I am interested in a paralegal program completely online. Which schools are the best, based on accreditation and curriculum?
Well, there are lots of schools. SUNY has one. So does Penn State and I think Northern Ohio University.
Another option you can consider is getting an online LLB from a British University. This will allow you to sit for the Bar exam in New York. I know someone who is doing this degree and plans to sit for the Bar in the US:
<a href=“http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/courses/cf/60562-1/3/LLB_(Hons)_Law_(Full-time).aspx[/url]”>http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/courses/cf/60562-1/3/LLB_(Hons)_Law_(Full-time).aspx</a>
If you choose an online program, look for an established school that specializes in that method of delivery. There are many colleges and universities that have jumped onboard of online teaching. It doesn’t men, however, that they are good at it.
In the real world, employers are looking for paralegals with work experience followed by a candidate having a bachelors degree (not necessarily in the paralegal field), and usually with a certificate in paralegal studies. Absent a bachelors degree, an associates degree in paralegal studies.
There are two online schools that I like which specialized in that delivery method and both are nationally accredited:
Penn Foster College. Most of their degree programs are built around courses that have been evaluated by ACE. Affordable ($1235 per semester).
Asworth College. Friendly staff and active community forum offering support to its students. Affordable ($1245 per semester).
Both of these schools specialize in distance education. For a little under $5,000, you can have an accredited associates degree in paralegal studies. If you want to spend upwards of $30,000 on the same degree from a brick & mortar school offering an online degree program, you can do that too. However, there is no guarantee that their programs are going to be better than the ones offered by Penn Foster or Ashworth.
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