Paralegal Degrees

With paralegal degrees, also known as legal assistants, you carry out behind-the-scenes tasks for law firms, corporations, and government agencies.

Court Reporting | Paralegal | Homeland Security | Criminal Justice | Law | Private Investigator | Forensic Science

Trained in many aspects of the law, but unable to make arguments before the court or to represent themselves as legal and paralegal professionals, and lawyers, often research cases and examine documents under the direct supervision of a practicing attorney.

Paralegal degrees are offered at the associates level at several accredited colleges and universities. You can chose to study either online on on-campus. Learn about different programs from:

• Everest University
• Rasmussen College
• South University
• Virginia College

Education and Training

Researched projections show that employment in trained paralegals continues to grow because law firms and government agencies tend to rely more heavily on paralegals for research instead of employing more expensive novice attorneys. You can complete your training in about two year to become a paralegal. Earn your Associate in Paralegal Studies. Paralegal program are designed to give you intensive legal training by giving you a balanced curriculum of law, liberal arts, communication, and business courses. You can then pursue employment in federal government, local and state courts, city and state correctional facilities, and private practice. Many schools offer a variety of online training for a certificate or diploma programs through business or vocational programs, community colleges, and four-year universities. There are some programs that require only a high school diploma or that allow students with previous legal experience, such as legal secretaries, to enroll without a college degree.

Online or distance paralegal degrees, diplomas or certificate programs offer flexibility for those who cannot physically attend programs because of their job, family or other obligations. There is a growing variety among online programs that rely on computers and the internet to provide interactive lessons and online classrooms. Online degrees are accepted by many employers because completing an online paralegal training program demonstrates drive, organization and self-discipline which are all attractive qualities to an employer. Most programs are self-paced so the time to completion can vary, but most require about the same amount of time as a traditional certificate program. When comparing programs, do some research on the nature of the self-paced program and also look at the course curriculum and compare it to different program. Also be sure to check if they are fully accredited and recognized.

Expected Salary

As a paralegal, you can earn about $25,000 per year and as you gain experience, uo to about $60,000 a year. The average salary of a paralegal is about $44,000. While the paralegal average salary can be obtained without specialization, paralegal salaries tend to increase with some specialization. You also would earn more in larger cities.

Career Projection

According to a 2004 survey by the National Association of Legal Assistants, about a 1/3 of paralegals have an associate's degree. In many employment markets, it is considered the appropriate level of paralegal training for recent high school graduates or others without secondary degrees to enter the field. The advantage of an associate's degree is that you can transfer credits to a bachelors program. Bachelor's paralegal degree programs are not as commonly available as associate's degree or certificate programs but there are some schools that offer the program. A bachelor's paralegal degree programs provide in-depth paralegal training for career advancement. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can pursue a masters degree, typically two years long. Masters degrees are typically conferred as master of arts or science degrees in law, legal studies or legal administration.

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