How to Become a Paralegal Online

Considering an online paralegal course? Though there are on-campus training programs, if the idea of becoming a paralegal appeals to you and you can't attend school, this eHow article leads you through the steps of how to become a paralegal online. A paralegal position can be a fascinating and relatively quick way to become a professional in the legal arena. Positions in this career are predicted to grow. Top earners can bring in $60 to $70K annually. Paralegals know legal terminology and are good at researching, investigating, and communicating what they find to the attorneys they work for. They also need to follow ethical guidelines (such as keeping people's secrets) and be comfortable and admirable when working with the public.

Instructions

1. Find and choose a legitimate online paralegal course. There are scams and various degrees of prestige in every field, so make sure your course is legitimate. One of the best ways to make sure courses are legitimate is to find the online paralegal courses that don't teach directly to the public, but go through accredited colleges and universities. Don't worry, they know you need to learn online and you don't actually have to physically attend the schools themselves, but you'll register with actual schools online, then begin the course online through them. You also don't have to be "accepted" by the college or university in many cases because some approved paralegal training courses are non-accredited certifying programs. Other community colleges actually offer an associate degree or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, and community colleges are usually easy for most to be accepted by, and some of these degree paralegal programs are online. Any paralegal online training program that works through regular schools will have a page that allows you to type in a location or school choice to see if that school partners with the paralegal course. You can also check with the American Bar Association to see which paralegal courses they approve. All is not lost if your choice isn't approved, because paralegals are sometimes even trained on the job - no certification approved or not is absolutely required, but of course, approved certification or a degree carry more prestige when job hunting.

2. See what the qualifications are, then find one that matches yours. Once you've narrowed down your choices, see what the qualifications are, and find the online paralegal course that matches you. See if they require any previous education or legal experience, if a high school diploma or GED is required, or if tests or interviews are called for.

3. Make sure you have the computer access they call for before beginning. It comes as no shock that paralegal online courses call for you having access to a computer with internet. But often the access is very flexible. Once you've chosen a legitimate online paralegal course, check to see that you can start whenever you want, that you can use a Mac if applicable to you, if dial up is okay (if that applies to you), and if there are any restrictions to times of day you'll need to be online.

4. Decide and begin at the right time. Usually, you can start whenever you want, but look ahead at the timeline. Many programs take two years to complete. Should you start right in? Or would it be better to wait until another life commitment is complete so you can focus and finish your program as expected. Decide on a starting time, let friends and family know of your commitment, then begin and complete your program.

5. Try to get an entry level or internship work at an attorney's office while training for the paralegal online certification, or while searching for a paralegal position once certified or graduated. Attorneys have tons of tedious work they need to have done that doesn't call for specific training. They often hire college students for the summer, but have the same workload in autumn, winter and spring. Sometimes they hire untrained people seeking a little extra income for various reasons. Send in a well-polished letter of desire to do entry level work, listing the hours you have available, and your respect and desire to eventually enter the paralegal field. You may simply do routine office work, or if you're not too proud, offer to do office cleaning and organizing, letting them know you're willing to start at any level to be near the legal system. Wages for cleaning services aren't too bad (at least $15 an hour) and can help get you through until you've completed your paralegal online course. And you may have a better chance of hearing about paralegal openings that aren't yet advertised so you can get your application in the moment you're qualified.

Tips & Warnings

• Author disclaims liability and offers article for educational purposes only. Parents are responsible for any activities involving their children. Author's articles are registered with the national copyright office and protected with Copyscape