Chapter Two
Getting your Paralegal Education – Recipe for Success
As with any career, education is vital to building the foundation you’ll need to begin your career and excel as a paralegal. But, your education as a paralegal doesn’t stop once you earn your degree or certificate: it’s essential to continue taking classes to stay on top of the changes in the field and to continue growth as a paralegal.
In fact, the United States Department of Labor found in 2006, because there is an increasing demand for paralegals, that those who are educated will have the easiest time finding positions as a paralegal. The Department of Labor also asserts that those considering a career as a paralegal have more than 1,000 programs from which to choose in the United States alone. Choosing which educational path you’d like to follow depends on what degree or certificate you want to earn: an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a certificate from a vocational or business program.
Associate degrees generally require two years of courses totaling a minimum of 60 credits. It’s important to understand that if you go for an associate degree in paralegal studies, you’ll have to complete both paralegal courses and general courses – such as, for example, English or math – required for the degree itself.
Before you decide on a particular associate degree program, you’ll need to consider if you want to advance to a bachelor’s degree, either now or in the future. If you think you’ll want a bachelor’s degree, you’ll want to find out if your credits from the associate degree program will transfer to the bachelor degree programs you’re considering. There’s nothing worse than taking classes that simply won’t transfer into another program.
You’ll find associate degree programs in paralegal studies at most community colleges and at four-year universities and colleges. Furthermore, many business schools offer associate degrees in paralegal studies.
If you’d rather just jump right into a bachelor degree program, you’ll find that many colleges and universities in the United States offer paralegal studies courses. Some universities may offer paralegal studies as a major while others may offer it as a minor. It’s important to investigate different programs to determine which best fit your needs and your goals.
To earn a bachelor’s degree, you’ll be required to take approximately 120 credits, double what the associate degree requires. Like with an associate degree, you’ll be required to take a specified number of credits in paralegal studies, generally around 60 credits. The remaining credits will be required for the bachelor degree itself.
While a bachelor’s degree isn’t generally required for employment, you may find it has certain advantages. For example, many bachelor degree programs afford students the opportunity to undertake an internship. Internships provide valuable real-world experience that gives you a distinct advantage with potential employers, so consider choosing a program that allows you to undertake a minimum of one internship.
More and more students, in all disciplines, today are beginning to realize the advantages of graduate studies. While master’s degree programs in paralegal studies are still not as expansive or as widely available as associate and bachelor degree programs, there are those schools that offer master’s degrees in paralegal studies.
Among those universities that offer master’s degrees in paralegal studies include:
George Washington University
Marymount University (MA in Legal Administration)
Webster University in Missouri
Hamline University
William Woods University
Many business schools and other vocational schools offer courses in paralegal studies leading to the paralegal certificate. Unfortunately, to be accepted to most of these certificate programs, you’ll be required to either have your associate or bachelor’s degree.
Next: Chapter Three: Tips for Choosing the Best Paralegal Program
Previous: Chapter One: Advantages and Disadvantages of the Paralegal Career
Table of Contents for the Paralegal Career Guide:
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