Home-Based Opportunities in the Paralegal Field

by C. Cole

There are tons of women looking to work from home and not everyone wants a business in direct sales. If you you’ve been searching for a legitimate work at home business for any length of time, most likely you have come across ads for telecommuting positions that range from a paralegal career to a medical coding career and more that can be run from the comfort of your home.

Paralegals work with private law firms, insurance companies, title companies and several other service types to assist with legal documents. Jobs in the paralegal field are expected to grow at a higher pace than most industries over the next five years. Paralegals make an average income of over $39,000 according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Labor, in spring of 2006. Is there any wonder so many women are looking to work from home as a paralegal.

A paralegal career has several options to fit any mom’s career desires and schedules. From being employed outside of the home, to telecommuting for an employer from home, to telecommuting for a private law firm or insurance agency to owning your own paralegal business that can one day blossom and allow you to employ other paralegals to work under you.

It is important to note that you do need formal training to be a paralegal and there are responsibilities and ethical considerations that you will be bound by. A paralegal career requires training and skill, beware of all the companies that try to tell you otherwise. As with many other industries in the work at home fiend, many of the “opportunities” you come across will turn out to be scams designed to play on the intense desires of many women, especially mothers, to work from home.

The Department of Labor also asserts that those considering a career as a paralegal have more than 1,000 programs from which to choose in the United States alone. Some of the career choices include online degrees, correspondence courses and more. Specialized certification for paralegals is being offered by colleges as are qualified training courses to give you the education you need.

It is important to check out any program you are considering (especially if it isn’t a college and instead offered by a private company) prior to shelling out any money to get involved.

So what are some of the warning signs to help you detect scams and how do you “check out” programs offering paralegal degrees or opportunities? One way is to network within the community. Visit the websites of the American Association For Paralegal Education and the American Bar Association Directory of ABA-Approved Paralegal Programs for detailed information. You will also find books relating to the paralegal career on Amazon and well-reviewed e-books on the topics such as the Paralegal Career Guide.

Another way is good old fashion research, which you can do for free. You can use sites like above as a starting point and also utilize Google, Yahoo and MSN where you will find many more sources of information right at your fingertips. It may take you a few weeks if not months to compile a decent amount of information, but you’ll be better off for doing it now rather than later after wasting money on dead-end promises and scams.

If you are short on time – or impatient- you can find most of your answers at the resources mentioned above. Whatever you do, please don’t shell out your hard earned money for any opportunities before you truly understand the industry and verify the programs are backed by professional organizations.

Remember the old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, most likely it is!” And please do not pay for information! The Paralegal Career Guide is full of information and its FREE!

About the Author:
C. Cole has been working from home for four years with a successful business consisting of numerous websites. When she’s not attached to her laptop, she can be found curled up with a good book, hiding from her three active children and her very hyper Labrador! She can be reached through her website the Dog Lovers Source.