Fifty Legal Careers for Non-Lawyers

by Furi-Perry, Ursula

• ISBN13: 9781590319277
• ISBN10: 1590319273
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-05
• Publisher: American Bar Association

Summary

This thorough, easy-to-use handbook helps the reader select a law career best suited to one's interests, training, and aptitude, where a law degree is not a requirement. Each of the fifty careers profiled in the book includes interviews with people currently in that job; sample responsibilities; typical education and skills necessary; and further resources to help find out more, and how to enter the field. This new book from the American Bar Association is a must-have for anyone planning their future in law.

Author Biography

Ursula Furi-Perry teaches the Paralegal Certificate Course at Bridgewater State College, holds a BA from Brandeis University, and is working towards her Juris Doctorate at the Massachusetts School of Law

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Ten Growing Practice Areas for Paralegals	p. 1
Assisting at Trial: Litigation Paralegals	p. 3
It's Big Business: Corporate and Business Paralegals	p. 7
Best Interests in Mind: Family Law Paralegals	p. 11
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Oh My!: Intellectual Property Paralegals	p. 15
Helping Newcomers-Legally: Immigration Paralegals	p. 19
Assisting with Land Transactions: Real Estate Paralegals	p. 23
Helping People Out of Sticky Situations: Collections and Bankruptcy Paralegals	p. 27
Saving the Planet While Helping Lawyers: Environmental Law Nonlawyer Staff	p. 32
Assisting with Workplace Issues: Labor and Employment Paralegals	p. 36
Planning for the Future, Administering the Past: Probate and Estates Paralegals	p. 39
Ten Great Positions in Law Office Management and Administration	p. 43
Holding the Firm Together: Firm Administrators and Business Managers	p. 45
Selling the Professional Services of Lawyers: Legal Marketers	p. 49
Working for Those Who Make the Firm Work: Human Resources Directors and Managers	p. 54
Keeping Track of Paralegals: Paralegal Managers and Supervisors	p. 58
Obtaining Information in the Information Age: Law Librarians	p. 62
Training the Firm: Professional Development Managers	p. 66
Keeping the Firm Away from Ethical Violations: Conflicts Check Specialists	p. 70
Putting the Firm in a Positive Light: Public Relations or Communications Managers	p. 74
Helping Lawyers... and the Greater Good: Pro Bono Coordinators	p. 78
Keeping Documents Organized, Keeping the Firm Efficient: Practice Group Support Specialists	p. 84
Ten Completely Unique Positions for Skilled Nonlawyers	p. 89
Finding and Minding the Facts: Legal Investigators	p. 91
Piecing Together Medical-Legal Puzzles: Legal Nurse Consultants	p. 95
Thinking of Technology: Legal Technology Specialists	p. 100
Ascertaining the Identity and Validity of Writings: Document Examiners	p. 104
Helping Lawyers Achieve Balance: Work-Life Balance Administrators	p. 108
Representing and Helping Inventors: Patent Agents	p. 112
Providing Visuals: Trial Graphics and Animation Support Specialists	p. 116
Applying Factual and Scientific Findings to the Law: Forensic Professionals	p. 120
Validating Real Estate Transactions: Title Examiners, Agents, and Abstractors	p. 125
Translating Legalese into Winning Jury Strategies: Litigation or Trial Consultants	p. 128
Five Great Positions for Self-Starters	p. 133
Serving Lawyers Independently: Freelance Paralegals	p. 135
Matching Quality Employees with Quality Firms: Legal Recruiters	p. 139
Providing Notice in Civil Litigation: Process Servers	p. 143
Applying Law to Facts: Legal Researchers and Writers	p. 147
Taking Down the Record: Legal Transcribers and Reporters	p. 151
Five Great Positions if You're Just Getting Started	p. 155
Serving as the Lawyer's Right-hand Person: Legal Secretaries	p. 157
Managing the Firm's Files: File Clerk	p. 161
Serving as the Face and Voice of the Firm: Law Firm Receptionists	p. 164
Assisting Those Who Make the Laws: Legislative Aides	p. 167
Overseeing Criminal Offenders: Probation and Parole Officers	p. 171
Ten Great Nonlawyer Positions Outside of Law Firms	p. 175
Your Employer as Your Client: In-House Paralegals	p. 177
Problem Solvers: Nonlawyer Mediators	p. 181
Ensuring Smooth Operations in Court: Court Administrators and Managers	p. 185
Molding the Next Generation: Paralegal Instructors	p. 189
Fighting for Those Who Need Legal Assistance: Nonlawyer Advocates and Legal Aid Professionals	p. 193
Working for Uncle Sam and His Many State and Local Counterparts: Public Sector Nonlawyer Staff	p. 197
Serving Justice While Serving Their Country: Legalmen and Military Paralegals	p. 201
Drafting and Reviewing Agreements: Contracts Specialists	p. 205
Serving Up Justice: Magistrates and Other Nonlawyer Judges	p. 209
Helping Claimants in Times of Need: Nonlawyer Administrative Representatives	p. 213
Afterword	p. 217
Index	p. 221
About the Author	p. 237
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