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The types of paralegal training undertaken varies depending on the choice made by the aspiring paralegal. The paralegal can choose to try to find a job a small law firm as a paralegal and receive training on the job. The paralegal may want to get an Associates degree or he might want to get a Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
On-the-job Paralegal Training
In the majority of states there is no requirement that paralegals be licensed or certified; thus, people can become a paralegal by just receiving training directly from an attorney or a supervising paralegal. With the lack of a basic background in the law, there could be a bit of a learning curve for new paralegal who chooses to enter the career field this way. However, there is an advantage for an attorney who gets to train their own paralegal staff because the attorney won’t have to get any old bad habits that the paralegal may have picked up on a prior job or in classes.
Typical on the job paralegal training will include training in basic office procedures, drafting documents and correspondence, and client interaction. If you decide to go this route to enter the paralegal field, it would be helpful to at least have some experience working in an office and have some familiarity with how to use some common office equipment such as copiers and fax machines and how to write professional letters in the proper format.
Associate’s Degree
Earning a paralegal associates degree will require an individual to get sixty credit hours in a paralegal program. A potential paralegal can obtain an associates degree in as little as two years. These paralegal programs are offered at many local colleges and universities as well as online. During these programs people learn basic things such as legal research, basic law, drafting documents, and general rules of ethics.
Some topics often seen in the curriculum include:
- Intro to law and the legal profession
- Legal ethics and professional responsibility
- Law office technology
- English composition
- Legal research and writing
- Family law
- Contracts
- Legal document processing
- Speech communication
- Civil litigation
- Wills, trusts, and probate
- Business organizations
- Torts and personal injury law
- Interviewing and investigating
- Criminal law and procedure
Bachelor’s Degree
An additional way to get paralegal training is to get a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies. You can get a bachelor’s degree from traditional four-year colleges and can be earned on campus or online. Just like with any other bachelor’s degree you will have to complete some general education requirements and then some specific requirements in your major, i.e., paralegal studies.
As with the associates degree, the paralegal studies curriculum will include the study of the law in some of the most general law practice areas, including juvenile law; contract law; elder law; criminal law; wills, estates and trusts. New paralegals will also learn ethics for paralegals; legal research and writing; evidence management; and civil litigation.
Choosing the best kind of paralegal training depends on what type of job the potential paralegal is trying to get and in what time frame.
