Paralegal Career/Education

Now that we have compared being a paralegal or legal assistant, what is next?

Education + Costs

In California, in order to call yourself a paralegal, you have to obtain either a paralegal certificate OR an Associates in Paralegal Studies. I suggest looking into programs that are approved by the American Bar Association ( though not required, it does add credibility.) Some examples of programs that are here in the Bay Area are Cal State East bay and SF State. As well as Merritt College. Certificate takes about 1 year (depending on class load) to complete. If you do aim for a degree, that can take from 2-4 years. When looking over all the school options, look at their total costs which includes textbooks and fees. Look into scholarships, grants, and if you are already working in the legal field, look into employer tuition assistance.

What classes will you be taking?

The certificate itself has a requirement of classes in order to obtain it.

Those classes are :

Intro to Law & Legal Profession

Legal Research

Civil Procedure & Litigation

Advanced Legal Research & Writing

You also have to complete 4 elective classes. My 4 classes were Law Office Management, Criminal Law, Family Law, and Tort Law. These classes are not easy, but they are very necessary to ensure a great career. Another great point to remember is if you want to go into something specific ( for me I wanted to be in family law) ask the professors if they know of any workshops/ lectures for that field.

Career Goals & Personal Readiness

Now you have completed all of your classes and you obtained your certificate.. Now what? First step is to make sure you are ready to enter the field. Practice your writing and research skills as these are very critical in the legal field. Find positive outlets for when you have deadlines, tough cases, and being under pressure. Also, create a 6 month - 1 year goal for your career journey. Are we becoming a paralegal as a stepping stone? Law school?

My next post will be on finding internship opportunities as well as free workshops for those interested in the field.