The paralegal profession has grown dramatically in importance to law firms since the early 1960s. In 2010 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 256,000 paralegal jobs in the economy and projected that there would be another 46,900 positions by 2020.

The path to a paralegal career requires a college education and, in many states, official certification. Many paralegal programs include a required internship prior to graduation. Other schools offer voluntary internship opportunities that earn credits towards graduation. Either way, paralegal internships are recognized as one of the most effective avenues for ultimately finding a paralegal job. As one writer on the profession noted, internships may be the “golden ticket” to launching a paralegal career.

Finding the right internship can be a challenge. The practice of law covers a wide range of focuses and the first question a student or new paralegal needs to consider is the type of law that interests them. Once a type of practice is identified, there are several steps that internship seekers should follow in their search.

Identify Connections

Networking is the most effective ways to find out about potential internships because law firms rarely advertise for these positions. Brainstorm with school advisers and people in the legal profession. Many colleges actively seek out internships or are contacted by organizations looking for interns. Understand that most internships are unpaid.

Talking to local working paralegals is another way to network. These people often know about upcoming vacancies and opportunities. Local organizations are also a good source for finding out how law firms function and the various roles within a firm.

Look for Internships in Unexpected Places

While the majority of paralegal positions and internships are found with law firms, there are other organizations with legal departments that require paralegal support. Many local, state and federal offices have legal staffs and need paralegals. Insurance firms, medical organizations, real estate firms and non-profit legal services organizations are also great places to research.

Applying for a Paralegal Internship

An internship, paid or unpaid, is a job and requires a formal application even if the internship is offered through a college program. Application packages should include a cover letter and resume prepared specifically for each internship sought. It is also important to ask college instructors for letters of reference and attach the letters to the application package.

Working as a Paralegal Intern

With an internship in hand, it is always appropriate to write a formal thank you letter to the person(s) who awarded the internship.

Successfully landing a paralegal internship is the beginning of another learning process. What students learn in college is a foundation. The actual work performed at a law firm or in a legal department is distinctly different from what is taught in school.

Once in the work environment, it is important to dress, behave and perform duties professionally – it is also an expectation. This is the new paralegal’s chance to learn the ins and outs of legal work. It is a time for asking questions, showing initiative and honing skills.

After the Internship Ends

At the conclusion of an internship, it is helpful for the intern to discuss his or her strengths and weaknesses with their superior. It is also a good time to ask for a letter of recommendation.

The interning firm may or may not offer an intern a job. Even so, write a formal letter of appreciation for the internship opportunity because it is the proper thing to do and because a position might become available later. The most important result of a successful internship is the experience that can be added to a resume.

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Author Bio

Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he describes a few benefits of interning as a paralegal and aim to encourage further study through Online Degrees at George Washington University.

Everyone needs a role model at different stages of life; a role model is that the person you look up; it is he or she who inspires you to stay focused on achieving your goals. Role models are very important because they sort of define the path that you should follow in order to reach a certain end. A good way to describe these individuals is as a guiding star; a bright shining light that directs you to where you need to be. Role models are of great importance and more so during the formative years. It is during this period of time that a person requires guidance so that they do not end up on the wrong path.

Quite a number of people have actualized their dreams because of the role models they chose; dream actualization is a vital element in the equation of happiness. The college years are among the most important in a person’s life; in fact for quite a number of people, this is the make or break period. At this level, therefore, good role models are very important. There are various college role models who can significantly influence the life of a college student; the following are some of them.

Coaches

Sport is a big part of college life. In fact, it is during the various college sporting events that scouts from the big leagues come to search for new talent. It is coaches who are tasked with ensuring that members of the various teams deliver on the pitch, court, in the pool etc. College coaches are very influential because their job is not just to teach team members how to throw, swing or kick; their responsibility exceeds that. How a coach reacts when greatly distressed during or after a game can greatly influence how team members behave in similar times. It is only that, for them, it won’t necessarily be limited to the field, court etc; they may actually extend it to their daily lives.

It is also the duty of a coach to instill sound work ethic to his or her team members. Good sportsmanship is also something that coaches teach as well as general presentation during practice sessions and games. How a coach handles all these aspects of sport will determine just how the team members carry themselves in their daily lives.

Parents

It is during the college years that an individual is supposed to learn how to become almost completely independent. There are no parents to boss them around; in fact, some might say that parents are not needed anymore. This can’t be further from the truth; parents have a very big role to play throughout their children’s college years. How parents relate with each other will greatly influence how their children view relationships. Most college kids are just that: kids, and therefore, they still need their parents to guide them through life. If parents aren’t approachable or available, chances are that their kids will never consult them on vital life issues. Instead, they will find their own solutions; this, of course, can have dire consequences both in the immediate and distant future.

Professors

College professors have a duty to ensure that their students not only get the best possible academic knowledge but life related teachings, as well. Most college students view their professors in high regard probably because of their achievements and what they have gone through to make it to where they are at present. A professor can either use this high opinion to impact positively or negatively on the lives of their students. All this can be achieved simply through the words they use and the things they do both in and out of the lecture hall.

Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the importance of role models in students lives and aims to encourage further study with a masters in coaching and athletic administration.

Seriously though, with all the competition in college for jobs after graduation, you can’t afford to ignore the importance of an internship. We are also recognizing the fact that an internship in high school might be the perfect springboard to help your student pick a major, a college, and eventually a career.

Matthew Zinman, creator of Internship Success, a program created to help students make the most of their internships and provide employers with prepared interns, is offering my readers (and friends) first dibs on a federal grant subsidy. The grant provides a $100 credit toward’s Matthew’s online Career Preparation Certification (CPC) and professional skills training course at InternshipSuccess.com.

The grant provides for 250 registrants to reduce the course fee by more than half. So I invite you (and others you may let know) to use one or more of these credits now available for both the individual and group registration (use “DOLgrant” in the course credit code): http://www.internshipsuccess.com/Register.aspx

Those who take advantage will find this step-by-step course to be very comprehensive. It has three hours of self-paced instruction and 70+ supplemental career-support downloads for students and other job-seekers to get the right internship, gain the most meaningful experience and perform at their best to EARN employment.

In short, this is what isn’t learned in class.

Matthew reminds us, “A college degree is no longer sufficient for graduates to access the current job market. I’ve made it my life’s work to make internships matter and afford those every opportunity to succeed because I firmly believe there is no substitute for experience.”

If you have a student in college, know a college student, or are an employer who uses interns, take advantage of this AMAZING OFFER.