Not only do paralegals draft documents and maintain files to support lawyers, they also gather facts of a case, assist lawyers during trial, and communicate with clients and witnesses. Best of all, the U. Please note, the American Bar Association requires that a minimum of program credits be completed on campus in a traditional classroom format. Therefore, by necessity, we have included programs which cannot be completed entirely online.
To come up with our list, we compiled a checklist of nearly 30 online paralegal programs. From there, we narrowed down the programs to only those which are approved by the American Bar Association ABA , and which are appropriately accredited as degree granting. The 15 cheapest ABA-approved online paralegal programs are listed below, in descending order. All courses can be completed at your own pace and schedule, though most complete the credit program in about 20 months.
Classes include everything from legal writing and law office procedures, to ethics and civil litigation, among others. The credit degree program covers a slew of necessary information, including:.
In some cases, students will be required to complete at least 16 quarter hours of credit in a traditional classroom setting.
EKU offers an accelerated, credit hour paralegal program which can be completed entirely online. It is ABA approved. The degree program blends academic and professional preparation through courses on:. This eight-month program provides students with a solid basic knowledge of legal terminology and procedural law, plus the skills to draft legal documents and research facts of a case.
At the end of the program, students may take part in a hour externship at a local business or organization. A Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies is also offered. Regardless of the path a student chooses, coursework includes:. 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? No Yes. What type of Visa do you have? F1 F2 H1 H4 Other. Previous step Next step. Welcome to American National University!
The ABA even encourages schools to enter into articulation agreements with other schools to help students more seamlessly continue their education. 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.
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