Quick Highlights:
- A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies includes general and legal-specific courses and may include internships.
- This degree can give you an edge, lead to higher salaries, open more job opportunities, and prepare you for advanced legal careers or law school.
- With a bachelor’s degree, you could find more job options and earn more than with just a certificate or associate degree.
- Although it is more expensive, a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies can boost your career and income over the long term, making it a worthwhile investment.
Table of contents
There are many different ways that you can take the first step toward having a career as a paralegal. By pursuing a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, you can develop additional credentials that can help you get hired as a paralegal. While many states don’t require a bachelor’s degree to pursue legal careers, this degree can help.
Before you get your paralegal studies degree and apply for legal careers, it’s important to understand that there is an ongoing debate about how useful this degree is. Many people earn the same salary by just getting a paralegal certification and gaining on-the-job experience. You might not need this degree in order to make money. Like many advanced degrees, its greatest value may be in setting you apart from the competition.
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Understanding Paralegal Studies
Once you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, there are many courses you will have to complete. In order to be accredited, every bachelor’s degree program must involve some general education requirements. Before you can study paralegal-related courses, you will likely have to take a range of courses in:
- math
- science
- English
- social science
After you have finished the general requirements, you can move on to the rest of the courses in your degree. Depending on the program, you may take classes on:
- legal theories
- administrative law
- legal research
- alternative dispute resolution
- legal analysis
- litigation
- estates
- intellectual property
The goal of these courses is to develop your legal knowledge and skills. You may also be required to do job shadowing or an internship. These provide the opportunity to gain real-world experience before you graduate. Often, the college will offer job fairs that can help you learn about potential positions before you graduate.
A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies is different from a paralegal certification or associate degree. While a bachelor’s degree typically takes four years and 120 semester credits to complete, an associate degree takes just 60 credits to finish. Meanwhile, a paralegal certificate may only take 33 credits to complete.
The Value of a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree will require a large investment of your time and money. Fortunately, it will typically pay off by opening up new possibilities in the industry. You will be more competitive than other job applicants who only have a paralegal certificate. Because a paralegal studies degree prepares you for more advanced responsibilities, you may have an easier time landing a promotion.
Once you have completed your bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, you can enjoy some of the following benefits.
- Higher Salary Expectations: Often, employers base each paralegal’s salary on their experience and education. By getting a higher education, you may be able to get paid more.
- Access More Legal Careers: Some job positions require a bachelor’s degree. These positions are only available to you if you take a few additional years of schooling.
- Law Degree Preparation: If you have ever considered going to law school, you may want to consider getting a bachelor’s in paralegal studies online or offline.
- A Competitive Edge: When employers compare different candidates, they look at their skills and educational backgrounds. They also consider related job experience. By earning a degree, you can give yourself a competitive edge.
- Legal Knowledge: If you are someone who loves learning, a bachelor’s degree means that you will have more legal knowledge. This knowledge can help you do your job better and prepare you for more roles in the workplace.
Market Demand for Paralegals
Before you pursue a legal career, it is important to understand paralegal salary and market demand. You need to know that there will be jobs available once you have completed your education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for paralegals and legal assistants is expected to grow by 4% between 2022 and 2023. This is about the same as the average profession, so you can expect standard job growth. Once hired, you can expect to earn a median salary of $60,970 per year.
There are many different settings that are currently hiring paralegals. You can find jobs in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments. By getting a bachelor’s degree, you can access more job options and higher salaries than you would with just a paralegal certificate.
Beyond the Degree: Certification and Continuing Education
By getting a degree in paralegal studies, you can learn the skills you need to succeed in the industry. Before you sign up for a specific program, you should learn more about the types of educational options available. For example, you could get a paralegal certification as a registered paralegal or a certified paralegal.
A certified paralegal is someone who has voluntarily taken and passed a certification exam from one of the organization’s governing bodies. For example, a certified paralegal or certified legal assistant (CP or CLA) must complete an American Bar Association (ABA) certified program, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree. They must also have a year of experience as a paralegal. Alternatively, someone could get this certification with seven years of experience as a paralegal, 20 course credits, and a high school degree.
There are also certifications as:
- Advanced certified paralegal (ACP)
- PACE registered paralegal (RP)
- Core registered paralegal (CRP)
- Certified legal professional (CLP)
- Professional paralegal (PL)
- Accredited legal professional (ALP)
The higher the certification, the more likely you will need a bachelor’s degree to take the certification exam. For instance, a professional paralegal must have five years of paralegal experience or a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
No matter which type of certification you get, you will likely need to find additional professional development opportunities. Continuing education classes are often necessary for renewing your certification.
Real-World Application and Networking
If you are interested in pursuing legal careers, a paralegal studies degree can help. With this degree, you can potentially access internships and job shadowing opportunities. You may also be able to network with people in the legal community who can help you discover jobs after you graduate. At the very least, your professional network can provide you with references. These are important as you begin your job search.
These types of programs have helped many students begin their legal careers and find success. For example, Cheryl Stacy from the University of Cincinatti reported landing a job at the Great American Insurance Company after graduation. Thanks to everything she learned, she was able to score promotions and work in the Property & Casualty Legal division.
Meanwhile, Andrew McAfee had a similar experience. He didn’t have to wait until graduation to get his first job offer. Because of the job fairs, internships, and networking opportunities in his bachelor’s program, he was able to get a job offer from Thomas & Thomas Attorneys at Law before he graduated.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
In the United States, a typical bachelor’s degree at a public university currently costs $10,662 in average annual tuition according to US News. At a private school, students can expect to pay $42,162 in tuition. If you don’t get any financial aid or scholarships, this means that your college degree can easily cost between $40,000 and $170,000.
However, you will often make more money with a bachelor’s degree. According to salary.com, the paralegal salary range is between $64,742 and $69,125 in the United States for someone who has a bachelor’s degree. If you just have an associate degree, you can expect to earn between $63,478 and $67,960. Meanwhile, a basic paralegal certification can lead to a paralegal salary between $62,559 and $67,040.
You can improve the cost-benefit analysis for your degree by getting financial aid and scholarships. Check with your school’s financial aid department. You can ask local charities and nonprofit organizations if they have any scholarship options available. In addition, many of the profession’s governing bodies offer scholarships for students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
Making the Decision
Getting a bachelor’s in paralegal studies online is an exciting step in your career progression. However, it is important to carefully consider whether this career change is right for you or not. A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies can open up new job opportunities. You can also get hired as a paralegal with a simple certification. Additionally, many advanced certifications will let you substitute a degree with years of experience in the field.
Because of this, it is important to consider your long-term career aspirations and financial situation. The educational path you take will determine what type of job you get and how much money you have to spend on your college education. It is important to pick the educational path that aligns the closest with your overall goals.
Discover More Information About a Paralegal Bachelor’s Degree
If you are searching for potential legal careers, a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies may be the right choice. In addition to helping you qualify for paralegal certification; this degree can potentially lead to a higher paralegal salary than a basic certification course. However, a paralegal studies degree is a larger financial investment, so it’s important to look at the market research and your individual career objectives before you choose a specific career path.