Hello everybody!
I’m new to this forum and seeking for advice.Hopefully you can help me out here…
I want to get post-bachelor Paralegal studies certificate.I was looking for ABA approved programs nearby my home, but neither of 2 colleges offer specialisation in the field I’d like to pursue.I started looking for online degrees,and I found 2 options: online institutions or state universities,who offer online programs.None of them are ABA approved.A friend of mine suggested I choose state university, because it will look better on my resume.What do you think?
I’m also wondering, what is more important:specialisation or ABA approved program?
I’m planning to pass CLA upon completing my degree.Will it be helpful in finding a job?
What would you choose between the ParalegalTech and Duke extension programs?
Thanks you so much in advance!
Hi there. Just want to add my two cents. There are some excellent online paralegal schools. There are also some that are not very good. Probably the best online paralegal school is Washington Online Learning Institute. As far as I know, only WOLI and Kaplan are regionally accredited online paralegal schools, and WOLI is a lot less expensive than Kaplan. If you are going to choose an online school, make sure it is regionally (not nationally) accredited. The standards for regional accreditation are much higher. That is why the best universities such as Harvard, Yale, UCLA etc., are regionally accredited. Also, at WOLI, you will get a full set of textbooks. The school you mentioned does not provide any textbooks. Duke is not really Duke, but rather a marketing company using the Duke name and some Duke professors. Duke gets a 25% cut of the tuition for lending out its name for the online paralegal school. You are much better off choosing WOLI. Have you given WOLI a look?
Just want to add that the ABA thing is not very significant once you are out there looking for a job. Employers will want to know what you know first and foremost. Most lawyers don’t have a clue about ABA approval of paralegal schools and could care less.
Hoosier at Law is incorrect. Many attorneys understand that the ABA approves paralegal programs and some prefer graduates of ABA approved programs, though by no means all or even most. It’s a small difference, but it is a difference- don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. What almost all attorneys will know nothing about is this nebulous distinction between “regional” or “national” accreditation that he brings up. I never even heard of that distinction.
As with all schools, my advice would be to try out any school before you enroll in anything, especially online. Ask all the schools you’re considering if you can sample whatever materials they have and see for yourself what you like best.
Good luck!
As someone who has worked for an accrediting organization, I believe I know a few things about this subject. First of all, there is plenty of material on the internet on the subject of regional accreditation versus other types of accreditation, all over the internet and in the literature. Your research will show you that all the best schools have regional accreditation. There are many phony accrediting agencies out there as well. There is also “national” accreditation, which sounds nice, but in fact in general requires a much lower standard than does regional accreditation. This fact is well-known and widely acknowledged by persons familiar with accrediting standards.
I have start my Paralegal Degree and wish someone to help me with best guidance to concentrate much on difficult subjects involved in it. Thank you. I’m doing my degree at criminaljusticedegreeschools.com
Here is the link from the American Bar Association’s website: [Paralegal</a> Approved Program Directory - ABA](<a href=“http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/]Paralegal”>http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/)
Also, here is a Paralegal course that you can do at home if you are not concerned about the ABA approval but it does prepare you for the CLA Exam: [DCE</a> Course List](<a href=“http://apps.dce.ufl.edu/RMS/Courses/CourseList.aspx?course=910]DCE”>http://apps.dce.ufl.edu/RMS/Courses/CourseList.aspx?course=910)