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According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by lawyers.
Corporations in particular are boosting their in-house legal departments to cut costs. Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, healthcare, international law, elder issues, criminal law and environmental law. Paralegals who specialize in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice and product liability should have ample employment opportunities.
Job opportunities for paralegals will expand in the public sector as well. 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. Federal, State and local government agencies, consumer organizations and the courts also should continue to hire paralegals in increasing numbers. | 
