How to Become a Paralegal

After looking around online for a definitive guide on how to become a paralegal, I haven’t found much other than piecemeal information on various aspects of the paralegal profession, or very skimpy articles on various “how to” sites. So I decided to tackle the subject and create a step by step guide, including some things you may not consider, and some useful resources to shortcut the process as much as possible.

A little disclaimer – this article isn’t specific to any particular state, and in many cases the process of getting certified, or certain requirements will vary depending on your state. I do have state specific information on the agenda for the site however, and will probably start with larger states that employ the most people.

To start off, few states require certification for paralegals, however, like with most professions – the more formal education one has, the easier the path of progress becomes. As the legal field in general and paralegal profession become more and more popular (and competitive), employers will be weeding out those with the least credentials and/or experience. At the end of the day however, most attorneys only care about whether someone can do the job effectively and make their life easier. That’s the bottom line responsibility of both paralegals and legal assistants alike.

With that, let’s get into the process of becoming a paralegal.

Steps to Become a Paralegal

1. Locate Certification and Degree Programs – This is as easy as asking a school career counselor or doing some light online research. Collect as much information as possible and if possible, read as many student reviews for the various programs. There’s no third party recommendation better than someone pursuing your same career path. Make sure the program you enter is American Bar Association (ABA) certified as many attorneys won’t hire staff members that don’t possess ABA certified credentials.
2. Determine Which Degree or Certificate to Pursue – Paralegal education programs vary depending on what level of education your currently have, be it a high school diploma, associates degree, or four year bachelor’s degree. For the highest chance of securing a job in today’s competitive job market, many paralegals are securing a bachelor’s degree at minimum. This isn’t required, but for the practical purpose of landing a job, the four year degree is recommended.
3. Review School or Program – You’ll want to visit the school you plan on attending and if possible, arrange to meet with as many professors as possible. If you were leaning toward one school over others, this step will help substantiate or nullify your decision. At this time, you’ll also want to start thinking about the legal specialty you’d like to pursue. Options include real estate law, family law, criminal law, personal injury, corporate, wills and estates, among many others.
4. Become NALA Certified – The National Association of Legal Assistants is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to helping paralegals excel in their profession by providing information about the profession, continuing education materials and seminars, networking opportunities, professional certification programs, occupational survey findings and manuals.
5. Get Some Experience – Just as important as education is experience. Most attorney employers put equally as much importance on experience as they do education. They know that a person fresh out of school will require more on the job training than even someone with only 6 months to a years experience. Hiring attorneys just want to know they won’t have to handhold a new hire, afterall, they lead busy enough lives to worry about their assistants
6. Continuing Education – Advanced Paralegal Certification by NALA is highly recommended for those who are existing Certified Paralegals.

As for step six above, here is a quote from NALA’s own website, explaining the benefits of career development through continued education:

Commitment to continued growth and life-long learning is the hallmark of a professional. Once a Certified Paralegal’s career is launched, there will be a need for advanced CLE programs as one changes areas of practice, or is met with more challenging assignments. The Advanced Paralegal Certification program is designed to recognize this effort.

Advanced Paralegal Certification is available to those with a current Certified Paralegal certification. The advanced certification programs are written with the understanding that a person seeking advanced certification has already mastered the Certified Paralegal examination and has demonstrated knowledge and skills in areas of written communications, legal research, ethics, judgment and legal analysis, the American legal system, as well as general knowledge of four specialty areas of practice.

After having taken these steps, beginning paralegal students will be well on their way toward establishing highly rewarding careers in the legal field.