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The only real hard-and-fast rule Massachusetts maintains concerning the field is Rule 5.3, which states that a paralegal or legal assistant (or any other paraprofessional) must be under the supervision of a bar-certified and practicing attorney or attorneys in order to assist with substantive legal tasks. These attorneys are required to oversee the work of the paraprofessional and assume legal responsibility for professional conduct and agree to instruct the assistant in matters of ethics and confidentiality.
Salaries
In USD as of Feb 18, 2013 (source: indeed.com) | 35k | 70k | 105k | |
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Paralegal in Massachusetts $54,000 |
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Certified and Certificated
To be officially a certified paralegal in this state, one must complete a certain amount of work experience and schooling, or one or the other, and successfully pass one of four national exams. These exams are offered by one of three nationally recognized paralegal associations and are a way to showcase and spotlight proficiency and skill in the paraprofessional field. They are highly respected and can help a candidate stand out among her peers. Each exam can require different prerequisites before sitting so please refer to the chart for qualifications. The PACE exam is sponsored by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA); the PCC is another exam that is also sponsored by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the CLA/CP exam, while the Association for Legal Professionals (NALS) extends the PP. Once an exam is passed, the paralegal is granted title of certified. Certification is through formal education, courses taken or degrees earned. There are a number of ways to become certificated. An aspiring paralegal can earn her Associate Arts degree (AA) or Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in paralegal studies, criminal law, or similar. These tend to be two-year programs. One can also earn a four-year degree for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Science (BS), or even a Post-Baccalaureate certification if one already possesses a BA in any discipline. The Post-B certificates often are shortest and take roughly a year to complete as the educational basics are already satisfied. Again, while education is not required, it is strongly encouraged. Those already in the paralegal field who do not have a formal education could consider online or evening courses.Sponsored Listings
The Ivory Halls of Paralegal Studies
Massachusetts is bursting at the seams with ABA-approved schools and programs for this field, offering six different options. Bay Path College in Longmeadow is a private women’s college offering two year (AAS) and four year (BA, BS) degrees in paralegal studies, plus a Post-Baccalaureate certificate. Students who already claim 60 or more credits, such as for a Post-Baccalaureate, can apply for entrance into the college’s Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies Program, which takes about a year to complete. Internships prove mandatory for the BA, BS, and AAS, and is recommended for the P-B Certificate. Elms College in Chicopee has programs in legal studies and paralegal studies programs in a private setting. They offer AA and BA degrees, a P-B Certificate, and a Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate. They also offer a BA in social services paralegal. Two semesters is minimum required for students to complete the certificate programs in a full-time capacity. Mandatory internships are for the BA degrees. Middlesex Community College (Bedford and Lowell Campuses) in Lowell is a two-year public college that offers paralegal studies. They extend an AS degree and a P-B Certificate. For the post-graduate the program is about a year long, while the AAS is a standard two-year degree. Internships are required for the AS career track, elective if the student wishes to transfer to a four year school for a BA, and elective for the P-B Certificate. Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence is a public, two-year college that offers a paralegal studies program. Like Middlesex Community College, it will supply an AS transfer to a four year university for an eventual BA in paralegal studies, or one can remain at the AS level and move into a career immediately. It also extends a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate that requires two semesters and nine courses for completion. The AS degree requires four semesters of five courses each. In both, the internship is elective. North Shore Community College in Danvers is a public two year school offering an AA, and AS, and a P-B Certificate in paralegal studies. The degrees require 120 hours spent interning and a two-hour seminar every week for the 15-week semester. There is a certificate program available for those who already hold an AA in another discipline as well as a P-B Certificate. For the certification, internship is elective. Suffolk University in Boston is a private institution that offers degrees in a paralegal studies program. It will grant the successful completer either an AS, a BA, or a P-B certificate. Nine months is the minimum required time to complete the Certificate program if courses are started in fall. Internships are required for all degree programs but elective for the certificate. Both day and evening classes are offered.Sponsored Listings
Law Firms of Interest
There are a number of law firms known to hire entry-level paralegals often. Below is a truncated list. Edwards Wildman has many offices all over the world and one in Boston 111 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02199-7613 Tel: 617.239.0100 Fax: 617.227.4420 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo also international with an office in Boston One Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 Tel: 617.542.6000 Fax: 617.542.2241 Foley Hoag Seaport West 155 Seaport Boulevard Boston, MA 02210-2600 Tel: 617 832 1000 Fax: 617 832 7000Paralegal Schools in Massachusetts
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