Explore the Best Online Paralegal Degree Programs

You don’t have to be a lawyer to enjoy a challenging and rewarding career in the legal profession. Paralegals are highly respected and valuable members of legal teams in district attorney and public defenders’ offices, private attorneys’ offices, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and more. Paralegals are well-paid and in demand. And, unlike lawyers, you won’t have to spend four years earning your bachelor’s degree and another three or four years in law school before entering the job market.

You will, however, need education and training in the form of a paralegal associate or bachelor’s degree or a certificate program. And there’s no better way today to earn your degree or certificate than in an online paralegal program.

There are currently around 350,000 paralegals employed in the United States. Ready to learn more about how to join them? Then read on to discover how you can launch your career as a valuable member of the legal profession by earning your degree or certificate through one of today’s best paralegal training online programs. We’ll start you off with our spotlights of three current online program options.

College Rankings: Best Online Paralegal Associate Degree Programs

Paralegals play a significant role in the legal field, and it’s important they get the training needed for proficiency in their positions. To help you find the best schools, we compiled a best-in-class list that looks at online paralegal associate degree programs based on affordability, accreditation, and convenience. Start your training at one of these top-rated schools.

Pathways to a Paralegal Degree Online

As the spotlights above indicate, there are a few pathways you can take to becoming a paralegal, each catering to a different segment of the student population. That’s why it’s important to take stock of your unique academic needs and career goals before choosing an online paralegal program. Below are descriptions of the three major paralegal program types. The good news is that you’ll find a number of different programs available fully online for each one.

Associate Degree

The most common and most popular path to paralegal career preparation is the paralegal associate degree. Associate degree programs typically require earning (depending on term lengths) 60 to 90 credits and are commonly completed with two years of full-time study, possibly less with credits transferred in. Associate degree paralegal programs offer a great balance between a quick completion time (approximately half that of a bachelor’s program) and the ability to apply credits earned to a future bachelor’s program.

For more information on paralegal training online, be sure to visit our Online Paralegal Associate Degree Programs page.

Bachelor’s Degree

The paralegal bachelor’s degree requires the most time and – in all likelihood – the most money of any of the three paths discussed here. Like most bachelor’s degrees, the typical completion time for a full-time paralegal bachelor’s program is around four years. Going the bachelor’s degree route offers some valuable benefits. A bachelor’s degree program is a great choice for anyone seriously considering continuing their academic studies later on to earn a graduate degree or even attend law school. A paralegal bachelor’s degree also helps job seekers stand out – and above – their associate degree competition.

For more on bachelor’s programs for paralegal training online, visit the Online Paralegal Bachelor’s Programs page.

Paralegal Certificates

The quickest, most convenient, and (in most cases) most affordable way to prepare for a paralegal career is through an online paralegal certificate program. Curriculum requirements and completion times vary by program, but you’ll find most require a full-time commitment of around one year. Part-time options are also available from some programs and require around 1½ years to complete. The reason you can earn the certificate so quickly is that you’ll need to already have an associate or bachelor’s degree for admission.

To learn more about paralegal certificates, be sure to check out our Guide to the Best Online Paralegal Certificate Programs.

Accreditation for Online Paralegal Programs

Accreditation is the process by which you’re assured that the paralegal degree program you’re interested in has met important standards of academic quality. You’ll be looking for two types of accreditations in your paralegal program online: institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation: This concerns the overall academic quality of postsecondary institutions. Institutional accreditation of U.S.-based colleges and universities is administered by a group of independent national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Programmatic accreditation: This accreditation has to do with programs in a specific profession or occupation. The accreditation of paralegal programs in the U.S. is overseen by the American Bar Association (ABA). For more on paralegal program accreditation, including a directory of approved programs, visit the ABA Approved Paralegal Program Resources website. To learn more, check out our ABA-approved Online Paralegal Programs guide.

How to Pay for Your Paralegal Degree

Even though online paralegal programs offer an affordable way to get the education you need to enter the profession, you can still get help to pay for that education. Qualifying students in a paralegal program online have access to a wide range of financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, grants, student loans, and more. Here are three STEPS resources to get you started on your program funding search:

Getting Financial Aid for Your Public Service Degree: Learn about the many types of financial aid available for students in the public service field, including paralegal studies.

Paralegal Scholarships Guide: Discover scholarship opportunities that are specifically for or that include online paralegal program students.

30 Top Scholarships for Public Service Students: Descriptions and links to top public service scholarships, many of which are available to paralegal students.

What Courses Will You Take in Your Paralegal Training Online?

Along with the general education coursework required for associate and bachelor’s degree programs, paralegal students complete courses in a number of subjects that prepare them to succeed in all aspects of paralegal practice. Here’s a look at five courses similar to the ones you’ll encounter in your online paralegal program curriculum. Through your choice of electives, you’ll most likely be able to tailor your studies to include one or more specific legal subjects of particular interest to you.

Course Examples

FAQs about Online Paralegal Programs

Still have questions about a paralegal program online that weren’t answered above? To help fill any gaps you may still have about paralegal degree and certificate programs, here are answers to six questions frequently asked by prospective students:

How long does it take to complete a paralegal degree program?

Associate degree programs typically require around two years of full-time study, bachelor’s degrees require around four years of full-time study, and paralegal certificates require around one year of full-time study. Your actual program length will also depend on such variables as your specific program requirements, your choice (if available) of full-time or part-time study, and the number of previously earned college credits that can be transferred in to your online paralegal program.

What are the admission requirements for a paralegal degree program?

Admissions requirements for a paralegal program online vary somewhat. You can, however, expect to find requirements similar to the following:

• High school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED
• A minimum grade point average for all previous high school and college coursework. Averages vary by program, but 2.5 is not uncommon.
• SAT or other admissions testing scores

And, of course, you’ll need an associate or bachelor’s degree for admission into a paralegal certificate program. You’ll find that certificate programs typically don’t consider GPAs from high school coursework.

What’s the job outlook for paralegal degree program graduates?

The job outlook for paralegals in the U.S. is solid. According to the most recent (2022) figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow by 4% between 2022 and 2032. That’s slightly better than the 3% projected growth rate for all occupations. In terms of earnings for paralegals, the figures are also quite solid, with median annual wages (May 2022) for paralegals and legal assistants at $59,200. That’s almost $13,000 higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.

What skills will I develop in a paralegal degree program?

We’re talking marketable skills here, the kind lawyers value and rely upon from the paralegals they employ. Here are a few of the most important:

• Knowledge of the law, particularly legal terms and judicial system processes
• Communication skills, both written and oral, for effective interaction with lawyers, fellow staff members, and clients
• Research skills for conducting legal research applicable to your clients’ cases
• Critical thinking, organizational, and time management skills
• Legal principles and ethics, both in terms of general legal practice and specifically regarding paralegal conduct

Do I need to be certified to work as a paralegal after completing a paralegal degree program?

Paralegal certification, such as from The Paralegal Association, isn’t strictly a requirement to practice as a paralegal. However, it’s not uncommon for specific employers to require certification as a condition of employment. And even if not required, certification provides its holders with a major leg up on their.

Can I specialize in a specific area of law within a paralegal degree program?

Most online paralegal programs don’t offer specific concentrations or specializations. There are exceptions, though. An example is the fully online Paralegal Certificate program at Emory University, which allows students to add a specialization in one of nine legal subfields. Additionally, paralegal students will likely be able to tailor their studies to focus on one or more specialized legal areas through their choice of electives. Popular areas of specialization include civil litigation, criminal law, family law, medical malpractice, and personal injury.