Best Online Paralegal Graduate Certificate Programs

Have you ever watched a law drama and wanted to get in the action? These shows tend to focus on judges and lawyers, but paralegals are also an integral part of real-life court cases.

Becoming a paralegal doesn’t take long and can be a rewarding and well-paying introductory career to the legal world. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals earned a median of $60,970 per year as of May 2023.

Paralegals are knowledgeable about the law and assist lawyers in their investigative and research work. From filing important paperwork to scheduling meetings with clients, paralegals perform many tasks that help law firms operate smoothly.

As a paralegal, you can work in a variety of environments. You can freelance your services and be your own boss, work in criminal law, or work your way up into a managerial role. Some paralegals even continue their education to become lawyers.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Certificate programs are highly specialized in specific areas. A paralegal certificate program’s coursework is geared towards understanding the responsibilities of paralegals and having the content knowledge to perform the task.

Unlike a college degree program, you will not have to take a set number of credits in various subjects like math or English. A paralegal graduate certificate program focuses on core paralegal curriculum through graduate-level courses. Because it is not a full degree program, you can typically earn a certificate in 12 months instead of two years.

Completing a graduate certificate program is not the same as earning a certification. Certifications come from outside organizations and are similar to licensure. These organizations have specific requirements you must meet to earn certification, usually including a state or national exam.

Although each university has its own set curriculum, programs are designed to prepare you for the key responsibilities of paralegal work. Most programs have sessions covering introductory law, professional ethics, and legal research, and will prepare you to assist legal teams.

You can often specialize in an area of law while completing your certificate program. Many programs offer electives that allow you to concentrate in specialized areas like real estate, family, or employment law.

Many graduate schools offer fully online paralegal certificate programs that you can complete in less than a year. The majority of graduate paralegal certificate programs require you to earn 15-25 credits.

You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree though most do not require you to hold a bachelor’s degree in a specific area. Some programs allow you to work at your own pace and can be completed in as little as four months. Depending on the university, your costs can vary from a few thousand dollars to $10,000.

Earning an online paralegal graduate certificate can lead to a wide variety of paralegal career options. For example, having an undergraduate degree in an area like business management paired with a paralegal graduate certificate can lead to lucrative management positions within law firms.

Your undergraduate degree, paired with paralegal skills, can be transferable to other career fields outside of a law office. For instance, you could work for an organization as a contract administrator or a compliance specialist.

Many people even consider a paralegal graduate certificate to immerse themselves in the world of law before committing to law school or before taking the LSAT. Although almost all states require you to attend some law school or to earn a law degree before becoming a lawyer, there are a few states (California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington) that don’t require any law school in order to sit for the bar exam. A handful more require some law school, but not a degree.