What is a paralegal exactly?

Can anyone explain what exactly i need to qualify for paralegal(air force)?

• 5J051. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 5J031. Also, experience in general office management, operational law and preparing and processing courts-martial and other military justice actions or claims for and against the United States Government. 5J071. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 5J051. Also, experience supervising and performing paralegal paraprofessional duties such as processing claims and military justice actions, civil law, contract law, environmental law, and operational law. 5J091. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 5J071. Also, experience managing paralegals in paraprofessional duties such as processing cases in military justice, claims, civil law, contract law, and environmental law and operational law Thats what is on the site, but its all so comfusing.

• Answer:

  Hello Matt, First off, you don't have the knowledge yet about the "skill levels." Notice in the "4th position" it is a "5" or "7" or "9". Those are skill levels. They don't apply to you now. IF, IF, you get assigned to Paralegal or any AF AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code - job) when you graduate from technical school you will be an Apprentice "3" level. Then, you go to your first base and go into 10 months of upgrade training, studying volumes of texts each month and taking end of chapter tests and end of volume test and when you finish all the volumes and your supervisor certifies you you take the final END OF COURSE exam. If you pass you will be awarded your "5" Craftsman skill level. That means that you can work with limited supervision in your job. The "7" level (Supervisor) comes after you get promoted to NCO grade and are upgraded (4+ years later). The "9" level is the Superintendent level for Senior NCOs like myself who are Master Sergeant and above. What you really need to concern yourself about is "Do you meet the minimum ASVAB entrance score to be in paralegal?" You need an ASVAB score of 51 in GENERAL. Technical school is at Maxwell AFB, Alabama and is for 43 training days (Mon-Fri) 8 /12 weeks. So, if you get it, you will be in training 17 weeks before you can get 15 days leave to go home before you have to report to your first duty base for work! Best wishes, Larry Smith Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.) First Sergeant