Paralegal Certificate Programs – Are They Really Needed to Become a Paralegal?
Paralegal Certificate programs are offered at most colleges and Universities, but does one ned a certificate to become a Paralegal? This is a question many people wanting to become a paralegal ask about. Paralegals are an essential part of any law firm, government organization or corporation large enough to need a legal department. As we’ve stated in several previous articles, paralegals have many responsibilities that allow the organization they work for to operate in an effective manner and the attorneys to focus on client acquisition.
It is recommended by the National Federation of Paralegal Association recommends a bachelor’s degree for those wanting to become a paralegal, only about 50% of existing paralegals have one according to a 2001 national survey. However, for those that want to really compete in this job market going forward, a paralegal certificate is fast becoming the standard requirement. Law firms are like any other company, and with the current economic conditions and tight job market, a certificate will at least give you a partial leg up.
Whatever paralegal certificate program you enroll in, it’s important that the program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Many are not approved, especially those that are aggressively marketed online without requiring anything but a pulse to qualify for. Most hiring attorneys will require a certificate, and it will be the first thing they ask about during an interview. To qualify for most paralegal certificate programs, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, knowledge of legal ethics, legal vocabulary, and approximately 2 years experience. Some programs even require a minimum GPA, but this isn’t usually the case.
So to answer the question we posed in the title of this article, at the moment, California is the only state which requires a paralegal certificate to work as a paralegal. Those in other states do not have this requirement, but will need to outshine the competition in other areas, such having more experience or a more pleasing or magnetic personality.
Paralegal certificates may be granted by either the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), and by the National Federation of Paralegal Associates (NFPA), both through examination. NALA and NFPA both have different requirements for their programs, but the NFPA requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years paralegal experience.
Learn more about paralegal certificate programs. Stop by Liz Morgan’s site where you can find out all about paralegal work and how to become a certified paralegal.
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