Paralegal Career For Dummies
Description
The verdict is in: this is the must-have resource for aspiring paralegals everywhere!
Looking for a new, lucrative, and rewarding career in the legal field? Have you considered becoming a paralegal?
In Paralegal Career For Dummies, you'll find everything you need to know about how to begin an exciting new chapter in your professional journey. This hands-on guide walks you choosing what type of law firm you should work in, becoming certified, and networking with others in the field. It's also full of the legal concepts and procedures you need to understand to succeed in this area, including legal drafting, research, interviews, and more. Plus, go online for a treasure trove of complimentary online resources such as forms, templates, and examples of legal memos, summons letters, and special verdict forms. You'll also find:
- Ways to use AI to assist in preparing legal documents, emails, and case summaries
- Up-to-date info about common software programs used to manage clients, do legal research, and track deadlines
- Strategies for creating digital trial notebooks
- Updated information regarding paralegal associations and their certification exams
Growing at the brisk pace of almost 40,000 new positions every single year, the paralegal field always needs bright, motivated, and effective applicants. Become one of them with Paralegal Career For Dummies!
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Persons
Lisa Zimmer Hatch, MA, is a career and test prep expert who has taught paralegals and other legal professionals through universities worldwide. She and her late husband, Scott A. Hatch, JD, have coauthored numerous law and standardized test prep texts, including GMAT Prep For Dummies, LSAT Prep For Dummies, and ACT Prep For Dummies.
Content
Introduction 1
Part 1: A Snapshot of the Exciting and Lucrative Paralegal Profession 5
Chapter 1: Discovering the Paralegal Profession 7
Chapter 2: Membership Has Its Privileges: Paralegal Associations and Their Certification Exams 21
Chapter 3: The Hunt Is On: Securing a Paralegal Position 27
Part 2: Important Legal Concepts Every Paralegal Should Know 37
Chapter 4: "All Rise": The American Judicial System 39
Chapter 5: The Big Three: Categories of Law 57
Chapter 6: Taking a Case to Trial: The Litigation Process 79
Chapter 7: How It's Done: Important Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence 101
Chapter 8: Because I Said So: The Categories of Legal Authority 119
Chapter 9: The Substantive Law Areas Most Commonly Practiced by Paralegals 127
Part 3: Putting It into Practice: The Paralegal in the Civil Litigation Process 147
Chapter 10: The Paper Chase: Preparing Documents 149
Chapter 11: Elementary My Dear Watson: Legal Investigation 179
Chapter 12: Chewing the Fat: Legal Interviewing 191
Chapter 13: Burning the Midnight Oil: Legal Research 205
Chapter 14: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Trial Performance 225
Chapter 15: The Official Word: Ethical Codes for Legal Professionals 241
Part 4: Identifying the Skills Paralegals Need to Soar 255
Chapter 16: Presenting a Clear, Concise Legal Writing Style 257
Chapter 17: Using Technology in Law 275
Chapter 18: Law Office Management 101 291
Part 5: The Part of Tens 305
Chapter 19: The Ten Most Important Rules of Ethics 307
Chapter 20: Ten Things Every Paralegal Should Know 311
Chapter 21: Ten Survival Tips to Thrive in the Legal Environment 315
Appendix: What You'll Find Online 319
Index 327