Although no formal advancement paths for paralegals exist, there are some possibilities for advancement, particularly in larger firms or companies.
For example, a person may be promoted from a paralegal to a senior level paralegal who supervises others. In addition, a paralegal may specialize in one area of law, such as environmental, real estate, or medical malpractice. Many paralegals also advance by moving from small to large firms.
Expert paralegals that specialize in one area of law may go into business for themselves. Rather than work for one firm, these freelance paralegals often contract their services to many lawyers. Some paralegals with bachelor's degrees enroll in law school to train to become lawyers.
Paralegals can also move horizontally by taking their specialized knowledge of the law into another field, such as insurance, occupational health, or law enforcement.
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