To become a bankruptcy paralegal, you should follow the accepted steps in your jurisdiction for becoming a paralegal and then begin working with a bankruptcy attorney or law firm. The more experience you get by working in the area of bankruptcy, the more proficient you will become at handling these cases. Once you've gained significant experience, you may choose to work independently in helping lawyers or individuals complete bankruptcy paperwork, or you may choose to further your career by working on more complex bankruptcy cases.
The process in becoming a bankruptcy paralegal or any other kind of paralegal varies by where you live. In the United States, paralegal work is not heavily regulated, so the process for receiving training as a paralegal can vary considerably. Many schools do offer degree, certificate, and diploma programs that can train you for a paralegal career. Upon completion of an educational or training program, you may be able to complete the process for becoming certified by a professional association. Certification can sometimes help you find a job and eventually become a bankruptcy paralegal.
Once you've completed your training and you begin searching for jobs, focus your search on bankruptcy lawyers and law firms. Initially you will probably be performing simple tasks as you learn your profession as well as the processes in the office where you work. You might want to communicate to your superiors your desire to become a bankruptcy paralegal so that they can support you in your attempts to learn more about bankruptcy law. If you work for a general law firm, this information can be helpful for your superior, again because it helps him to assign you cases that involve bankruptcy.
It's a good idea to continue educating yourself on bankruptcy matters to become a bankruptcy paralegal. Pay close attention in meetings to the discussion of cases so you can become familiar with bankruptcy terminology and common situations that occur in bankruptcy. There are a number of books that deal with bankruptcy law on the market, and reading them is a good idea. If you belong to a professional association, it is likely that it sponsors continuing education programs that focus on bankruptcy cases. Attending these programs and classes can help you considerably in developing your knowledge and eventually your career. Continuing education courses can also be extremely helpful if you are currently a paralegal specializing in another area of law but wish to change your specialty to bankruptcy cases.
