Paralegal Studies Degrees: Bachelor's, Associate & Online Class Info

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Associate and bachelor's degrees in paralegal studies can lead to careers supporting lawyers and conducting legal research. Get the truth about the requirements, courses and career options, and find out what you can do with your degree.
  • At a Glance
  • Associate
  • Bachelor's

Studying Paralegal Studies: Degrees at a Glance

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Associate and bachelor's degree programs in paralegal studies prepare you for employment as a paralegal. You would assist lawyers in a variety of tasks, including organizing and maintaining files, conducting legal research and writing reports (though you can't yourself practice law). Upon graduating, you're prepared to seek positions in law firms, government agencies, corporate legal departments, real estate agencies, insurance companies, health care agencies and financial institutions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for paralegals are expected to increase by 18% (an average rate) from 2010-2020. Given the popularity of this growing field, competition is expected to be strong, so paralegals who have received formal training are expected to have the best prospects. It is anticipated that graduates with training and education in specialized or high-demand areas of law, such as civil litigation, bankruptcy and environmental law, will be top candidates for employment.

Associate Bachelor's
Who Is This Degree for? Students who are interested in law or want to work collaboratively with lawyers - Students who want to further their education in paralegal studies or learn a specialized area of law
Common Career Paths (with approximate mean annual salary* and approximate 10th-90th percentile salary range**) - Paralegal ($50,000)*
- Deputy clerk ($21,000-$53,000)**
- Law office manager ($29,000-$79,000)**
- Paralegal ($50,000)*
Time to Completion 2 years full-time 4 years full-time
Prerequisites High school diploma or GED High School Diploma or GED
Online Availability Yes Yes

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics* (figures from 2011), Payscale.com** (figures from 2012)

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  • At a Glance
  • Associate
  • Bachelor's

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • B.A. - Legal Studies
      • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Accelerated Track to MACJ)
      • B.A. - Criminal Justice
  • Online Programs Available
    2. UMass Global

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA in Criminal Justice
      • BA in Legal Studies
      • BA in Legal Studies (Business Law)
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Colorado Christian University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Criminal Justice, B.S.
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BS in Legal Support and Services
      • BS in Legal Support and Services - Paralegal
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Criminal Justice - Business Fundamentals
      • BSCJ: Forensic Psychology
      • Bachelor: Criminal Justice
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Saint Leo University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA: Criminal Justice
      • BA: Criminal Justice - Criminalistics
  • University of Maryland Global Campus

  • Boston, MA

    Boston University

Featured Schools

Keiser University

  • B.A. - Legal Studies
  • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Accelerated Track to MACJ)
  • B.A. - Criminal Justice

What is your highest level of education?

UMass Global

  • BA in Criminal Justice
  • BA in Legal Studies
  • BA in Legal Studies (Business Law)

Which subject are you interested in?

Colorado Christian University

  • Criminal Justice, B.S.

What is your highest level of education completed?

Purdue Global

  • BS in Legal Support and Services
  • BS in Legal Support and Services - Paralegal
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Saint Leo University

  • BA: Criminal Justice
  • BA: Criminal Justice - Criminalistics

What is your highest level of education completed?

University of Maryland Global Campus