"If they don't fit, you must acquit."
When Johnny Cochran uttered these words about the gloves presented as evidence in the OJ Simpson murder case, he cemented his place in legal history. As one of the high-profile attorneys in Simpson's trial, Cochran helped usher in an era of courtroom drama turned entertainment. Today, celebrity attorneys represent some of the biggest names in cases that have spawned a cottage industry complete with its own television network. However, they can't work alone--behind every star attorney is a supporting cast of secretaries, assistants and clerks.
Celebrity trials hit the headlines
Earlier this year, Lindsay Lohan was the talk of the town on everything from the morning news to the late shows. The actress, who had earlier landed in court for charges related to drug and alcohol abuse, found herself once again on the wrong side of the law when she was accused of stealing a necklace from a jewelry shop. Ultimately, Lohan was convicted and sentenced to 120 days in jail--a sentence that was later converted into five weeks of house arrest.
More recently, Michael Jackson was back in the news more than two year after his untimely death. Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter for improperly dispensing medication to the pop star. In what is sure to be a media circus, there is little doubt that attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense will see lots of face time on TV and in the tabloids.
Rest assured these attorneys do not work alone. If you are intrigued by the possibility of a legal career but dread the idea of years in law school, check out these occupations that work behind the scenes in courtrooms across the country.
1. Paralegal and legal assistants
Some may argue paralegals are the most important part of a legal team. Also known as legal assistants, paralegals are often involved in every aspect of trial preparation from drafting legal documents to analyzing data to recommending a specific course of action in a case. They can do almost everything except set legal fees, give legal advice and present cases in court.
Working as a paralegal can be a quick way to enter the legal field. A two-year associate degree in paralegal studies is sufficient for many jobs as legal assistants. Another way to enter the field is with a bachelor's degree and a certificate in paralegal studies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals and legal assistants earned mean annual wages of $49,460 in 2010.
2. Judicial law clerks
Just as a paralegal may be an attorney's right hand man, judicial law clerks serve the same function for judges. They draft legal briefs, communicate with attorneys and research legal questions. Unlike paralegals, however, judicial law clerks may need a master's degree or other advanced education. In 2010, these professionals earned mean annual wages of $44,060 according to BLS data.
3. Legal secretaries
Legal secretaries work under the supervision of a lawyer or paralegal. In addition to basic administrative tasks, they may help draft legal documents, verify facts and perform other legal research. To help these secretaries understand legal terminology and procedures, many vocational and technical schools as well as community colleges offer specialized training programs. Legal secretaries can play an important role as part of a legal team and for their expertise, the BLS reports they were paid mean annual wages of $43,270 in 2010.
4. Court reporters
Finally, there wouldn't be a record of celebrity trials--or any trials for that matter--without court reporters. These are the people responsible for recording and transcribing all the courtroom proceedings. While you won't find a court reporter in the spotlight during a real trial, they play an essential role. In particular, their records must be complete and accurate since court transcripts are used to determine the fate of legal appeals. Training for court reporters is offered by vocational and technical schools, and some programs may be completed in less than a year. Court reporters earned mean annual wages of $53,270 in 2010 according to the BLS.
Most legal workers aren't involved in high-profile celebrity trials, but their work is every bit as critical to the people whose cases they are working on. While high-powered attorneys are the face of the courtroom, these careers out of the limelight keep the legal system moving.
When Johnny Cochran uttered these words about the gloves presented as evidence in the OJ Simpson murder case, he cemented his place in legal history. As one of the high-profile attorneys in Simpson's trial, Cochran helped usher in an era of courtroom drama turned entertainment. Today, celebrity attorneys represent some of the biggest names in cases that have spawned a cottage industry complete with its own television network. However, they can't work alone--behind every star attorney is a supporting cast of secretaries, assistants and clerks.
Celebrity trials hit the headlines
Earlier this year, Lindsay Lohan was the talk of the town on everything from the morning news to the late shows. The actress, who had earlier landed in court for charges related to drug and alcohol abuse, found herself once again on the wrong side of the law when she was accused of stealing a necklace from a jewelry shop. Ultimately, Lohan was convicted and sentenced to 120 days in jail--a sentence that was later converted into five weeks of house arrest.
More recently, Michael Jackson was back in the news more than two year after his untimely death. Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter for improperly dispensing medication to the pop star. In what is sure to be a media circus, there is little doubt that attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense will see lots of face time on TV and in the tabloids.
Rest assured these attorneys do not work alone. If you are intrigued by the possibility of a legal career but dread the idea of years in law school, check out these occupations that work behind the scenes in courtrooms across the country.
1. Paralegal and legal assistants
Some may argue paralegals are the most important part of a legal team. Also known as legal assistants, paralegals are often involved in every aspect of trial preparation from drafting legal documents to analyzing data to recommending a specific course of action in a case. They can do almost everything except set legal fees, give legal advice and present cases in court.
Working as a paralegal can be a quick way to enter the legal field. A two-year associate degree in paralegal studies is sufficient for many jobs as legal assistants. Another way to enter the field is with a bachelor's degree and a certificate in paralegal studies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals and legal assistants earned mean annual wages of $49,460 in 2010.
2. Judicial law clerks
Just as a paralegal may be an attorney's right hand man, judicial law clerks serve the same function for judges. They draft legal briefs, communicate with attorneys and research legal questions. Unlike paralegals, however, judicial law clerks may need a master's degree or other advanced education. In 2010, these professionals earned mean annual wages of $44,060 according to BLS data.
3. Legal secretaries
Legal secretaries work under the supervision of a lawyer or paralegal. In addition to basic administrative tasks, they may help draft legal documents, verify facts and perform other legal research. To help these secretaries understand legal terminology and procedures, many vocational and technical schools as well as community colleges offer specialized training programs. Legal secretaries can play an important role as part of a legal team and for their expertise, the BLS reports they were paid mean annual wages of $43,270 in 2010.
4. Court reporters
Finally, there wouldn't be a record of celebrity trials--or any trials for that matter--without court reporters. These are the people responsible for recording and transcribing all the courtroom proceedings. While you won't find a court reporter in the spotlight during a real trial, they play an essential role. In particular, their records must be complete and accurate since court transcripts are used to determine the fate of legal appeals. Training for court reporters is offered by vocational and technical schools, and some programs may be completed in less than a year. Court reporters earned mean annual wages of $53,270 in 2010 according to the BLS.
Most legal workers aren't involved in high-profile celebrity trials, but their work is every bit as critical to the people whose cases they are working on. While high-powered attorneys are the face of the courtroom, these careers out of the limelight keep the legal system moving.
No comments:
Post a Comment