Paralegal Courses for Your Paralegal Training

Paralegal training programs offer different combinations of paralegal courses. Certificate programs designed for students who already have an associate's or bachelor's degree concentrate almost entirely on legal courses, whereas associate's degree programs consist of about half legal and half general education courses.

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), a paralegal training program should consist of at least 60 hours of classroom work, a minimum of 18 of which should concentrate on the law and the legal system. The guidelines also state that the course of study must include general education courses. Additionally, an ABA-approved paralegal training program must provide its students access to an adequate legal library, offer counseling and placement assistance, have qualified instructors, and be advised by a committee of attorneys and paralegals from the public and private sectors.

Associate's Degrees: Paralegal Training Courses

Paralegal training includes associate's degree programs, which are still the most common form of paralegal education. These programs typically require 60 to 80 hours of coursework, half or more of which are general education courses and take two years to complete. The legal courses provide paralegals with basic skills in legal research, contracts, litigation procedures, business law and legal ethics. Paralegals and legal assistants wanting to specialize in a particular area of law (for example, intellectual property) should seek out programs that offer more specific paralegal training or internships in their area of interest.

Here is an example of a paralegal training in a 2-year associate's degree program consisting of 60 hours of coursework:

Paralegal Course Title	Course Credits
Rules of Civil Procedure	3.0 credit hours
Legal Research and Writing	3.0 credit hours
Criminal Law and Procedures	3.0 credit hours
Contracts	3.0 credit hours
Wills, Trusts and Estates	3.0 credit hours
Civil Litigation and Tort Law	3.0 credit hours
Family Law and Ethics	3.0 credit hours
Business Entities and Bankruptcy	3.0 credit hours
Real Property	3.0 credit hours

A graduate of this paralegal training program would also be required to complete 36 hours of general education in science, business and computers, communications, English and math. Provided that the program faculty and other resources are adequate, this program complies with ABA approval guidelines. Paralegal programs at the associate-degree level like this one are widely offered at community colleges and by private schools. A number of schools provide online paralegal courses, either for part or all of their curriculum.

Certificate Programs: Paralegal Courses

Certificate paralegal programs provide fast-track entry into the paralegal field and are particularly suitable for people who already have a degree in another field. These programs can last anywhere from three to 24 months, but most programs take between eight and 12 months to complete while studying part time. Like associate's degree programs, paralegal certificate programs should provide legal basics as well as the practical skills a paralegal needs to succeed in the workplace. Many programs provide specialty courses for students interested on focusing in a particular legal area.

Here is an example of a paralegal training in a 12-month certificate program consisting of 25 hours of coursework:

Paralegal Course Title	Course Credits
American Jurisprudence	1.0 credit hour
Torts and Personal Injury	2.0 credit hours
Civil Litigation	2.0 credit hours
Family Law	2.0 credit hours
Real Estate Law	2.0 credit hours
Business Law	2.0 credit hours
Legal Research and Writing	5.0 credit hours
Alternative Dispute Resolution	2.0 credit hours
Estates and Trusts	2.0 credit hours
Ethics	1.0 credit hours

Certificate programs may also offer elective paralegal courses in specialty areas such as intellectual property, immigration, criminal or administrative law that may be taken in addition to, or in lieu of, the core curriculum. They may also provide preparation courses for one of the paralegal certification exams, such as the Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal certification (CLA/CP).

Online Paralegal Training

Both associate's degree and certificate programs are widely offered as online paralegal training programs or through other forms of distance learning or home study. When evaluating online paralegal programs, it is worthwhile to compare all programs with curricula of schools that are ABA approved or that you know to be reputable. It is also important to know how available faculty will be to answer your questions and provide feedback on your progress. If you are skilled with a computer, you should be comfortable taking courses that are software-based or that offer lessons or virtual classrooms over the Internet. For those who are not as computer literate, text-based distance learning may be a more appropriate choice.

Criminal Justice Home
Paralegal Articles & Resources | Find Criminal Justice Schools