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Who?
Paralegal

What?
"A person, qualified by education ... who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible." American Bar Association

When?
Upon completion of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Technology from Hinds Community College.

Where?
"In addition to private law firms, other organizations in the private sector employ paralegals. Some examples include corporate legal departments, insurance companies, estate and trust departments of large banks, hospitals and health care organizations, real estate and title insurance companies, and professional trade associations. Job opportunities in the public sector are available in community legal services programs, consumer organizations, offices of public defenders, prosecutors and attorneys general, city attorneys, a wide array of state and federal government agencies, and the judicial system." www.abanet.org

Why?
According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "[e]mployment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014." In particular, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Labor Market Information Department, projects employment growth of 34% from 2004 to 2014 for the paralegal profession in the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

How ... much?
The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports a mean hourly wage estimate of $17.31 and a mean annual wage estimate of $36,000.00 for paralegals in the Jackson Metro area. (Not starting salary - includes all paralegals, including those with many years of experience.)

Other resources
National Association of Legal Assistants ; Mississippi Paralegal Association

Contact

Kathryn Green Ford J.D.District Curriculum Coordinator & Instructor (601) 857-3488

Felicia R. Winston Instructor (601) 857-3874

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