Paralegal Requirements
Paralegal requirements for employment will differ depending on several factors. The absolute minimum qualifications that you may find when looking for jobs is paralegal training or a certificate in paralegal training. Many law firms do not have the time or staff to train would-be paralegals with no experience.
Other minimum paralegal requirements may include computer experience and general administrative experience. While a paralegal is not required to have a bachelor's degree, larger employers may insist, although the bachelor's degree does not necessarily have to be related to law.
Here are some paralegal requirements that employers may seek:
Paralegal Certificate
A paralegal program certificate of completion will likely be the minimum requirement for a entry level paralegal job. While there are many paralegal programs available to choose from, many law firms may request that your paralegal certificate be obtained from an American Bar Association approved course. Paralegal certificate programs are offered at vocational schools, junior or community colleges, and 4-year universities; some 4-year universities may have paralegal or legal studies as a minor.
Find out more about different paralegal certificate programs
In the paralegal industry, earning a certificate at a learning institution is not the same as being certified, many still confuse the two. In order to be certified, a paralegal must successfully pass an exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). If an employer is requesting that paralegals be certified, it may be worth checking to see if they are actually asking for a paralegal certificate or if they are requesting candidates to be an NALA Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)/Certified Paralegal (CP).
Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal or Registered Paralegal
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)/Certified Paralegal (CP) designation upon successful completion of their exam. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers the PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) designation to paralegals after successful completion of their exam. While earning these designations are completely optional, many larger and more established law firms may make it a requirement for prospective paralegal employees. Also, earning the distinction may help give you an advantage over other paralegals when seeking employment.
If a paralegal is planning on transitioning into offering freelance paralegal work, then he or she should seriously consider taking the extra time and expense to earn one of the two designations. The successful completion of one of these exams and the ability to say that one is 'certified' or 'registered' helps give recognition to your experience and your qualifications.
Bachelor's Degree
A Bachelor's degree may or may not often be one of the paralegal requirements when searching for employment. This requirement most often depends on the law firm or company doing the hiring. If the law firm is very large, then they may require a Bachelor's degree. Some times law firms will take several years of paralegal experience in lieu of a bachelor's degree, take a close look at the position requirements to see if extensive experience may be sufficient.
Master's Degree
A Master's degree is rarely required for a position as a paralegal, although if you are working in a specialized field, such as Legal Nurse Consulting, then the more education and experience you have in your chosen specialty the better.
Specialized Degree or Experience
There are some very specialized types of paralegal positions that will require some experience or a particular degree. A nurse paralegal or a legal nurse consultant is usually required to have at least several years of experience being a nurse. To gain the experience, the paralegal or consultant will have earned their nursing degree prior, often times years, before they move into the realm of law. Legal nurse consultants can often command a higher salary because of their specialized skill and extensive background.
Non-legal Related Certificates
If there is fierce competition for paralegal positions in your area and you have met the minimum paralegal requirements for the jobs you are applying for, then you might consider showcasing your skills in other ways.
One important aspect of being a paralegal is to be computer savvy. If you are a whiz at word processing, spreadsheets, and databases, then you might consider getting a certificate to testify to your computer experience. A lot of paralegal work is being done using the computer, anything from calender scheduling to intensive law research. Earning a certificate to highlight your computer skills is great way to set yourself apart from candidates who may have the same level of education and experience.
While these paralegal requirements may not be required for all paralegal positions, you will likely come across some of these requirements in your job hunt. If you are planning to become a freelance paralegal or would like to eventually specialize in a specific industry, then the more education and experience you have the better it will be for you to attract and maintain clients.
Paralegal Programs
Find the right online Paralegal or Legal Studies
degree program to fit your individual needs.