Steps Toward a Paralegal Career in Kansas

Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:

Accomplish Paralegal Education in Kansas
Get Paralegal Work Experience in Kansas
Pursue Optional Paralegal Certification in Kansas
Seek Paralegal Jobs in Kansas
Now That You’ve Become a Paralegal in Kansas

Paralegal Job Description in Kansas

The Kansas Paralegals Association adopted a formal definition of the term “paralegal” in 1987. In Kansas, a paralegal is defined as a person who is qualified through training, work experience, or education and is employed by an attorney, government agency, law office, or other entity and performs substantive legal work under the direction of an attorney. This work requires great knowledge of legal concepts and the law and would normally be performed by an attorney in the absence of the paralegal. If you would like to discover how to become a paralegal in Kansas, this passage will explain the process in detail.

Step 1

Accomplish Paralegal Education in Kansas

Kansas does not require paralegals or legal assistants to have any mandatory education beyond a high school diploma. However, most paralegal employers in Kansas expect paralegals to have specialized education.

Kansas Paralegal Online and Campus Schools

Featured Programs:

Get Paralegal Work Experience in Kansas

Some paralegal education programs in Kansas require that you complete a work experience internship while still a student, while others do not enforce such a requirement. If your school does not require an internship, you should look for volunteer work experience as a paralegal on your own. Many groups in Kansas work with low-income clients on a pro bono basis and would welcome the help of a paralegal student. They may include:

Kansas Legal Services, Inc.- Topeka
Midland Mediation and Settlement Services – Topeka, Wichita
Kansas Legal Assistance Office of Emporia– Emporia

Step 3

Optional Paralegal Certification in Kansas

A certification is an option pursued by some paralegals in Kansas. Again, this is not mandatory in order to work in Kansas. Some employers may seek paralegals who hold certification or with credentials behind their name. There are many options for certification for paralegals who desire it in Kansas. A few are:

Professional Paralegal (PP) by the National Association of Legal Professionals – earned through passing an examination designed for paralegals with at least five years of experience, a bachelor’s degree, or a graduate of an ABA-approved paralegal program
Certified Paralegal (CP) by the National Association of Legal Assistants – earned through passing an examination on the specific subject matter used by paralegals

Step 4

Seek Paralegal Jobs in Kansas

Once you have your certificate or degree and hold some experience, you are ready to search for a paralegal job in Kansas. Law firms are not the only employer of paralegals in Kansas. Businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations are just a few of the options available for employment for Kansas paralegals. Examples include:

Kiewit – Lenexa
Bombardier- Wichita
Waddell and Reed – Overland Park
Triplett, Woolf & Garretson, LLC – Wichita
American Academy of Family Physicians – Leawood
National Guard – Wichita
Associated Wholesale Grocers – Kansas City
Netsmart Technologies – Overland Park
Payless Shoe Source Headquarters – Topeka
The Specialists Group, LLC – Wichita

Step 5

Now That You’ve Become a Paralegal in Kansas

Congratulations on working hard and earning the title of a paralegal or legal assistant in the great state of Kansas! You may wish to network with an organization of like-minded individuals, such as the ones listed below: