# What, exactly, is a paralegal, and how does one become one?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-paralegal-and-how-does-one-become-one/64390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 4, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-paralegal-and-how-does-one-become-one/64390 "2001-05-04T22:52:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-paralegal-and-how-does-one-become-one/64390/21 "2001-05-07T22:20:44Z")

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Most firms prob. don’t care what your degree’s in. They’re just happy you know how to read. But, if you do decide to take the 2 year program, just go an extra year and get the law degree. It’s a lot more cost efficient.

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**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-paralegal-and-how-does-one-become-one/64390/22 "2001-05-07T22:51:46Z")

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Does QA Test Engineer mean you’ve been working in a technology company? You might want to look into becoming a patent paralegal (e.g., a docket clerk or foreign filing administrator). They get paid significantly better than other paralegals, because of scarcity. You might have trouble breaking into the business with no training, though - I don’t know exactly how you’d go about it. Don’t bother with the certificate if you decide to go this route - you would never do one thing that you learn during the program.

Thinking aloud here - maybe you should look for a firm with a smallish patent department with overworked paralegals, and see if they’d hire you as a general assistant. Then learn the ropes on the job, and either convince them to promote you or go to another firm.

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