Hot Careers | Justice, Law & Legal Studies

Computers are now woven into almost every aspect of modern life, including crime.

In the past decade, computers—including smartphones and GPS devices—have become "either a tool or an instrument of crime, the target of a crime, or the record-keeper of a crime," says Gary Kessler, director of the computer forensics and digital investigations online degree programs at Champlain College in Burlington, VT.

One result? Jobs are expanding rapidly for cybersecurity specialists—people who use today's tech tools to combat and prevent crime. Such computer forensics experts work both for public agencies, such as police departments, and for private companies.

Jobs for paralegals are expected to increase faster than those for attorneys in the coming years, making the profession a tempting alternative for people seeking a legal career.

While the recession has had an impact, the paralegal field "is still a growth profession and is still expected to be one of the top growing professions for the future," says Laura Barnard, director of the paralegal studies program at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio, and chairman of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission.

"Newly graduated paralegals are still getting jobs," says Barnard, pointing to government and small law firms as chief sources of employment.