Nyu Paralegal Program (2024)

FAQs

Is paralegal studies difficult? ›

When one begins their paralegal certification, whichever method they employ can seem difficult. For instance, there is a lot of ground to cover in just the basics. A future paralegal must understand precisely what a paralegal does and that legal advice cannot be given.

Getting into law school

The main advantage that paralegals have when applying to law school is their experience in the legal industry and their knowledge of what it is like to be an attorney. However, your paralegal job is not guaranteed to make your application to law school any more competitive.

Any time a client asks a paralegal a direct question that could be considered soliciting legal advice a paralegal should respond that it is not within their scope of practice and any such questions should be directed towards their lawyer.

To meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the NALA Certified Paralegal exam, you must meet one of the following requirements: You must have 60 semester hours, of which at least 15 hours* (225 clock hours) are from paralegal studies or hold an associate's degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor's degree in any ...

Paralegals enjoy job stability, good salaries, varied work, and opportunities for career growth. However, they also work long hours, experience high levels of stress, have limited job autonomy and growth potential, and have limited legal knowledge compared to attorneys.

Paralegals often face tight deadlines and high-stakes cases, which can be inherently stressful. However, stress levels can be managed through effective time management, clear communication with attorneys, and setting realistic expectations for workload.

No, since paralegals do not need to attend law school, they don't have to take the LSAT. Some paralegals choose to become lawyers after working in the field for some time, in which case they may take the LSAT when they apply to J.D. programs.

You may already know that the paralegal profession offers you the opportunity for a challenging and well-respected career, but there are additional advantages to the field you may not have considered.

The time it takes to become a paralegal can vary, where you can gain certification in less than three months or opt for an associate's or bachelor's degree, which can take up to four years.

Paralegals must avoid the unauthorized practice of law. Generally, paralegals may not represent clients in court, take depositions, or sign pleadings. Some federal and state administrative agencies, however, do permit nonlawyer practice. See, for example, Social Security Administration.

What mistakes do paralegals make? ›

FYI, these include things like missing deadlines, giving legal advice, and mis-calendaring things. Then, do whatever it takes to ensure that you are better at each of those tasks than other paralegals at your experience level.

Paralegals handle many tasks traditionally associated with attorneys, such as communicating with clients, drafting briefs, and appearing in court. With the amount of communication and writing a paralegal handles in their day-to-day work, it's vital their skills are up to snuff.

The median salary for a Paralegal in New York, NY is $65,000, with 80% of salaries falling between $41,920 and $80,800. Salaries for Paralegals in New York, NY are typically above than what other jobs pay in the area.

Hofstra University

The certificate, which takes one year to earn, can be finished online or on campus. To be admitted, prospective students should have completed at least 60 college credits or an associate degree. Hofstra University charges $7,250 for the entire paralegal certificate program.

There are no statewide mandatory certifications for paralegals in New York. However, most paralegal jobs in the state will require the completion of an associate degree or a certificate in paralegal studies.

Paralegal's Primary Responsibilities

While the attorney is skilled at packaging and communicating the points of the law from which to argue his or her case on behalf of clients the bulk of the legal research brought to them is performed by paralegals.

Attending classes on a part-time basis, this can take 12 to 24 months. Some schools offer accelerated programs as short as 12 weeks and paralegal degree programs can take 2 to 4 years to complete. Post-COVID, many programs are online, opening up the possibility of picking the program that best meets your needs.

Licensure: There is no specific paralegal license in California. Degree: A bachelor's degree in any subject or a high school diploma/equivalent. Experience: If you have a bachelor's degree, you need one year of training under the supervision of an attorney licensed with the State Board of California.