| It is true to say that in the year 2007, the cost | | | | profession during the first decade of 2000. The |
| of legal aid has become so expensive that it is | | | | median annual salary for full-time paralegals and |
| fast becoming out of the reach of most | | | | legal assistants as of May, 2004 was $39,130. |
| individuals and small businesses. This introduces | | | | There are two criteria that law firms are |
| significant problems to people and small companies | | | | commonly judged by: the strength of their |
| which find themselves in the situation where they | | | | reputation and the quality of their employees. In |
| need to get expert legal advice. | | | | terms of public appeal, perhaps the greatest |
| The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, | | | | advantage that a law firm can possess is a |
| Office of Employment Projections predicts a | | | | stalwart reputation for quality legal advice and |
| growth of over 33 percent in the legal assistant | | | | passionate representation. |