Paralegal Cert Vs. Full degree (Associate or Bachelors)

In looking for a friend I found many certs offered through some highly regarded schools, and it got me thinking. In her case she already possesses a bachelors degree, and I think around 9 hours at the masters level. She recently expressed an interest in pursuing something in legal studies/paralegal.

My assumption is that since she already has a degree, a paralegal cert might serve her better than pursuing the full degree path. I want to make sure though, before I help her invest too much time in looking through the various programs I sent to her. What are your thoughts?

 

There have been some studies that found that people with a bachelors actually earn more with the cert than they do if they pursue the AA post bachelors degree. Duke University has a good program available via distance and I think it is reasonably priced (it is acute
Ly less expensive than the cert program at Suffolk Univ. Here in Boston).

 

Hello there my AU supporting friend! How's that championship feeling? :veryhappy:

I sent her several different programs including the Duke one. I also found Boston University, University of Texas, University of Florida, UC Berkley, and a few others. I just want to make sure my advice is right. Most of the cert programs can be completed quickly if you really dedicate the time to complete them, so if it benefits her more to finish a cert, then that's my advice to her. I was trying to avoid making assumptions, but I thought that might be the case. Thanks for the help!

 

I just ran into an interesting problem with this. Where she lives (Louisiana), here are the requirements for the paralegal certification:
"To qualify to take the examination you must either:

(1) be a CLA whose credential is current at the time of taking the examination, or

(2) meet the following criteria:
Category 1: You must have graduated from one of the paralegal programs that is approved by the American Bar Association or an associate degree program or a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies or a paralegal program that consists of a minium of 60 semester hours of which at least 15 semester hours are substantive legal courses.
Category 2: A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year's experience as a paralegal.
Category 3: A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven years' experience as a paralegal plus a minium of twenty hours of continuing legal education completed within a two-year period prior to application for the examination.

Continuing education is important in the legal field. The LCP is granted to individuals for a period of five years, and if the Louisiana Certified Paralegal submits proof of continuing legal education in accordance with the requirements, certification is renewed for a five-year period, and the process begins again.

All Louisiana Certified Paralegals must maintain their Certified Legal Assistant certification in good standing. To maintain certification as an LCP requires 2.5 units of Louisiana substantive and/or procedural law and .5 units of ethics in each five-year period, which units may, at the discretion of NALA, also fulfill a portion of the 5.0 units of continuing legal education required to maintain the CLA."

So if it has to be ABA approved, then all of those cert programs are thrown out right? In searching the ABA site, I didn't see any of those listed. All I saw were AA's, Bachelors, etc. Why would the ABA pigeon hole someone like that? I'll keep reading...

 

Here’s a link to the Directory of ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs:
Paralegal Approved Program Directory - ABA

 

Thanks. I have that and it's what's bothering me. I don't see any of the cert programs on there. Surely they must have utility or those big named schools wouldn't offer them. I'm ignorant to the paralegal field, so maybe I'm just not following it.

 

Soupbone, the Louisiana Certified Paralegal designation is a voluntary certification of the private Louisiana State Paralegal Association.

 

Ahhhhh...well that helps then. I'll make sure she asks around to potential employers to see what their minimum requirements would be. Thanks!

 

From the provided ABA link, here’s one from LSU e.g. “LSU's Paralegal Studies Program is Louisiana's only non-credit, certificate program approved by the American Bar Association.”LSU Continuing Education - Legal Studies

 

Your friend can get a legal assistant certificate and take the certification exam from NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants). As a CLA she would fulfill all requirements of the LCP.