career as a paralegal. This working internship is accepted as a part of the graduation and certification course. This is like a training period where you gain valuable knowledge that will help you in Texas paralegal employment.

It is also a good idea to volunteer to local “legal aid” offices for free, as this will give you some experience in a specific legal arena. It is easy to find these offices in every Texas County.

Paralegal Jobs in Texas have a lot of scope as compared to other states and this is one good state to start your paralegal career in.

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