08/26/2026
Becoming a paralegal may involve completing formal education, developing legal research and writing skills, and gaining relevant experience. In some cases, it also involves pursuing voluntary certification. Requirements vary by employer and jurisdiction.
What Does a Paralegal Do?
What does a paralegal do during a normal workday? In law firms, lawyers often rely on paralegals to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Many corporate legal departments also have an ongoing need for paralegals to assist with litigation, legal correspondence, and legal job duties in emerging areas like cybersecurity law and environmental compliance.
When comparing the work of a paralegal vs. legal assistant, it is important to note that the two professions vary. However, the terms may be used differently by employers and jurisdictions.
In some workplaces, paralegals perform more substantive legal work under attorney supervision, while legal assistants focus more heavily on administrative support. Duties and titles may overlap.
It is also important to note that there are some legal duties that only licensed attorneys can do. For instance, a paralegal cannot:
- Represent a client in court
- Take on cases or accept money from a client
- Provide legal advice or practice law
Paralegals can choose to specialize in certain areas. Common specializations include:
- Corporate law – Corporate and business law paralegals assist the legal team with contracts, mergers, and regulatory compliance.
- Family law – Paralegals who work in family law help lawyers manage divorces, custody cases, and adoptions.
- Personal injury law – Personal injury paralegals gather medical evidence, calculate damages, and support attorneys throughout the litigation and settlement process.
- Intellectual property law – Intellectual property law offers opportunities to work with patents and trademarks.
- Litigation – Paralegals who specialize in litigation help attorneys with research for court cases, trial preparation, and court proceedings.
- Estate planning law – Estate planning paralegals help an attorney prepare wills and trusts.
- Real estate law – In real estate law offices, paralegals assist with property transactions and title searches.
Choosing a specialization may offer unique opportunities for career growth in an area you enjoy. Paralegal generalists are also sought after in law offices that need someone to assist with a variety of tasks.
How to Become a Paralegal in Six Steps
Becoming a paralegal involves a six-step process. These steps are:
- Research the paralegal requirements in your state
- Choose an education pathway
- Develop practical legal skills
- Consider voluntary professional certification
- Gain relevant experience
- Apply for paralegal positions
Step 1: Research the Paralegal Requirements in Your State
The requirements for becoming a paralegal vary, depending upon your state and what a potential employer requires. Generally, the best way to determine how to become a paralegal in your state is to check with your state’s paralegal association or your state’s bar association.
Step 2: Choose an Education Pathway to Become a Paralegal
Paralegal education requirements vary, depending on how much education or experience you already have. While some law firms may be willing to provide on-the-job training, most employers prefer candidates with formal education such as a degree in legal studies or a degree in paralegal studies.
For example, an employer may require an Associate of Science in Legal Studies or a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. An associate degree in legal studies aids students in learning about legal research and writing, civil practice and procedures, litigation, and other areas of law. Similarly, a bachelor’s degree offers additional training in legal technology, constitutional law, family law, and other aspects of law.
Step 3: Develop Practical Legal Skills
Aspiring paralegals will need a range of technological and soft skills to perform well. For instance, a paralegal will need to become familiar with platforms such as Relativity aiR®, which can be used during the e-discovery process, or Clio®, which enables users to monitor calendars, reach out to contacts, and accomplish tasks.
In addition, paralegals will need to become familiar with their state’s e-filing system and develop various soft skills, such as:
- Communication skills – to communicate with clients, attorneys, and court personnel
- Attention to detail – to ensure that mistakes are not made in legal documents
- Research skills – knowing how to find information in legal databases and other sources
- Time management – to keep track of appointments, court dates, and workloads
- Ethics – to maintain confidentiality for clients
Step 4: Consider Voluntary Professional Certification
Unlike lawyers, paralegals don’t need state licenses to practice. However, some states maintain continuing education requirements and may offer certification programs through state paralegal associations.
Many employers look favorably upon certifications such as:
- Certified Paralegal® or Advanced Certified Paralegal® from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA®)
- Certified Legal Support Professional from the National Association for Legal Support Professionals® (NALS®)
- Core Registered Paralegal® (CRP) or the Registered Paralegal® (RP) from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations® (NFPA®)
- These certifications demonstrate your professional commitment and practical experience in the field.
Step 5: Gain Relevant Experience
Aspiring paralegals can gain relevant experience in different ways. Some options for gaining experience include working as a volunteer, applying for an internship, or taking an entry-level position at organizations such as a law firm or legal aid society.
These roles enable aspiring paralegals to become familiar with legal terminology and also demonstrate visible, long-term commitment to an organization. In addition, some veteran paralegals or practicing attorneys may also be willing to act as mentors and share their knowledge.
Step 6: Apply for Paralegal Positions
After an aspiring paralegal has gained sufficient education (depending upon the requirements of an employer and state) and experience, he or she can then begin to apply for paralegal positions. Employers will not only require a resume but may also ask for writing samples such as internal memos, pleadings, letters, or other similar documents.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Paralegal?
Typically, the time needed to become a paralegal takes several years, depending on your educational background and your state’s requirements.
If you already have a degree but lack a legal background, earning a paralegal certificate takes a few months or up to one year. Earning an associate degree in legal studies takes two years, and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies typically takes four years.
Paralegal Certification Costs
Earning a certification can be several hundred dollars, depending on whether you are a member of NALA, NALS, or NFPA. The fees vary by program and provider.
To become a NALA Certified Paralegal, for instance, the application fees range from $150 to $375 per each section of the exam. Taking the NFPA’s Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®) can cost $250 to $275 for NFPA members and $335 to $350 for non-members, with an application fee of $25.
Earning a paralegal certificate can be more expensive and typically cost several thousand dollars. In this type of certificate program, students learn about topics such as litigation, legal research and writing, and different types of law.
Program Comparison
Here’s a comparison of how different academic programs to become a paralegal compare:
| Path | Typical Purpose | Approximate Duration | Cost Considerations | Who May Consider It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Focused paralegal training | Varies by program | Tuition, books, and technology fees | Career changers or degree holders |
| Associate Degree | Broader college education plus legal studies | Commonly about two years full time | Tuition and institutional fees | Students seeking an undergraduate degree |
| Bachelor’s Degree | Broader and more advanced study | Commonly about four years full time | Tuition and institutional fees | Students seeking a four-year degree |
| Professional Certification | Voluntary professional credential | Depends on eligibility and exam preparation | Application, exam, renewal and study costs | Eligible professionals seeking certification |
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Paralegal
What does a paralegal do on a daily basis?
Paralegals have various legal and administrative tasks to complete during a typical workday in a law firm. For example, a paralegal may:
- Do legal research
- Draft legal documents
- Use office productivity software and artificial intelligence (AI) tools
- Manage legal cases
How long does it take to become a paralegal?
The requirements to become a paralegal are different depending on your state and the employer. Many students opt to pursue formal education such as an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree, which take two to four years to earn. Some employers may not require a degree but may prefer formal education or relevant experience.
Do you need a degree to become a paralegal?
Some states do not require a degree for you to become a paralegal, but requirements vary by both employer and state.
Seeking a formal education is advisable if you live in a state that requires a formal degree to become a paralegal or you want to seek an opportunity with an employer that specifies you need a degree to apply.
A formal education is also useful because paralegals must have certain skills. For instance, a paralegal needs adaptability, emotional intelligence and communication skills. Similarly, strong organizational skills and time management skills are equally useful to aspiring paralegals.
What is the difference between a paralegal certificate and paralegal certification?
Earning a paralegal certificate enables you to learn different areas of the legal field as a beginner in the legal industry. Paralegal certification from an organization such as NALA or NFPA demonstrates your mastery of knowledge, skills, and abilities that you’ve already acquired.
Can you become a paralegal quickly through an accelerated program?
It is possible to become a paralegal more quickly through an accelerated program. However, it is helpful if you have already taken at least some college courses or completed a degree.
Ideally, paralegal training programs should be approved by the American Bar Association® (ABA®). They are also helpful if you’re seeking a position in law firms or corporate legal departments and seeking to stand out from other candidates.
What are the paralegal requirements in California and Texas?
The requirements for becoming a paralegal in California and in Texas are strictly governed by state-specific requirements. California residents aspiring to work as a paralegal must fulfill one of these requirements:
- Complete an ABA-approved paralegal certificate
- Earn a paralegal certificate or a post-secondary degree with at least 24 semester credits in law-related courses (the degree must be earned at an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education)
- Earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in another field, attain one year of supervised experience with a practicing attorney in California, and obtain a written statement from the attorney providing proof of the ability to perform legal tasks
In Texas, a candidate must meet certain standards to become a paralegal, depending on the employer. According to the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, you can become a paralegal through different routes:
- Earn a college degree and a paralegal program certificate
- Obtain a college degree in any field, have one to four years of on-the-job training with a practicing Texas attorney, and complete 15 hours of continuing legal education in the same year
- Earn a paralegal certificate approved by the ABA or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or its equivalent in another state
- Have on-the-job training with a practicing attorney in Texas
- Earn a certification from NALA, NFPA, or the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Start Your Paralegal Career Path with APU
For adult learners interested in becoming paralegals, American Public University part of American Public University System (“APU”) offers an online Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies. In this certificate program, students can take courses in various topics, such as an introduction to law for paralegals, real estate law, and legal research and writing. Other courses include administrative law and policy, legal ethics, and civil practice and procedure.
For students interested in pursuing a formal degree in legal studies beyond this certificate, APU also offers other degree programs:
- An online Associate of Science in Legal Studies
- An online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
- An online Master of Arts in Legal Studies
For more information, visit APU’s security and global studies degree program page.
Note: While paralegals perform many of the same tasks as lawyers, they are prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, and presenting cases in court. Completion of the associate degree or bachelor’s degree in legal studies does not award professional paralegal certification but may be helpful in preparing to seek such certification.
Although some states do not require a Juris Doctor for bar entry, the master’s program does not prepare you for the practice of law or admission to the bar of any state based solely on completion of this program. Completion of American Public University’s Master of Legal Studies online program does not qualify an individual to sit for the bar exam in any state.
Relativity aiR® is a registered trademark of Relativity ODA, LLC.
Clio® is a registered trademark of Themis Solutions, Inc.
Certified Paralegal®, Advanced Certified Paralegal®, and NALA® are registered trademarks of NALA, Inc.
National Association for Legal Support Professionals® and NALS® are registered trademarks of NALS, Inc.
Core Registered Paralegal®, Registered Paralegal®, National Federation of Paralegal Associations®, NFPA®, and PACE® are registered trademarks of National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.
American Bar Association® and ABA® are registered trademarks of the American Bar Association.