How to Become a Paralegal Student

Before deciding to become a paralegal student, research online for colleges either online or near you that offer a good paralegal program. See if you can afford the program and follow through with each course requirement.

Things You'll Need

• Yourself
• College
• Dedication
• Willing to Learn

Instructions

Becoming a Paralegal Student

1. Research for Paralegal Schools Online: Once you decide you want to become a paralegal student, begin your research online. There are many websites that allow you to search for paralegal programs at junior colleges, private schools or univeristies. Right now, there are over 600 paralegal training programs offered through colleges, universities and private schools throughout the United States. Of these 600 paralegal programs, 250 are ABA accredited. When you begin your search for a paralegal program, make sure the program you choose is ABA accrediited. Otherwise, all the semesters you trained to become a paralegal would have been a waste.

2. Choosing a Two Year or Four Year Paralegal Program: Community colleges offer a two year paralegal program. This allows for you to receive an AA in Paralegal Studies. If you decide to register at a university, they offer a four year paralegal program where you would receive a BA in Paralegal Studies. Whether attending a two year or four year paralegal program, the courses are intense. They should be taken seriously as the work is all about research and learning case law. Many paralegal programs give students the opportunity to work as an intern in a law firm or anyplace that has a legal team.

3. Taking Courses Offered: When you start the paralegal program, the first and required courses would be an Introduction to Paralegalism, Legal Annalist and Writing, Advanced Legal and Writing, Civil Procedure Pretrial, Civil Procedure Trial and Post-trial, Law Office Procedures, Automated Law Office Procedures, Ethics and Job Search Strategies, Tort Law and Contract Law. Then, after taking these required courses, you can decide to take specialty courses in Landlord Tenant, Family Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Law or Bankruptcy Law. All these courses take time and dedication. Being a paralegal student is hard work. It can be fun, too, especially when you work as a team to get an assignment completed on time.

4. Searching Case Law: As a paralegal student, you will be asked to use your college library. Within the school's regular library will, more likely than not, be an area set aside for law books. Depending on the state you live in, your schools law library will have law books pertaining to Codes of Civil Procedures, Vehicle Codes, Probate Codes and Corporate Codes. Other law books used by paralegal students, and in the legal field are the Witkin Law Books, Thomas West Law Books (used to be called West Law Books) and many other much needed case law for preparing your school work. Along with law books, you may also have access to Lexus-Nexus and other on line legal research tools.

5. Preparing Legal Briefs: As a paralegal student, you will be taught how to find case law and use that information to prepare a legal brief for your employer. A legal brief includes topics such as: Case Name and Roles, Procedural Background, Facts, Legal issues, Decision or Holding and Reasoning. When writing a legal brief, you may have more than one fact, issue or holding. It all depends on what your case is about and how much information you were able to find in each law book you searched in.

Tips & Warnings

• Deciding to enroll in and become a paralegal student is hard work. If you remember this, you will pass all your courses and be able to find good employment in the paralegal field.

• If ever you have questions, always ask your instructors; that is what they are there for.

• If in doubt, ask your school counselor about the paralegal program and if it is right for you.

Resources

• Find Paralegal Schools