According to the US Department of Labor’s 2008-2009 Occupational Handbook, the outlook for paralegal and legal assistant jobs is bright.  With the growth in the legal industry expected to expand over the next 10 years, and the need for paralegals will grow as well.  Good training will be necessary to get the best jobs, though.

According to the Occupational Handbook, "In addition to new jobs created by employment growth, more job openings will arise as people leave the occupation. There will be demand for paralegals who specialize in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and product liability. Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, elderly, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Job opportunities also are expected in Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts. However, this occupation attracts many applicants, creating competition for jobs. Experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best job prospects.

To a limited extent, paralegal jobs are affected by the business cycle. During recessions, demand declines for some discretionary legal services, such as planning estates, drafting wills, and handling real estate transactions. Corporations are less inclined to initiate certain types of litigation when falling sales and profits lead to fiscal belt tightening. As a result, full-time paralegals employed in offices adversely affected by a recession may be laid off or have their work hours reduced. However, during recessions, corporations and individuals are more likely to face problems that require legal assistance, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces. Paralegals, who provide many of the same legal services as lawyers at a lower cost, tend to fare relatively better in difficult economic conditions."

In addition, earnings for the top 10 percent of paralegals were in excess of $67,000 – so this is a lucrative career path for those persons with an interest in the legal system.

Of course you will need good training to get the top jobs, and online paralegal degree training is one of the most convenient ways to get started fast.  Take a look at the online paralegal degree options at Classes24Seven.com where you will find the best schools offering Associate, Bachelor and certificate degree programs in paralegal studies.