I am looking at online school for a Paralegal certificate. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this career field? I am looking for something I can do online. Do you like this field? I have always been interested in Criminal Justice. Thank you for your help.
I'm getting my MBA online at Columbia Southern. They have an A.A. and B.A. in criminal justice. http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/
I was a paralegal before I had my son, and I really enjoyed it. My interest was in the medical field, so I worked for an attorney that practiced medical malpractice defense. It was good pay and challenging work, and there is strong market for it according to the Occupational Outlook website. I got my paralegal certificate from an ABA approved program in Dallas which was 6 months full time. I'm sorry I don't know much about any online programs. I also don't really know anything about criminal justice, so I can't speak to that area, either. One thing I will say, though, is that there is huge variability in the field. Some "paralegals" are really more like legal secretaries. Others do just about everything lawyers do, except give legal advice and represent clients in court. So, don't settle for a secretary-type job if you spend the time and money to get your certificate. My understanding is that corporate paralegals make even more money. I know I'm babbling on pretty randomly here, so feel free to PM me if you have any questions you think I might be able to answer. Good luck.
Unfortunately, I am not a paralegal, but I do attend University of Phoenix Online. It is a fully accredited university. The main campus is in Phoenix, AZ, but they do have satelite campus' all over the U.S. All of the classes are online, no need to go to a campus ever. UoP works for me because I never have to worry about missing classes due to doctor's appointments or my children being sick, and no need to worry about a babysitter. They do have a paralegal certificate program and they do have a degree program for Criminal Justice. I almost took the criminal justice program, but ended up switching to another major.
http://legal.pdi.org/paralegal_certificate.html Here is a link to an online paralegal certificate program. Dont' know anyone that has gone there, but I work as a legal assistant for a criminal defense atty, so they send me their brochures in the mail all the time. My boss doesnt' need me to have a paralegal certficate so I don't bother spending the $2000 or whatever the fee is to get it. But if I were ever to leave this job I would definatley consider getting it to enhance my resume!! You can definatley make more as a paralegal...but like Becky said "paralegals" have a wide range of variablility. Like I pretty much handle everything except giving legal advise doing legal research(such as westlaw or lexus nexus research) and going to court hearings! By the way if you end up calling that place I gave you the link for and/or actually take thier course...would you mind letting me know what you thought about it and if it helped you get a job...or let me know what program you do choose...becuz like I said the day I do leave this job I would love to get a paralegal certif. also! I know that might me months away..but would love to know what you find out! I really do enjoy criminal justice as well! Much more than family law, civil law, and corporate law bores me to much! Well Im rambling too..so good luck!
I finished college with a four year BA in legal administration and a a two year Associates in legal assisting. I worked as a legal assistant for many years and love the field. Although you will more than likely never make as much as an attorney, it does pay well if you work in a large firm or a corporation. I never took online courses though, so I can't help you there. Even though I'm a SAHM now, I'll eventually go back into it. I think it's a great field to get into because there are so many areas of law and government that you can work in depending on where your interests are. If you get your Bachelor's in legal or criminal justice, you can use it as a stepping stone to get into law school if you so choose. It is a field that is expected to have growth in the next decade.
Hope this helps:)
M.
I use to work for an attorney and before I started I looked into getting certified. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who was a legal assistant that told me that most attorney's will not hire people that have gone through the "paralegal school" because they end up having to reteach them everything that those "schools" mis-taught them.
