- 1). Graduate from a paralegal education program that has been approved by the American Bar Association. Or you may choose a bachelor's degree or associate degree program in legal assistant studies. Another possible education path is to obtain a graduate certification in the field.
- 2). Qualify for certification if you have a degree in a separate field by obtaining one year's professional experience as a paralegal. Or you could substitute the one year's experience for a total of 15 semester hours of courses in paralegal studies.
- 3). Learn the paralegal trade through on-the-job training if lengthy education requirements do not appeal to you. According to the National Association of Legal Assistants, with a high school diploma, seven years of on-the-job training and 20 credit hours of legal studies, you could also qualify to take the exam for certification.
- 4). Fill out an application form to take the CLA/CP examination required for certification. The exam is offered three times per year. Send in the requested fee with your application. Pass the exam to earn your designation as a certified paralegal.
SHARE
