Aba approved paralegal programs

When it comes to legal specialty courses, ABA-approved programs must also meet specific requirements. Courses like legal research, litigation, and legal writing are all considered legal specialty courses if they emphasize practical paralegal skills. Other courses encouraged include business classes, computer technology courses, and field experiences in the form of internships.

Internships offered through ABA-approved programs must meet clearly defined requirements and must ensure ongoing communication between the student and the field experience supervisor.

As part of an ABA-approved program, you will also be guaranteed comprehensive student services, including counseling and advisement.

Some of the services that must be offered as part of an ABA-approved program include:. This is because some employers in larger metropolitan areas require paralegals to possess a degree from an ABA-approved program, while in other parts of the country there is little mention of ABA approval. You will also find that some state paralegal associations go as far as to recommend that employers give preference to paralegal candidates who hold a degree or certificate from an ABA-approved program.

The ABA does not approve undergraduate certificate programs and online paralegal programs, though these programs certainly have their place. For example, in certain parts of the country, an undergraduate paralegal certificate may be the standard credential for entry-level employment, so it might not make much sense to pursue a longer and possibly more expensive course of education.

Many respected institutions offer quality paralegal programs via interactive, online platforms, allowing working students like you to study on your own time. A number of online programs in paralegal studies are also self-paced, allowing you to complete the course requirements as your schedule permits.

You may also reside in a part of the country where there are no paralegal programs—ABA-approved or otherwise. An online paralegal program may be the only viable option for you, allowing you to pursue the profession regardless of your geographic location. Institutional accreditation through one of these regional accrediting agencies is the long-held standard for determining the quality of a school:. If a school has been accredited, you can be confident that it has met high standards in terms of faculty, curriculum, and the programs it offers.

ABA-approval, on the other hand, applies only to the paralegal program , rather than being a school-wide accreditation. Since ABA-approved programs will inevitably be housed in quality schools that hold regional accreditation, you can think of ABA-approval as a second layer of assurance.

There are a few characteristics that are constant among quality paralegal programs, whether or not they hold ABA approval:. Does it offer a flexible curriculum, with opportunities for practical, on-the-job experiences? Does it offer the online, accelerated, or hybrid format you need? Pelfrey Telephone: Ronald Ron E. Frazier Telephone: Knudsen Telephone Waters Telephone Hauert Telephone: Marks, MCC Telephone: Telephone: Telephone: Fax: www.

Greenberg Telephone: Barnes Telephone: Ellis Telephone: Additional Location: Wilshire Blvd. Tardiff Telephone: Vargas Telephone: Darrel Harrison Telephone: Ramey Telephone: Hance, Esq Telephone: www. Carol D. Kellogg Telephone: Richard Manzano Telephone: Zielina Telephone: Richards Telephone: Dunlap Telephone: Stewart Telephone: Slonka Telephone: Great Path, P.

Holland Telephone: Jackson Telephone: Martin Telephone: Graziani, Esq. Jack F. Ballenger, Esq. Sutton, JD Telephone: Toscano Telephone: Virgil Costley, Jr. Cantor Telephone: Mack Telephone: Marler Telephone: Fairbank Telephone: Miller and Lori Ambrose Scott Telephone: Haske Telephone: To complete the unit program, students must complete six required courses including:. As with the majority of the programs on our list, the paralegal studies certificate at SF State is a hybrid program, with the majority of courses being available online.

UCLA Extension offers a 5-month or month certificate in paralegal studies. The ABA-approved certificate program can be completed entirely online. This makes it an ideal choice for those unable to attend classes in Los Angeles. To earn the certificate, students must complete a total of 36 units worth of coursework, including the required Paralegal Training Program.

An impressive consortium of attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals teach the courses. The personalized, flexible program consists of just 11 courses, including one elective and one internship. Students can complete the certificate in as little as 12 months. Florida State College at Jacksonville offers a hybrid A. This affordable legal assisting degree option exposes students to both practical skills legal research, preparing documents, etc.

Georgia-based Clayton State University offers a paralegal certificate which can be completed on campus in the evenings, or online at any time. The hour program includes courses on:. The majority of the A. Courses that may need to be completed on campus can be done so during evening hours.

The unit paralegal degree program trains students in areas of procedural law by requiring coursework in:. Featured Schools Methodology: To come up with our list, we compiled a checklist of nearly 30 online paralegal programs. Regardless of the path a student chooses, coursework includes: classes on the paralegal profession the legal process the use of technology in the legal field legal research and writing Each certificate consists of 22 units, with the exception of the dual litigation and corporate practice certificate, which consists of 28 units.

Request Information. Exact matches only. Search in title. Search in content. Search in excerpt. ESL for Working Professionals. First Name required. Last Name required. Your Email required.

Request for Information. Step 1. Choose a nearby campus or consider another program. Step 2. Your First Name. Your Last Name. Your Email. Are you a military veteran? Unspecified Yes No. Are you an international student?