Paralegal Job Description in Nevada

Nevada’s Rule 5.3 requires that all paralegals working in the state do so under the supervision of a licensed attorney who takes responsibility for that paralegal’s professional conduct. Paralegals in Nevada are trained, through education or experience, to perform substantive legal work for these attorneys. The knowledge they gain may be earned through formal schooling, training or experience. Would you like to discover how to become a paralegal in Nevada? Read on.
 

Paralegals in Nevada enter the work force through various means. Some receive paralegal education through a formal program either in-person or online. Others experience on-the-job training, and still others receive nothing but work experience. You will have a better chance of obtaining a paralegal job in Nevada if you pursue paralegal studies. Your program need not be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)..

Nevada Paralegal Online and Campus School Programs

As of January 2014, there is just one ABA-accredited paralegal program in Nevada:

• Truckee Meadows Community College – Reno
• Associate of Applied Science-Paralegal

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You should gain some work experience through a practical externship or internship during your paralegal educational program. If you do not, however, pursue such an experience through a pro bono or volunteer legal services program in Nevada, such as:

• Nevada Legal Services, Inc. – offices in:
• Las Vegas
• Elko
• Carson City
• Reno
• Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada- Las Vegas
• Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans – office in Carson City and serving these counties:
• Douglas
• Carson City
• Storey
• Lyon
• Mineral
• Churchill
• White Pine
• Elko
• Humboldt
• Washoe Legal Services Bankruptcy Clinic - Reno

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Just as with paralegal education, paralegal certification in Nevada is also not a requirement in order to work in the state. Some paralegal associations in Nevada, as well as law firms, prefer to employ paralegals who hold national certification, however. The most common national certifications held by Nevada paralegals, each of which is obtainable through examination or curriculum, include:

• PACE (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam), provided by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) (certification earned through passing this exam is the Registered Paralegal –RP)
• PCCE (Paralegal Core Competency Exam) also given by the NFPA  (certification earned is the Certified Registered Paralegal – CRP)
• CLA/CP  (Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal),  bestowed by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• APC (Advanced Paralegal Certified) also given by NALA

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Well-known law firms, both large and small, throughout the state of Nevada are continuously hiring for paralegals and legal assistants to help in all areas of the law. Examples of types of law firms in which paralegals assist in Nevada include family law, administrative law, elder law and criminal law. Popular law firms in Nevada include:

• Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP – Las Vegas
• Hawkins, Folsom and Muir – Reno
• Family Law Centers - Henderson
• Jimmerson Hansen P.C. – Las Vegas
• Parsons, Behle & Latimer, P.C. - Henderson
• Howard & Howard – Las Vegas
• Bell & Young, Ltd. – North Las Vegas
• Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro, LLP - Reno
• Ballard Spahr, LLP – Las Vegas

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Good for you! You have cleared the requisite hurdles along the pathway and are now a paralegal in Nevada! The following are some membership associations for legal assistants and paralegals across Nevada. Consider becoming a member of one of these organizations to further your career options:

• Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals
• Paralegal Association of Southern Nevada
• State Bar of Nevada Legal Assistants Division
  

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