Guide to the Best Online Paralegal Certificate Programs

Diving Into Online Paralegal Certificate Programs

In undergraduate paralegal certificate programs, you’ll need a high school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree to apply. The curriculum at this level covers the essentials and day-to-day skills you’ll need to work as a paralegal. These programs are best suited for learners with little or no related experience who want to develop foundational skills and work in law firms, government agencies, corporations, and more. Depending on your plans and level of education, you might be able to transfer credits from a paralegal certificate program to an associate or bachelor’s degree later.

Graduate online paralegal certificate programs require incoming learners to already have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Since these programs require more education for admission, graduate paralegal certificates are more academically intensive than their undergraduate counterparts. Schools expect graduate learners to have a solid background in standard academic subjects, including the humanities, communication skills, social sciences, reading, and writing. In this way, students delve more deeply into paralegal skills and law practices. There’s also a high probability you’ll be able to transfer graduate-level certificate credits in paralegal studies toward a related master’s degree.

Read on to learn more about both undergraduate and graduate paralegal certificate programs, as well as quality schools that offer them.

Common Questions About Online Paralegal Certificate Program

How long does it take to earn a paralegal certificate online?

Depending on the program and whether you’re a full- or part-time learner, you can expect your online paralegal certificate to take several weeks or several months to complete. Most programs take less than a year to finish. The paralegal certificate at The Center for Advanced Legal Studies takes only eight months. Duke University’s self-paced certificate program allows learners up to one year to finish, although most finish in several months. Part-time learners in the graduate certificate program at Villanova University can finish in nine months. In most cases, online learners are able to finish their programs more quickly than on-campus learners because of the flexibility of working from home and completing assignments in their spare time.

Can I earn my paralegal certificate 100% online?

Yes, many colleges and universities offer their paralegal certificates entirely online. You’ll also find many hybrid programs in which students complete classes both online and in person. Some programs, regardless of whether they are fully online, hybrid, or on-campus, require their paralegal students to complete an in-person internship. If you’re a fully online student, you’ll be able to satisfy your internship requirement at an approved location in your area. Before you apply, be sure to check with your prospective schools about any potential in-person requirements.

Can I get financial aid to help pay for my online paralegal certificate program?

Yes, it’s possible to get financial aid to help you cover the cost of your online paralegal certificate program. Students often find assistance in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships. Scholarships and grants are the most desirable forms of financial aid because they are essentially free money and do not need to be repaid. Loans, on the other hand, must be repaid with interest. For all forms of aid, you’ll have to make sure that you meet the requirements. Some financial awards may be reserved for learners from a specific demographic or geographic area. Other awards are merit- or need-based.

Some scholarships may be designed for paralegal students specifically. These often come from schools themselves or from professional organizations such as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations or the American Association for Paralegal Education.

What are the admissions requirements for online paralegal certificate programs?

The requirements for your online paralegal certificate program application will vary among schools. The good news is that they all will be relatively simple and require you to submit only a few documents for consideration. Some programs, in fact, do not even require you to apply as long as you meet the admissions criteria. In these cases, you’ll just enroll online.

Most programs require the following:

• High school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree (bachelor’s required for graduate certificate)
• Competitive GPA or GPA that meets a minimum (often 2.5 or higher)
• Computer and Microsoft Word proficiency
• Resume
• School transcripts
• Writing sample (optional)
• Personal statement (optional)
• Professional recommendation (optional)
• Personal interview (optional)

Does my online paralegal certificate program need to be approved by the ABA?

As you search for the best online paralegal certificate for your needs, you’ll find that not all programs have approval from the American Bar Association (ABA). While some states may be more strict than others about requirements for professionals to become paralegals, you do not need to attend an ABA-approved program to find work after finishing your program.

If your program is nationally or regionally accredited, you’ll be ready to pursue a career as a paralegal in nearly all states in the U.S. As of June 2021, California is the only state that requires paralegals to have attended an ABA-approved program. All other states follow their own statewide paralegal licensing regulations, which happen to be voluntary and not a requirement for paralegals to work. If you wish to become a “certified paralegal,” which is different from earning a paralegal certificate through school, you’ll need to sit for an exam that’s offered through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

Coursework in an Online Paralegal Certificate

Paralegal certificate online programs ensure that you have the foundational understanding of the law needed for success. Expect to take classes that help you explore the U.S. legal system, legal writing and research, professional ethics, litigation, and real estate law. Many certificate programs also provide the opportunity to take elective classes, such as international law or intellectual property, to help you tailor your certificate to meet your needs and interests.

Upon finishing an online paralegal certificate program, you’ll be able to handle all types of paralegal work in professional settings such as law firms, government agencies, legal aid offices, and corporations. Here’s a closer look at courses you can expect to encounter in your online paralegal program.

International Law

Focusing on current issues in the field, the course examines public international law topics such as human rights, the global environment, international crimes, international courts, and the recognition of new countries. Additionally, private international law topics such as cyber theft, foreign investment, taxation, and intangible property are also covered.

Introduction to Business Law

Paralegals need to understand the fundamentals of business law, and this class focuses on the essential aspects for your career. Faculty help you understand key areas of business, including contract law, employment law, breach, defenses, and more. This course is especially helpful for paralegals who are considering pursuing a law degree after their certificate.

Legal Research and Writing

Since conducting research and legal writing is such a large part of paralegal work, expect at least one class dedicated to these subjects. This foundational course offers a comprehensive understanding of how to conduct online research using primary and secondary sources, cite sources correctly, edit legal memorandums, draft research memos, and evaluate class action certifications. You’ll also learn how to write case briefs and create documents using the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) style.

Litigation

This class provides an overview of the litigation process and helps learners further understand legal concepts such as common law and statutory privilege, the use of interrogatories, and preparing a case for trial. Faculty typically require paralegal students to complete assignments that simulate the litigation process, which includes preparing the necessary legal documents that pertain to specific case scenarios.

Real Estate Law

In this class, you’ll explore typical real estate conveyances and transactions, including deeds, contracts, mortgages, and deeds of trust. Faculty typically helps students understand the paralegal’s role in the real estate sector by evaluating title examinations, recording statutes, zoning ordinances, and tenant rights and liabilities.

Career Paths for Paralegal Certificate Graduates

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Legal secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical tasks that keep a legal office organized and efficient. The day-to-day tasks include answering telephone calls, scheduling appointments, arranging staff meetings, handling mail, preparing memos and invoices, maintaining databases and filing systems, and performing basic bookkeeping. In 2023, the median annual salary for this position was $46,010 and the job outlook is slower than average with a growth rate of one percent.

Insurance Claims Examiners

Insurance claims examiners investigate, analyze, and settle insurance claims. Occasionally, insurance claims adjusters will talk with their company’s legal counsel to get additional information on questionable claims. You could work in health, life, auto, or real estate insurance. The median annual pay as of 2023 was $75,020. Employment for this career is projected to decline five percent by 2033.

Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by organizing files, conducting research, and drafting documents. Often legal assistants are under the supervision of paralegals, but they perform similar tasks. The day-to-day responsibilities of both professions are researching laws, regulations, and legal articles relevant to a case; drafting correspondence and legal documents; and handling exhibits during trials. As of May 2023, the median salary was $60,970. This field has a limited employment growth rate of one percent.

Related Degrees for Paralegal Students to Consider

Your paralegal certificate can also be a great foundation for a law degree or a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral program in legal studies, international law, criminal justice, homeland security, and other related tracks.

While each school follows its own transfer credit guidelines, the credits you earned in your online paralegal certificate program may count for credit toward a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, saving you time and money in the long run. Here’s a list of common degree paths that many learners choose to pursue beyond their paralegal certificate, all of which you can earn online.

Criminal Justice

Degrees in criminal justice are a popular degree choice for people who want to go on to law school. This is because both programs have similar curriculum. Whereas legal degrees give a more general overview of all subfields of law from family to tax law, criminal justice focuses on criminal law. Some courses that you will be expected to take include crime scene investigation, police studies, corrections, ethics, and constitutional law. Although many go on to work in the legal profession, others become investigators, police officers, or probation officers.

Public Administration

If you are interested in policy development and working in local and regional government, then a degree in public administration is for you. The skills you develop in your paralegal certificate program, specifically legal analysis and file maintenance, cater well to a career in policy, civil service, research, or consulting.

Political Science

Political science degrees focus on establishing a firm understanding of the history of key political ideas such as justice, democracy, and civil rights. This degree will allow you to use the more philosophical and theoretical knowledge you gained in your paralegal certificate program. Although this field does not pertain to the practice of law, political science is about how legal systems are developed and evaluated for their effectiveness.

Top Paralegal Certificates Online

With so many online learning options for paralegal students, how do you know where to start? These best-in-class rankings will narrow your search and help you focus on some of the best online paralegal certificate programs available today. These programs were chosen for the quality of education they offer, affordability, and overall flexibility for remote learners. For more information on STEPS’s ranking methodology, visit the “About the Rankings” pop-up below.