Top Online Paralegal Certification Programs in California (CA)

The paralegal profession is proof that you don’t have to become an attorney for a challenging and lucrative career in law. Paralegals are professionals who play an invaluable role in the legal system by assisting lawyers in carrying out activities like research, client communication, trial preparation, and much more. With a median annual income of over $75,000, paralegals in California are well-paid professionals, too. Job security is another big plus with a projected 15.3% growth rate in paralegal jobs in the state through 2030.

Paralegal certification in California requires formal education and training, the kind provided by many quality, accredited paralegal programs in California. This guide introduces you to the best online and hybrid paralegal certificate programs California has to offer. You’ll also learn about program costs, financial aid options, earnings expectations, and much more. If a career in law without four stressful years and the major cost of law school sounds good to you, keep reading to find out how to become a paralegal in California through one of the top online paralegal programs in the state.

Humphreys University

The Legal Studies program at Humphreys University is chocked full of options. Humphreys offers its paralegal associate and bachelor’s degree programs in both virtual (live-streamed classes at scheduled times) and online (asynchronous classes accessible anytime) formats as well as entirely on campus. The Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies program requires 181 quarter units of coursework typically over four years of full-time study. However, students can transfer a generous number of credits to shorten the program length. Additionally, BA students at Humphreys can save a full year in earning both this BA in Legal Studies and a law degree at the university’s Drivon School of Law through the Legal Studies to Law School Transfer Program.

AA in Legal Studies students complete 96 quarter units typically over two years of full-time study. Both the Legal Studies AA and BA programs prepare graduates to take the NALA Certified Paralegal exam. Humphreys operates on a four-quarters-per-year calendar, and Legal Studies students can in any quarter.

Tuition for undergraduate students is $410/credit.

University of California Davis Extension

The University of California Davis Extension offers a highly convenient and affordable Paralegal Studies Certificate Program. This stand-alone program has open admissions and requires a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. In other words, a college degree is not required. The 21-credit program includes instruction in core topics such as legal terminology, legal research and writing, preparation of pleadings, client correspondence, trial preparation, and more. Advanced topics include contract law, tort law, and litigation procedures in California state courts.

The program is entirely online in a self-paced format and designed to be completed in as little as six months. Students can start their studies at any time. Program cost is $6,995.

Types of Paralegal Degrees You Can Earn in California

There are three types of paralegal programs in California to prepare you for employment as a paralegal: certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. All three types are available in both online and campus-based formats from schools in the state. To help you decide which program type is best for you, see the brief descriptions and current program examples below for each.

Undergraduate Paralegal Degrees in California

Paying for Your Paralegal Degree in California

Most paralegal programs in California are surprisingly affordable, particularly those offered by public colleges and universities. Nevertheless, many students still require assistance in funding their paralegal studies. Fortunately, there are plenty of financial resources available to qualifying students. Those include scholarships, grants, VA benefits, employer tuition reimbursement, and the ever-popular student loan.

For most students interested in paralegal programs in California, the best place to start a funding search is at the financial aid offices of the schools they’re considering. Often overlooked sources of funding are scholarships sponsored by paralegal associations (national and local) and paralegal program schools themselves.
Examples include:

• AAfPE LEX Scholarship
• Central Coast Paralegal Association
• Los Angeles Paralegal Association
• San Francisco State University

For more on finding help paying for your paralegal studies, check out STEPS scholarships and financial aid guides specifically for those earning public service degrees.

Salary & Growth for Paralegal Grads in California

Paralegals in California are well-paid and in strong demand. According to May 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for paralegals in California is $76,080. That’s over $13,000 more than BLS estimates for paralegal salaries across the nation. Your actual earnings as a California paralegal, of course, depend on important factors like your specific employer, job duties, and level of professional work experience. As the numbers from the BLS for annual paralegal salaries for four California metro areas below indicate, geographic location is another factor in how much paralegals make.

• Bakersfield: $56,030
• Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim: $75,850
• San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward: $88,270
• Santa Rosa: $62,450

Geographic location also substantially impacts job growth for paralegals in California, as indicated by the long-term growth percentages from California’s Employment Development Department below.

• Fresno: 8.3%
• Los Angeles/Long Beach/Glendale: 15.8%
• San Francisco/Redwood City/South San Francisco: 11.5%
• Santa Cruz/Watsonville: -14.3%

California Paralegal Professional and Student Resources

• California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA)
  As the name indicates, CAPA is an alliance of paralegal associations located throughout the state, the mission of which is to advocate for “promoting education, voluntary examination, and advancement of the paralegal profession.” CAPA’s website offers lots of helpful information on the practice of paralegals in California.
• CalJOBS: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
  This official State of California website offers comprehensive information on jobs, occupations, industries, educational institutions, and more for every job type imaginable. You can access information on paralegals and legal assistants in the state by using the “Career Opportunities” tab and typing in “paralegals” on the home page’s search engine.
• Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX)
  Lambda Epsilon Chi is the national honor society of paralegal students. Membership eligibility requires demonstrated superior academic performance evidenced by an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and 3.5 or higher in paralegal classes at a school that is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).
• National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
  NALA is a non-profit organization representing over 15,000 paralegal professionals throughout the U.S. Visitors to NALA’s site can access a wealth of education, certification, and paralegal practice resources. Membership benefits include access to the NALA Career Center and Commons Online Community Platform, SimpleLaw case management software platform, CLE courses, and more.
• 6450 & You
  Published by CAPA, 6450 & You is a valuable resource providing the entire text of California Business & Professions Code Sections 6450-6456, including appendixes, that covers the professional practice of paralegals in the state.