CareerExplorer’s step-by-step guide on how to become a paralegal.
Is becoming a paralegal right for me?
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High School
The vast majority of paralegal training programs require that students have earned a high school degree or equivalent. Some educational institutions require that program candidates take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT).
While in high school, prospective paralegals should pay particular attention to communications and writing courses.
Postsecondary Education / Specialization
While some firms will hire candidates with a two-year Associate’s Degree, the [National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)](https://www.paralegals.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3268 states that employers are increasingly seeking out paralegals with a four-year Bachelor’s Degree. The NFPA advises students to enrol in a program accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies
The learning objectives in Associate’s level programs are:
• Paralegal ethics and professional responsibility
• Legal research and writing
• How to conduct interviews and legal investigations
• Legal terminology and the U.S. court system
Courses include:
• Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• Legal Terminology and Critical Thinking
• English Composition
• Business and Technical Writing
• Real Estate Law
• Civil Litigation
• Economics
• Business Law
• Computer Applications
• Ethics
Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor’s programs provide a more in-depth study of the law. They encompass the components of an Associate’s program, but at a more advanced level. Additional courses typically include:
• Intellectual Property Law
• Jurisprudence
• Comparative Law
Many Bachelor’s programs in the field allow students to choose a specialty. Paralegal specialties include:
• Bankruptcy Law
• Corporate Law
• Criminal Law
• Estate Planning & Probate
• Family Law
• Immigration Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Labor Law
• Nurse Paralegal
• Personal Injury Law
• Real Estate Law
Regardless of whether or not they decide to specialize, paralegals generally fall into two broader categories:
Litigation Paralegals prepare and organize legal documents for trial purposes. They conduct research for their supervising attorneys and maintain client documents.
Corporate Paralegals track and review government regulations and assist lawyers in drafting employee contracts, shareholder agreements, and stock-option plans.
Internship
According to the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), all paralegal training programs should incorporate an experiential learning component, such as an internship, practicum, or clinical experience. It is not uncommon for law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments to establish partnerships with paralegal programs to offer these hands-on experiences to students. Internships also provide future paralegals with the opportunity to see if a particular specialty is the right choice for them. In addition, it often occurs that students find their first job with the company or firm with which they interned.
Employment
It is important for newly graduated paralegals to recognize that their job market extends well beyond law firms.
Employment opportunities include:
• private law firms
• banks
• insurance companies
• real estate firms
• legal departments of corporations in a variety of business sectors
• professional trade organizations
• state and federal government agencies
• consumer organizations
• public defenders’ offices
• prosecutors’ offices
• community legal services programs
Certification / Advanced Certification
Currently, there is no legislated formal registration, certification, or licensing requirements for paralegals. This has resulted in the establishment of several voluntary credentials. Many large law firms and corporations require that their paralegals get certified.
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the Certified Paralegal (CP) credential.
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers the Core Registered Paralegal (CRP) credential and the advanced Pace Registered Paralegal (RP) credential.
The Association for Legal Professionals offers the Professional Paralegal (PP) credential.
The American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI) offers the American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) credential.
How to become a Paralegal
According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), paralegal education programs exist at the certificate, Associate’s Degree, and Bachelor’s Degree levels. There are also post-baccalaureate certificate programs that allow individuals with a Bachelor’s in a different discipline to earn the required credits and certification to work as a paralegal. Some schools offer Master’s programs in the field as well.
Curricula in paralegal studies typically combine courses in legal terminology and documents, legal research, court procedures, and applicable technology with other academic subjects. Many training programs also incorporate an internship with a private law firm, a corporate legal department, the office of a public defender or attorney general, a government agency, or a legal aid organization. These internships can last up to several months.
Although most U.S. states do not have any licensing requirements to become a paralegal, the NFPA recommends that students choose a paralegal education program that is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Completing a program of study that either meets or exceeds ABA standards is seldom, however, the end of the learning path for paralegals. Many local and national paralegal organizations offer continuing education opportunities and voluntary professional credentials or certifications.
While hiring criteria differ among employers, top-tier law firms commonly seek out job candidates who have earned either a Bachelor’s in paralegal studies or have supplemented a four-year degree in another field with a paralegal certificate. In rare cases, employers may hire college graduates with no legal education or experience and train them on the job. In these instances, though, the new-hire usually brings experience in a specific technical field that is useful to law firms, such as criminal justice or tax preparation. Similarly, a law firm specializing in personal injury may look for a paralegal who also has a background in health administration or nursing.