If you are a paralegal, or are planning to enter this career field, you might also like to consider becoming a Notary Public. Although states vary in their requirements for this, if you live in an area where your paralegal training also qualifies you to carry out the duties of a Notary Public, you will be providing a very valuable service to your community.
Whether you live in a large city or a rural location, you may have had the experience of not being able to find a Notary Public when you needed one. In addition, many Notaries are located in banks, post offices, and within other such businesses which often do not have business hours that are as convenient as many people need them to be. If you are qualified to provide this service, it can be both a very helpful way of assisting others, as well as a rewarding experience for you yourself.
Although the classifications of Notaries vary, also, providing this service generally includes the basic duties of administering oaths, being witness to the signing of a variety of legal documents, and placing your Notary Public stamp on each document to verify that you have personally carried out these tasks.
As each state varies in its laws regarding qualifications necessary in order to become a Notary Public, as well as differences in the processes for doing so, if you are interested in providing this service it is essential that you first find out the facts specific to your state. To illustrate how important it is to make certain of your state specific laws well in advance, it is interesting to note that while some states require nothing more than an application and an accompanying fee, others require a licensure examination, and yet others require a prospective Notary Public to be bonded before becoming able to practice. If all of this appears confusing, it need not be; all you really need to do is find out where your state laws stand, meet its requirements, and follow its procedure.
Although it is not likely that you can earn a comfortable living solely by providing Notary Public services, it is a great option to consider in addition to your regular paralegal job. If you are currently working for an attorney, he or she will probably be more than willing to help you get the information that you need regarding the requirements, regulations, and process for becoming a Notary.
If you have ever needed to get an important document notarized on short notice as most of us have! you are already well aware of the need for more people who are willing to provide this service, and willing to provide it at convenient times, in convenient places.
If you are considering taking on the duties of a Notary Public in addition to your regular job as a paralegal, you may be further spurred toward making the decision to do so when you realize exactly how essential this service is to the community.
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One very important fact that you may not have thought of in your preparations to become a paralegal is that while attorneys have a number of wonderful options in specialized fields of law, so will you! This will be an excellent opportunity for you to work in the specific area which interests you the most and your personal interest will help you to develop your talents, so that you can bring even more enthusiasm to your job!
When you are thinking about this, the first step you should take is to check into what is available in the location where you plan to work. You will probably find a number of law firms and private practice attorneys who deal in general law, some who deal with a combination, and some who specialize in specific fields. While all of these have positive aspects, wouldn't you gain much more satisfaction from your job and your everyday work experiences if you decide to choose the one that appeals to you the most?
There are many options, but you should not find it difficult to focus on the one which peaks your interest. There are private practice attorneys and law firms which specialize in criminal law, business law, family law, tax law, and a variety of others. Your initial decision to become a paralegal likely had some degree of bearing on interest in the legal field, so you will probably find it quite likely that one specific type will catch your eye almost immediately.
There are some very good reasons to think about selecting a speciality. One reason is that your job will give you the unprecedented opportunity to learn first-hand nearly everything that there is to know about that specific field. When you are working on an everyday basis, you will not only have hands-on experience in the area of law that interests you the most, you will also have the benefit of working with the attorney who practices solely in that area. There is very little that has the potential to give you so much satisfaction as working at something in which you are truly interested.
Another reason for considering a speciality is that the enthusiasm that you generate will be very positive to your attorney and anyone else who works in your office. As enthusiasm is contagious, the fact that you have a significant interest in what you do will lead your entire work environment to be much more pleasant. Even the most routine tasks which you conduct on a daily basis will not seem like dreary or boring chores when you truly love the work that you are doing; and this enthusiasm will have a very good effect on your supervising attorney and co-workers alike.
When you choose a specialty, you will also rightly feel that you are making a very important contribution. Instead of simply doing a job, you will be actively promoting your field just by doing it well. If you wish for your job to contain a wide range of basic experience, general law can be perfect for you; but if you have a particular interest in mind, working as a paralegal in a specialized field of law may be the right decision for you!
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- Paralegal Distance Learning
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- Paralegals And Document Preparation
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- Paralegals And Standards
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- What Can You ExpectFrom Paralegal Training?
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- Where Can You Find Good Resources For Paralegals?
- Why Pro Bono Work Is Important For A Paralegal
- Why The Paralegal Field Is An Excellent Choice For A Career Change
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