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According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics,
employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected
to grow 22 percent through 2016.* These increases are estimated
to create positions in a number of industries and offer career
opportunities that include count clerks and administrators,
legislative assistants, and committee staff members in a legislative
setting and nonprofit roles, such as contract evaluators.
For those looking to jump-start a new career, the paralegal
track could be a great option, given that an associate's degree
can be completed in under two years, and a bachelor's degree
can be completed in under four.
At Kaplan University, the undergraduate legal studies program
is one of the largest offered.† Many students enrolled
in the paralegal program are already in professional positions
and do not have the time or alternative to commute to a ground
campus. The invaluable flexibility of Kaplan University's
online programs allows these students to pursue a degree while
balancing current commitments. Furthermore, as technology
becomes more embedded in the legal industry, an online paralegal
program could provide an increased comfort level with technology
that can transition directly into a student's work environment.
Paralegals or legal assistants are generally responsible
for a variety of tasks that include assisting clients, performing
investigative functions, preparing legal documents, and assisting
with litigation preparation. Some additional day-to-day tasks
may include preparing briefs, pleadings, or wills; preparing
real estate closing statements; researching and gathering
data such as statutes and legal articles; handling escrow
accounts and billing; or helping to arbitrate disputes between
parties.
Kaplan University offers three programs for those interested
in the paralegal track: an Associate of Science in Paralegal
Studies; a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies; and a
Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate. Both the
associate's and bachelor's degree programs are designed to
provide students with practical knowledge and technical skills
that can immediately be applied in their careers.‡ The
bachelor's degree program provides a broad foundation of core
subjects plus higher level courses in areas such as torts,
legal writing, and technology. Students in the bachelor's
program also complete a number of courses that provide instruction
in specific topics such as dispute resolution, social security,
health law, divorce mediation, and law office management.
The Pathway to Postbaccalaureate Certificate program is intended
for students that have obtained a bachelor's degree and are
seeking a career as a paralegal. The program is designed to
provide the foundational paralegal skills and knowledge needed
so graduates can communicate in a legal environment, conduct
legal research, and evaluate sources, as well as understand
the court system, law office management, and litigation.
Success in the online paralegal program at Kaplan University
is built on a strong foundational knowledge, the beginning
of which is acquired at the high school level. Taking high
school classes that develop writing skills, technical aptitude
and knowledge of the law, government, and math would be beneficial
to students considering a paralegal degree program.
In addition to the paralegal programs, Kaplan University
offers degrees in legal studies, public administration and
policy, or environmental policy and management. Those students
that already have an associate's degree from a regionally
or nationally accredited college may qualify for the advanced
start option, offering the ability to obtain a bachelor's
degree in as little as two years.§ Graduates with a bachelor's
degree could then choose to pursue their master's degree in
legal studies or attend law school.#
There are many career colleges that offer paralegal courses.
To see these and others, visit the paralegal
colleges directory today.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department
of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition,
Paralegals and Legal Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm.
These employment projections are provided for informational
purposes only. Long-term projections are not intended to predict
short-term changes in employment demand due to the current
economy. Graduates are not authorized to practice law and
will not be eligible to sit for any state's bar examination.
† Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education
Data System (IPEDS), 2006-2007 Bachelor's Degrees Conferred,
Law and Legal Studies, on the Internet at http://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS.
‡Kaplan University's programs are designed
to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of
study, or in related fields. However, the University does
not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular
job or employed at all.
§Speak to an Admissions Advisor or refer
to our University Catalog for our Transfer of Credit policy.
#While many of Kaplan University's degree
programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue continued
graduate- or doctorate-level education, the University cannot
guarantee that students will be granted admission to any graduate
or doctoral programs.
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