There are dozens of reasons why a legal assistant is so sought after. Case in point, were you aware that an average paralegal salary is around $34,000 annually? And that's just for state and local work. Paralegals working in government positions might net double. Not only does a career as a paralegal pay fairly well, but you may not even need a degree. If you possess a background as a paralegal, you may be able to gain employment at a law firm or in a government position. Realistically, paralegal job careers are expected to increase at a much faster pace than the majority of careers through 2014.

With the vast number of benefits, it only makes good logic that paralegal careers are boosting in popularity. Want to learn what a paralegal career is like?

For starters, paralegals are in fact legal assistants. It is true that the words are virtually interchangeable. Legal assistants aid lawyers in their day-to-day work however, they may not provide legal opinions. A paralegal job description can consist of preparing legal papers, performing necessary legal studies, and doing much of the prep jobs for attorneys. Legal assistants have the chance to work in a number of specialties; ranging from intellectual law to bankruptcy law. About 70% of all legal assistants in the United States are employed in a law firm.

There are not too many (if any) requirements for working as a legal assistant through much of the U.S. While there are no special requirements for a paralegal education, a certification is found desirable by many law firms across the nation. Here are a couple of popular exams leading to certifications:

Certified Legal Assistant Exam (CLA exam) sponsored by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

PACE (or Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam) offered through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

Since the certification exams require you to meet certain specifications in order to take them, you may also consider gaining an education in paralegal studies. There are a number of choices for those who wish to gain a specialized education in paralegal studies.

While you can get hired as a paralegal even without a certification or education, but you may have a more difficult time getting a job and it will likely be for lower pay. Many law firms tend to hire individuals with a formal education in paralegal studies. It will only make finding employment as a paralegal easier if you gain qualifications before looking for your first job.