A paralegal degree can be extremely valuable, even if you decide that being a paralegal is not for you. As with many degrees, studying law causes one to obtain a number of skills that can be transferred to a variety of jobs and careers. As everyone is different and may not fit into the same mold, here are here are five possible career paths for people who have earned a paralegal degree:

Become a Paralegal

The natural progression after studying to become a paralegal is to be a paralegal. Paralegals work under the supervision of at least one attorney. As paralegals are not authorized to perform any substantive legal work under their own name, the attorney employing the paralegal is ultimately responsible for the paralegal’s work. While unable to practice law, most paralegals handle a significant amount of work, including much of the paperwork required in procedural motions, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces. Depending on the law practice, paralegals can move into a senior paralegal role over time.

Work on Capitol Hill

You don’t have to run for office to help make policy on Capitol Hill. People with paralegal training can be hired as a legislative assistant, who helps the elected member of Congress understand and establish policy. They often write proposed laws on behalf of the elected official.

Become a Project Manager

The goal of the project manager is to effectively plan, execute, and close a specific task or project. Typically project managers work in architecture, construction, and software development, though there are a number of additional industries that use project managers regularly. People in these positions plan, track, and help execute all aspects of a project from inception to completion.

Become a Clerk or Administrator in the court system

County and court clerks help maintain the records of the court in their jurisdiction. On occasion, the clerk is the party responsible for collecting fees from tickets, and then depositing the money on behalf of the court. In some states, the clerk or administrator has limited judicial powers that allow them to process certain hearings, including adoptions and foreclosures.

Become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant

As the medical field continues to expand, there is a greater need for people who have been trained to understand the complexities of medicine and law. Legal Nurse Consultants have dual training in medicine, as they have either earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, or have a medical background as a registered nurse, or certified medical doctor, as well as legal training. This blend of knowledge prepares them assist medical and legal personnel in resolving medical and legal cases.

As the medical field continues to grow, the need for legal nurse consultants will increase as well. A legal nurse consultant is the perfect blend of nursing and law. Certified legal nurse consultants can earn more than $100 per hour for their knowledge and ability to critically analyze health care records and medical literature. Having received degrees and education in both medicine and law, these trained health care and legal consultants can help appropriate parties understand resolve medical or legal cases and claims.

Especially now with the Affordable Care Act, medicine is a tricky business. Unfortunately there are times when a mistake happens or when things otherwise don’t go right during the treatment of a patient. If a legal claim is filed as a result of the accident, a certified legal nurse consultant can help to bridge the gap between medicine and the law. He or she consults with the lawyers assigned to the case and helps analyze the medical records. The legal nurse consultant will often participate in client interviews and help establish a timeline of events. As most lawyers are not very well versed with the medical field, and most medical professionals have not been trained in law, the consultant will educate the appropriate legal staff on the medical issues related to the case at hand. They may also help determine the costs of any future medical needs of those who are pressing charges and in instances where the case goes to trial, the consultant may also be asked to act as an expert witness for the case.

In order to become a Legal Nurse Consultant, one must already be a Registered Nurse, must have received a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, or must be an board certified Medical Doctor.  After receiving the appropriate medical certification, classes to become a legal nurse consultant can begin. These classes mostly focus on helping the candidate become well versed in the issues of law that they will deal with after becoming certified.

Training is similar to that of a paralegal; there will be significant time spent on understanding the law and learning how to perform legal research. In addition, understanding how to write and analyze legal documents is essential. Time is also spent on understanding the litigation and trial process, as well as understanding torts and the type of lawsuits and recoveries that are allowed by law.