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Certified Paralegal

Paralegal Programs

This online Certified Paralegal Program will prepare you for success in a growing career field. You’ll learn about the U.S. legal system, how to conduct legal research and legal interviews, how to perform legal analyses, and more. As you prepare for your paralegal career, you will also receive soft skills training to increase workplace effectiveness. Your training will prepare you to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

All materials are included in the cost of this program. It’s entirely online and is completed at your own pace. When you register, you receive twelve (12) months to complete this program.

Course Objectives

  • Understand the common responsibilities and duties of paralegals
  • Know how the paralegal field is regulated
  • Understand ethics for attorneys and paralegals
  • Be familiar with how the U.S. legal system is structured and how it operates
  • Be able to perform legal analyses
  • Conduct legal interviews
  • Understand the duties of a litigation assistant in the four stages of litigation
  • Conduct legal research
  • Implement guidelines and proper etiquette for legal writing
  • Understand methods of formal and informal administrative advocacy

Prerequisites

In order to enroll in this program, you must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. We also recommend that you have computer skills, including knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite (especially Word and PowerPoint), and good keyboarding skills (60 words per minute or faster). Also helpful are good skills in English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and composition.

Details

Become one of the more than 250,000 paralegals in the United States. Paralegals are involved in sophisticated legal work in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Obtaining a quality education is the best way to prepare for the paralegal profession. This self-paced, online program concludes with a capstone project and a portfolio review. You will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you make for your next employer. You'll be paired with an instructor for one-on-one assistance, and you'll also receive free access to NALA Campus and Westlaw.

Through a special arrangement with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Campus, your tuition includes free access to the preparatory exam courses offered at the NALA Campus. Regardless of whether or not you're eligible for the certification or plan to take the exam, the NALA Campus preparatory courses are a value-added addition to your paralegal education.

Paralegal students receive free access to Westlaw to complete their assigned research projects. Westlaw is an online legal research service that provides fast and easy access to an extensive collection of legal resources, news, business, and public records information. Access to the number-one rated online legal resource, Westlaw, will benefit you tremendously as you perform your legal research assignments during your paralegal education.

  • Does this program prepare me for certification?

    Yes, you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Paralegal Exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and receive an exam voucher after successful completion of the program and financial obligation. .

  • Do I have to buy additional materials?

    All materials are included. The cost of materials will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials via UPS ground service upon registration. Materials include:

    • "Introduction to Paralegalism" by William P. Statsky
    • "Paralegal Today: The Legal Team at Work" by Roger Miller and Mary Meinzinger
    • Access to Westlaw: Legal Solutions
  • Can I get financial assistance?

    Ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Read our page for more information.

  • What happens when I complete the course?

    Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. Please note: There are two options for this program. If you select the program with a voucher, you will receive an exam voucher to sit for the exam upon successful completion of the program and financial obligation.

  • What if I don't have enough time to complete my program within the time frame provided?

    The time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not completing it in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable to complete it, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that a fee may be charged for an extension.

  • Can I register for programs if I am an international student?

    Yes, because Ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.

  • What kind of support will I receive?

    The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

  • Who will be my instructor?

    Current Instructor: Casey Thompson is a licensed attorney in Texas. Before he started teaching, his major areas of practice were business and corporate law, entertainment law, and intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and holds a law degree from the Texas A&M School of Law. Along with his online paralegal courses, Thompson also teaches at the college level in the areas of state and federal government.

  • When can I start the program?

    Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready. Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.

  • What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements?

    In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer — Mac or PC. You don’t have to use the same computer to log in to the program every time.

    It is recommended that students have Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word and PowerPoint).

  • How can I get more information about this course?

    If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to call us at 1-877-221-5151. We will answer your questions promptly.