Paralegal jobs are an excellent way to go into a law career without the long and rigorous training that is required to become a lawyer.
Paralegals can do most of the work that lawyers do with a few exceptions such as appearing in court as a person’s legal representative, signing legal documents, providing legal advice and setting legal fees.
Any paralegal carrying out these duties that only a lawyer is supposed to carry out is deemed to be guilty of the unauthorized practice of law and can be fined or jailed.
It is quite possible for a person to become a paralegal without attending any paralegal training.
The person can learn on the job. However, with the excellent job prospects and increasing demand for paralegals, competition for paralegal jobs is becoming quite stiff.
Getting good paralegal training will go a long way in helping you beat the competition and landing you a dream paralegal job.
You can get a certificate, an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
It is however to go for an associate degree at a minimum if you only have a high school diploma. The higher your level of education, the better your employment prospects are.
There are several different ways to get paralegal training.
A New Way To Learn – Online Paralegal Programs
You can either enroll at a traditional campus (the brick and mortar variety) or enroll for a distance learning program or for one of the numerous online paralegal programs.
The last two options are good for working adults who do not have the time to attend traditional classes.
Online paralegal programs are also suitable for individuals who want to take paralegal training but are limited by location.
Other advantages of online programs are savings in cost (online programs are cheaper than campus based programs) and the convenience of studying form anywhere in the world and at your own pace.
While it is not mandatory for paralegal schools in general to be accredited it is crucial for online paralegal programs to have this accreditation.
This is because there are a huge number of phony programs being offered on the internet today.
Are Online Paralegal Programs Accredited?
Accreditation gives the program some validity and attests to its quality.
Online paralegal programs are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
The American Bar Association (ABA) only gives accreditation to physical schools, however it has given approval to some online programs.
Some good online paralegal programs and schools are American Institute of Paralegal Studies, Virginia College Online, National Paralegal College and Ashworth College.