Paralegals play a vital role in the legal profession. These qualified professionals take on a variety of tasks ranging from legal research to drafting legal documents in traditional law office settings and in the corporate, government, and public arenas. Formal training is a critical part of preparing for a career as a paralegal.
The Paralegal course will help you gain the skills you need to enter the paralegal workforce. You will learn 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. The course concludes with a capstone project. You will first create a complete litigation file that includes: a legal analysis brief, an investigative report, client interview checklist, intake memo, complaint, legal research, and interoffice memorandum of law. Then, you will learn how to create a strong resume that encompasses your specialized skill set and showcases the impact you would make for your next employer.
Upon completion of the course, you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Paralegal exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) upon eligibility. Please review the exam requirements prior to registering for this course.
Through a partnership with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), you will also receive membership and access to NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam Review courses should you choose to take the NALA CP exam.
This course offers enrollment with or without a voucher. The voucher covers the cost to sit for the Certified Paralegal exam upon eligibility. Proctor fees may apply, which are not included.
***PREREQUISITE: None.
- However, you will need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to start a career as a paralegal. It is also recommended that you have basic computer skills, including proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and fundamental keyboarding skills. A strong grasp of English grammar conventions, such as spelling, punctuation, and composition, is also recommended.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
- Master how to perform legal research and interviews
- Prepare yourself to take the Certified Paralegal certification exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
- Understand the basics of litigation communication skills
- Soft skills for workplace effectiveness
- Learn necessary skills required to thrive within the legal industry
- Learn legal research skills with access to Westlaw
Certification
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 course and financial obligation.
**Proctor fees may apply, which are not included.**
Certification Requirements:
If you plan to pursue the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal (CP) credential, you must meet one of the NALA Certification Eligibility Requirements. We recommend determining eligibility before enrolling in this course. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, this Legal Secretary course will prepare you for an entry-level legal career that can build up to the paralegal role.
Click here for information on NALA Certification Eligibility Requirements
You must meet one of the following requirements outlined in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form to be eligible for the CP certification exam through NALA.
- Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program:
- approved by the American Bar Association; or
- an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
- a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
(In addition to the official school transcript, a candidate must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.) - a bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies; or
- a paralegal program that consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.
(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours (or 225 clock hours or 22.5 quarter hours.) Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)
2. A bachelor's degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.
(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)
3. A high school diploma or equivalent, plus five (5) years of experience as a paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of substantive continuing legal education completed within the two-year period prior to application for the examination. Evidence of substantive continuing legal education credit is documented by the supervising attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting certificates of completions for CLE taken. No further documentation is required.
For more information or to register for this course, please CLICK HERE.
To review all UVI CELL policies regarding refunds, Anti-Discrimination, attendance, CEUs, etc., please visit our Policies Page.
- VA VOUCHERS: The course is free for eligible VI Veterans.
- FIRST TIME USERS, CLICK HERE to request a VA Voucher and create A NEW ACCOUNT. You can also contact your local Veterans Affairs office for details.
- RETURNING VETERANS submitting another request. CLICK HERE. Sign in to your account, click on SUBMIT REQUEST on the right side, and select VA Voucher Request Form and complete the required information.
- REQUEST A QUOTE FOR A BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY: To request a quote for this course, CLICK HERE and complete the form to submit your request.