Do I need paralegal education?

The job of a good paralegal to ensure that the lawyers for whom they work give an appearance of organization. Their typical tasks involve document preparation, management and photocopying as well as conducting hearings and interviewing witnesses. According to the NFPA (the National Federation of Paralegal Associations) most new paralegals should prepare themselves by completing a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Currently, this is true of about half of all paralegals, while around 25% have completed an associate’s degree (a two year option). Looking to the future, the trend is toward a greater level of preparation and most employers would prefer their entry-level legal assistants and paralegals to have completed a four-year paralegal school program. Paralegal students should note that additional training in any other specialization such as social work or medicine will add weight to the student’s curriculum and improve his or her earning potential.

There is a vast range of options when it comes to paralegal training, extending from online programs to campus-based university master’s degrees. The National Association of Paralegal Associations advises taking a formal, recognized paralegal education program, and around 85% of working paralegals have done just that. Such degree programs involve classes in legal studies for 24 semester hours.

Further Paralegal Qualifications

Some paralegal positions require applicants to have obtained a paralegal certificate. A paralegal certificate program is an additional training program that students do after a four-year program. To find a school near you that offers recognised paralegal certificate programs, click here. (http://www.paralegal-degrees-certificates.com/)

The NFPA offers the possibility of becoming a “PACE Registered Paralegal”. To attain this qualification, the student must have completed a bachelor’s degree, have successfully finished an accredited paralegal program, have more than two years of work experience as a paralegal, and have passed the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam offered by NFPA.

The level of paralegal education you require will largely depend for whom you want to work. Different law firms will have different requirements. It is worthwhile to contact law firms in the area in which you intend to work to find out what their hiring policies are. There are many online directories of firms, but the most famous is that run by Martindale Hubbell (http://www.martindale.com/), hard copies of which will be available at your local library. This guide can help you seek out hiring firms by city, state and, if appropriate, specialty.

In the end your investment in paralegal education, both in time and money, will depend on your personal objectives. If your intention is use a paralegal qualification to smooth the path into law school, then a four year program plus certification might well be excessive. Contrarily, if you are excited by the prospect of becoming a career paralegal, then full accredited training, combined with certification and some additional specialization, will lift you above the crowd.