Paralegal Associate’s Degree Programs

Rasmussen College

AAS in Paralegal
Through this program, students would be able to carry out paralegal duties such as preparing contracts.


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Brookline College

AA in Paralegal Studies
This program trains students on the different paralegal tasks such as legal research and writing.


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Keiser University

AA in Paralegal
Through this program, students would learn to assist lawyers by doing gathering of evidence, legal research and others.


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Kaplan University

AAS in Paralegal Studies
This program enables students to gain a career in the legal profession.


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Penn Foster College

AD in Paralegal Studies
This degree program provides students with the opportunity to work in an organization that needs legal services.


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South University

AS in Paralegal Studies
This program is fit for those who would like to gain a career as a paralegal or legal assistant.


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Kaplan University

Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate
This program would enable students to attain a legal assistant certification in a short period of time.


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Hodges University

AS in Paralegal Studies
This program features a coursework that includes liberal arts, law and legal profession and practice.


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Post University Online

Paralegal Certificate
Upon program completion, students can obtain an entry-level career in the legal department of any organization.


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Paralegal Career and Training Information

Paralegals are often thought to be just “office assistants” within a law office.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Attorneys have to file, research, and maintain extensive paperwork.  Since attorneys have to spend much of their time in the courtroom, paralegals take over much of the document handling that lawyers have to face on a daily basis.

While lawyers meet with their clients, spend their time studying cases inside and outside the courtroom, paralegals manage a great deal of the paperwork and legal documents.  Even though the paralegal does not enter the courtroom, they are a very important part of the legal field.   Paralegals cannot give legal advice because they do not study nor sit for a Bar Exam.  This is truly most of the difference between a paralegal and the attorney.  Most attorneys would not be able to run their offices efficiently without an excellent paralegal staff.

An online associate’s degree in paralegal studies qualifies a student to become a paralegal, legal assistant or legal administrator.  The courses are not as difficult as one would find in a law school but it still covers much of the same material. Online degree programs in paralegal studies cover

  • Legal processes
  • Legal administration
  • Writing legal documents
  • Drafting legal documents
  • Technology
  • Office skills

The law encompasses all parts of the educational process and therefore students should be prepared to take courses in many liberal arts areas such as history, math, philosophy, and even literature.  Most people who earn their online associate’s degrees in paralegal studies are professionals who are interested in the law but usually do not have the time nor the desire to go to a law school.  Paralegals are always involved in the process of the law and especially the extensive documentation that accompanies cases.

If you are seeking a career as a paralegal, communication and people skills are a must.  You will meet with clients while the lawyer is not in the office.  You will be responsible for communicating to the client which legal documents need signing, the progression of their individual cases and what the documents mean.  Paralegals and legal assistants must be precise and organized and be able to take over where a lawyer left off.  Team building skills are essential because you might be working with other assistants, paralegals and lawyers during any given day.  Although a difficult job, becoming a paralegal can be very rewarding.