What is a paralegal?
A paralegal, or legal assistant, is a person who works under the supervision of an attorney and assists in the delivery of legal services. Although they may not give legal advice or represent a client in court, they perform legal tasks, including:

• Drafting, summarizing and interpreting a variety of legal documents.
• Analyzing, compiling and using information from factual, technical and legal sources.
• Conducting client and witness interviews and investigations.
• Handling office administration tasks.

Where do paralegals work?
Most paralegals are employed by law firms and work in four major areas: litigation, corporate, probate and real estate. Other employers include banks, insurance companies, government offices and corporate law departments.

What is the salary range of paralegals in the Kansas City area?
Salaries of paralegals vary according to several factors:

• Education
• Experience
• Employment

According to recent statistics, paralegals employed in Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties earned an average salary ranging from $28,000 to $32,000. In addition to salaries, some law firms also award bonus payments as well as overtime compensation.

What are some of the characteristics of a successful paralegal?
A person who possesses these skills and characteristics should be successful as a paralegal:

• Oral and written communication skills
• Analytical skills
• Motivation
• People skills
• Computer skills

What is the level of job satisfaction in the paralegal profession?
According to recent statistics, job satisfaction in the paralegal profession is remarkable. More than 85 percent of legal assistants rank their job satisfaction as medium, high or very high.

How much education should a person have in order to enter the paralegal profession?
A person with a baccalaureate degree and a certificate from the Johnson County Community College paralegal program is very competitive in the marketplace. As the number of people applying for paralegal positions increases, a person with a four-year college degree who is also a graduate of an American Bar Association-approved program could have an advantage over other potential job applicants.

What does the Johnson County Community College postsecondary certificate program offer?
The JCCC postsecondary certificate program is approved by the American Bar Association. The 33-credit-hour curriculum consists of:

Two prerequisite courses
Introduction to Law - 3 hours
Paralegal Studies - 1 hour

Five required paralegal courses
Legal Research and Writing I - 3 hours
Legal Research and Writing II - 3 hours
Legal Ethics - 3 hours
Civil Litigation - 3 hours
Law Office Computing - 3 hours

14 hours of paralegal electives
Some examples - Family Law, Real Estate Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution

A computer software course - 3 hours

How does a person enter the JCCC postsecondary certificate program?
Because JCCC's paralegal program is a selective admission program, the applicant must fulfill four requirements:

• Take two prerequisite courses - Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies.
• Fill out an application form and send official copies of all college transcripts. The applicant must have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0.
• Successfully pass a critical analysis test that demonstrates ability to think logically.
• Complete an informational interview with the program faculty to discuss the paralegal profession and JCCC's paralegal program.In order to earn a paralegal certificate from JCCC, a minimum of 18 hours of paralegal courses must be earned from JCCC.