ABA Approved Paralegal Training

The Amnerican Bar Association approves training programs, not paralegals

The American Bar Association, or ABA, has a Standing Committee on Paralegals that oversees approval of paralegal certification courses across the country. To get on this lists, paralegal training programs must submit a detailed application and undergo an extensive onsite visit by bar representatives.

History

The ABA first mentioned paralegals in an official capacity in the late 1960s, when the profession shot to the forefront of the legal industry as laypeople began to assist attorneys and the public with legal work. No formal schooling was required to call yourself a paralegal at that time, and this remains true today in 2010.

Significance

While the ABA has had a long standing policy that paralegals only need to answer to the attorneys whom they serve, the organization began a process of approving certain schools and legal assistant training programs in 1974. This was done in response to the many programs that sprouted up in the decade following the emergence of the paralegal career path.

Function

The ABA established the guidelines for approval as well as the process itself in order to promote the highest standards of quality education for those wishing to embark on a career as a paralegal. The guidelines are revisited and revised every two years to keep up with changes in the industry.

Types

There are a number of different types of paralegal training programs that have ABA approval, including associate and baccalaureate degree programs, certificate programs and intern programs. While the ABA also acknowledges online and home study paralegal programs, no such training program is currently on their approved list.

Time Frames

After an institution becomes approved by the ABA, that status will be enjoyed for seven years, during which time the program must submit regular reports on its status to the national Bar. While ABA-approved status is not required in order to offer a course of study resulting in paralegal certification, it is a strong marketing tool for programs on the list.

Benefits

Students who obtain certification from an ABA-approved program can be hired at any firm in the country. Some, but by no means all, larger firms often require that any paralegal hires have a certification from a school that is on the Bar's approved list.

Misconceptions

It is a common misconception that paralegals need to have a paralegal certificate in order to work as a legal assistant. This is not true. An attorney can hire any person they wish to work as their paralegal, regardless of educational background or professional experience.

References

• ABA: Standing Committee on Paralegals Career Information

Resources

• The Center for Advanced Legal Studies