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Career Colleges » Illinois » Criminal Justice and Law » Legal Services
Illinois Legal Services Degrees
Legal Services Degrees: Illinois Colleges
Looking for accredited career colleges, technical schools, and universities in Illinois offering Legal Services degrees. Legal support services , paralegals, and vourt reporters make law offices run smoothly. Legal administrative assistants too.
Attending an Illinois college means close proximity to fascinating Chicago, a cosmopolitan city with a strong arts scene, great restaurants, and lots of affordable housing. It's also a great town for sports fans, with many world-class teams. There are also extensive stretches of rural land in Illinois, offering opportunities for hiking and fishing. And the Great Lakes provide a wonderful setting for boating, water-skiing, or simply long, thoughtful walks along the shore.Illinois Colleges: Legal Services Degrees
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants Do
Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers. These tasks may include preparing legal documents, conducting legal research, maintaining records, answering telephones, assisting attorneys as they prepare for trials, and interviewing potential court witnesses. Paralegals must have excellent communication, problem-solving, research, and organizational skills.
Work Environment
Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, law enforcement agencies, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. They usually work full time, and overtime is sometimes needed to meet deadlines.
How to Become a Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Most paralegals and legal assistants have an associate?s degree or a certificate in paralegal studies. In some cases, employers may hire college graduates with a bachelor?s degree with no legal experience or specialized education and train them on the job.
Pay
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $46,990 in May 2012.
Job Outlook
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 17 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation attracts many applicants, and competition for jobs will be strong. Experienced, formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills should have the best job prospects.
