The first names that cross our minds are Mike Ross and Rachel Zane. We will discuss Lawyer Vs Paralegal here in the article. Aren’t they the perfect example of the contrast between a lawyer (well, as much of a lawyer as Mike was) and a paralegal, as well as the notable progression of an associate to a partner and a paralegal to a lawyer? If you find yourself lost, keep reading to find out all there is about becoming a lawyer, about the work-life of one and the compensations offered, and becoming a paralegal, the work responsibilities, and progression towards becoming a lawyer thereafter.
A lawyer is technically a person who knows the law and a law degree. An Attorney of law or commonly referred to as an attorney, is a lawyer in practice, a student of law who has become a member of the American Bar Association and is ready to practice law in that jurisdiction. The terms attorney and lawyer are commonly used interchangeably.
A paralegal is a person who is qualified to perform delegated legal work within the bounds of the law. This qualification may come in the form of work experience, education, or training of sorts that is accepted and recognized by its employer. The employer of a paralegal can be a lawyer, a government institution, or a private firm.
A lawyer requires a paralegal to work for them in filing documents, preparing summaries, performing research work, etc. The major point of distinction between the two shall be their role in the courtroom. A paralegal is not allowed by the American Bar Association to represent a client in front of a judge or jury. Only an approved lawyer is certified to do so.
What is the difference in the educational qualification and training for each profession? What shall be your course of the profession? Do lawyers really enjoy the luxurious lives that we have imagined? Is getting into Harvard law school as simple for everyone as it was for Elle Woods? We have answered all of your questions below.
Lawyer Vs Paralegal
Education And Licensing
Both paralegals and lawyers are trained to work within the bounds of the legal profession. However, one of the major points of distinction between a lawyer and a paralegal is the educational qualifications possessed by each of them.
Lawyers undergo at least seven years of schooling after finishing high school, four years of an undergraduate degree from a college or university. They can pursue this four-year college degree from any department, choosing any major, depending on their interests. While many future lawyers opt for English, History, or Political Science as their major, some go for a degree in science or technical fields. Opting for a technical field in the bachelor’s degree specifically helps in practicing patent law. Similarly, a degree program in healthcare administration or health humanities will help practice healthcare law in the future.
The next step for degree holders is to give The Law School Admissions Test, preferably LSAT. All law schools in the United States hold LSAT as an admissions requirement. Universities like Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia remain the top choice law aspirants across the United States and the globe. After admitting into a law school, the students need to hustle throughout to remain in the top 30 percent of their class as that is the chunk from which major law firms usually hire. Third-year law students also need to give Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination or simply MRPE. However, the states of Maryland, Washington, and Wisconsin do not require you to give MRPE, whereas, if you plan to practice in Connecticut or New Jersey, the test of MRPE is not required if the student has earned grade C or better in the ethics course at law school.
Law students need to jump another hurdle to pass the Bar Exam for the jurisdiction in which they desire to practice law. This exam, in particular, is not exactly a cakewalk, from the initial application filling that in itself is 15 – 20 pages long, often requiring details of the past decade of your life, then to the interview and test. It tests you to be distinct and compassionate. Most Bar associations often mandate a certain minimum number of hours that members of the Bar shall devote to further education each year to continue practicing law in that jurisdiction.
On the other hand, paralegals need not undergo such a complex process. Employers or lawyers effectively set personalized standards when they hire paralegals. That explains why experience plays an important part for paralegals. However, there are certain paralegal programs approved by the American Bar Association to allow students to get knowledge in an organized manner and pursue it as a career. The requirements for admission into these programs, their characteristics, and duration, vary from institution to institution. These programs are available to students across different educational backgrounds and respective work experiences.
Most aspiring paralegals choose to earn an Associate’s Degree, which can be completed in a minimum of 18 months. Some may already possess a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate’s degree and then go for a Paralegal Certificate Program to add another accolade to their resume and stand out. Such Paralegal Certificate Programs help you gain specialized knowledge in your job without committing yourself for a long period of time, as they can be completed in as few as 8 months.
Thus, it is justifiable to conclude that becoming a lawyer requires larger commitments in time and money. Many times paralegals make a natural progression towards becoming practicing lawyers. This transition becomes extremely smooth with some help from their institution or employer, and having a detailed plan never hurt anybody.
Job Duties And Responsibilities
Lawyers, as well as paralegals, work within the periphery of the legal system. While the former requires the center stage, the latter rather works behind the curtains. Both of them play a crucial role in representing their clients in the best way possible and ensuring justice delivery. Yet, there is no denying the fact that lawyers enjoy a relatively high-profile position. Just as we instantly recall Neil Armstrong as the first human to step on the moon, but fail to recall command module pilot Michael Collins, who flew the Apollo 11 command module Columbia around the moon.
Practicing lawyers face the court, the judge, and a jury depending on their cases. They represent individuals, corporations, and at times, the government too. Thus, a lawyer’s daily responsibilities vary frequently, depending on the particular case. At times we may find ourselves attracted to the profession for inaccurate reasons. The nature of the job seems appealing to many simply because of the glamour surrounding lawyers in terms of them enjoying the high-profile life and luxury that comes with it. However, it’s not sugar and ice and everything nice. The life of a lawyer comes with long working hours and a lot of pressure, especially when the future life course of their plaintiff relies upon them. Having said that, a paralegal’s job is not a walk in the park either as it requires long working hours and the pressure of your employer trusting your research and knowledge. A lawyer’s job includes being responsible for the positives and the negatives of their paralegal’s work as well. It would all seem worth it, and you can truly enjoy yourself if the profession is your true calling and passionate about your work.
The responsibilities of a lawyer include meeting with prospective clients and rendering legal advice to the existing clients. They must file motions, carry out research about the cases, or examine those made by their associates or paralegals. They represent their client in front of the judge and the jury when required. Lawyers carry depositions and prepare their clients for depositions. At times they are required to carry out site inspections and engage in discovery. One of the major responsibilities that befall the lawyer after the court decision is to ensure that the settlements are smoothly transacted and ensure that the plaintiff and the defendant stick to the judge’s order and the commitments made by them in court.
Lawyers must follow the ethical code of conduct bestowed on them and deliver their fundamental duties to the best of their capacity. It is essential to value the client’s privilege and ensure confidentiality. Like the best closer in New York City, Harvey Specter says, “Trust is a two-way street,” and we sure believe it is. A lawyer must possess the mindset to understand that when a person or an entity seeks legal advice or services, they are more often than not in a muddle. Thus, the lawyer needs to work with compassion with his/her clients and put their best foot forward to deliver the promises they make. A lawyer must gain analytical skills with experience to evaluate a case in advance and determine whether or not it is a winnable case to advise their client accordingly.
Paralegals essentially need to assist their employers in preparing and filing pleadings in court. They communicate information to and from the lawyer, client, and other parties involved. The basic responsibilities include managing documents, creating retrieval systems that can be used, maintaining a summary of depositions, using the transcripts of depositions to prepare for trial, etc. One of the major responsibilities of a paralegal includes conducting research, finding factual information that can be used in court, and finding crucial precedents. Compiling information in an easy-to-understand manner, in the form of charts, or graphs and preparing summaries to form another aspect of the job.
A competent paralegal would continuously engage in educational programs and participate in professional opportunities to stay ahead in the race. A paralegal job requires you to be thorough with every detail while conducting legal research. This kind of professionalism will allow you to be accurate in following rules and procedures. Maintaining a good professional network comes very handy in the profession. Excellent communication skills and writing ability must ensure your ability to assist your employer in writing opening and closing statements for the court.
It is fair to conclude that a lawyer and paralegal’s job roles, duties, and responsibilities are often overlapping as both have to conduct research and prepare filings for court. Lawyers interact more with the client and perform in the courtroom while paralegals work in and around the lawyers.
Salary And Job Outlook
One of the major factors in determining a career for oneself requires working the finances too. Studying in a law school without or partial scholarships mandates a strong commitment in terms of money. It is essential to evaluate the return on your investment. It is important to keep in mind that choosing a career path merely for the possible salary it could fetch you in the future has barely ever worked out for anyone. The competing and dynamic work culture that we are part of requires us to be passionate about what we do because that will serve as a constant internal motivation to work better and prosper in our respective fields.
The salaries offered to a lawyer or a paralegal varies based on the individual’s competence, educational background, work experience, relationship with clients and their feedback, flexibility in working and moving for the job, and various other factors. Following is a broad outlook for the growth and mean and median salaries for lawyers and paralegals.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), lawyers earned a median annual wage of 120,910 USD. However, the number varies due to many factors. For example, the lawyers working for the federal govt earned a median wage of 145,160 USD, whereas those working for the state managed to earn 86,900 USD. The growth rate in the job rate for lawyers is expected to be better than most other occupations in the US that are approximately 6%, by 2028. However, in 2019, the median salary was recorded to be 122,960 USD. A positive increase has been recorded in median salaries in the year 2020, despite the pandemic. Median salaries for the year 2020 are 192,000 USD.
Analyzing the trends in the past years, the highest paying industries for lawyers are Cable and Other Subscription Programming with an annual mean wage of $234,310, followed by Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil and Motor Vehicle Manufacturing with annual mean wages of $215,700 and $205,610 respectively.
The 5 highest paying states for lawyers in the USA are the District of Columbia, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In contrast, the best paying cities in the United States are San Jose, California; San Francisco, California; Washington, District of Columbia; Los Angeles, California. And Bridgeport, Connecticut. The lower end of the average wages is approximately 88,400 USD, while the higher end of the average goes up to 306,000 USD.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), paralegals earned a median annual wage of 51,000 USD, precisely 25 USD/ hour in the year 2018. it is expecting an increase of a whopping 15% by the year 2026. in the current scenario, paralegals are seen to be making approximately 52,000 USD per year. The top 25% of paralegals in the country enjoy an annual mean wage of 65,610 USD, whereas the median salary of the bottom 10% of lawyers is estimated to be 57,430 USD.
Some of the best companies for paralegals to work within the United States are, Corporate Paralegal, Presuit Paralegal, National Paralegal Network, and Wealth Management Paralegal. The higher salary of lawyers can be reasoned with the lengthy and relatively expensive education that they hold. It would be easier to support the education expenses for a practicing paralegal as they already possess an in-depth knowledge of the field.
The job outlook is continuously expanding in both fields. The higher salaries of lawyers also reflect that the services of a lawyer are more expensive than the legal advice of a paralegal. Many people and companies hire paralegals as it is more cost-friendly to take legal advice from them as compared to hiring a lawyer as a larger proportion of lawyers charge hefty amounts, to begin with. The same results can be obtained through an experienced and adept paralegal.
A paralegal cannot represent a client in the courtroom, but sometimes it does not necessarily get to that. To understand better, let us see an example. If a person needs a divorce and the other party also agrees, and there are no legal hurdles in the process. Yet, a person feels intimidated by the lengthy paperwork, and the legal terms seem to be overwhelming, then it is best to hire a paralegal. Paralegals also give more personalized time and attention to a particular case, and needless to say, they are pocket-friendly.
Work Schedule
The work environment of lawyers is highly competitive. More and more students are pursuing their dreams of becoming lawyers, and law schools are producing an increasing number of lawyers every year. The job market is growing too, but it is difficult to say that the number of jobs increases proportionately as the number of potential employees increases.
More than three- fourth lawyers are working in private firms or are self-employed. This makes this industry a private one. Thus, most lawyers work more than 40 hours a week. Those employed with the federal or state governments enjoy lesser working hours. The work scenario is similar for most paralegals employed with practicing lawyers or private firms as they are also required to work for approximately 40 to 45 hours a week. Most lawyers start working as assistants or associates in private firms and then work their way to the top with constant hard work and, in this case, smart work too. The job requires you to keep hustling, finding new clients, building a stronger network in the industry, become more precise and proficient in your work, and most importantly, build a reputation that attracts more and more clients towards you.
What Is A Better Choice For You?
Before you answer this question, you need to ask yourselves a few other questions.
- What are my reasons to become either?
Remember to do justice to yourself, not just today but 20 years later too. If you plan to work for a long time, keep in mind that running after money or market demand should not be your top priority. To do justice to a job, you will have to be in love with your profession so that every day going to work does not feel like a punishment.
- What is the kind of life I imagine for myself?
Both of these professions require a lot of time and effort, so if you wish to work in the legal periphery yet wish to work only a 9-5 job, you shall prioritize bagging a job in the legal sector for the government. However, sometimes lawyers representing people behind bars can get a call in the most uncomfortable hours.
- Do you enjoy a high-profile life?
Being the center of attention and working behind the scenes is one of the major distinctions between a paralegal and a lawyer. Thus, one must decide whether or not they would like to be able to stand in the middle of the room and defend their plaintiff or accuse the defendant. The kind of personality you have plays a major deciding factor in determining this.
It is very important to know yourself and your calling in life. Whatever you work on, be passionate about it and excellence shall follow SUIT.
Also read LAWYER VS. PROSECUTOR