Paralegals are paraprofessionals who assist lawyers in performing legal work. They are also responsible for assisting in research, documentation and legal writing. Paralegals have the opportunity to have a very rewarding career because they play a very important role in the law profession. They also have the opportunity to earn a very high salary.  The starting salary for a paralegal is around $26,000 and a person can expect to earn over $36,000 at the midpoint in his or her career according to Pay Scale.

Before a person is legally able to practice as a paralegal, he or she must earn a certificate or a degree. Since earning a degree takes longer, most people choose to earn a certificate first. Many people who are interested in becoming paralegals are also working adults who have limited time. Fortunately, there is the option of earning an online paralegal certificate.

The course load for an online paralegal certificate can vary greatly, but most schools require that a person complete about 24 credit hours. The time it takes to complete the program can vary, depending on how many classes the student takes at a time. Some students can earn their certificate in as little as 7 months, while others make take up to 17 months to earn their certificate.

One of the first classes that students take is Introduction to law. This course gives students a basic understanding of law and ethics. After students successfully complete this course, they can begin taking their course courses. Some of the core courses include: contracts, torts and personal injury, legal research and writing and professional responsibility. Each of these classes are 3 credits, which total to 12 credit hours.

After students complete their core requirements, they can choose four other courses. Employment law, Environmental law, criminal law, real property and white collar crime are some of the additional classes that a student may choose to earn his or her certificate. After students successfully earn their certificate, they will be required to take the CLA/CP exam. This exam helps prove that the students meets all of the requirements that are needed to be a successful paralegal.

Many people wonder whether having a degree is necessarily better than just having a certificate. Parelegals are needed, so many employers will hire a person with just a certificate. Additionally, a recent study has shown that some paralegals with certificates  make more money than those with degrees.

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