A long, long time ago (actually, about 50 years) attorneys and lawyers started hiring assistants to help them with the less legal general duties like filling out documents, certain research and legwork which would free them up to spend their time on the more legal duties.

Critical aspects to remember when looking into the quality of a paralegal college program:

1. Paralegal courses should teach usable job skills along with the underlying legal theory. The paralegal schools curriculum should also cover torts, contracts, legal writing and legal research, ethics and litigation. Paralegal courses should be geared towards developing students’ communication skills, their critical thinking and their skill set in dealing with ethical issues. Paralegal degree programs should also include a way to gain experience such as an internship, clinical experience or practicum.

2. Who are players behind the scenes? Who put the paralegal curriculum together and who is teaching it? Do the staff and the paralegal schools program director have top notch credentials? The paralegal teaching staff should have field experience in the subject they are teaching be considered an “expert” on that subject. The curriculum director should have an advanced degree in a related field at worst but preferably they have a law degree or a bunch of paralegal work experience and an advanced paralegal degree.

3. A broadening number of paralegal schools and universities have made their entire paralegal degree training programs available online. However, it’s recommended that before any wanna-be student signs up they find answers to a few important points. First, how will the material be delivered? Will all lectures be live interactive video or DVD tele-courses, or text-based with access via the web or a combination thereof? Also, because of the nature of the learning it takes much more self motivation and discipline to compete the work. Do you have what it takes to learn online?

Clearly, pursuing a paralegal career isn’t for everyone but for those that enjoy research, have solid organizational and writing skills and can work under pressure this is a wide open and growing field that can offer financial security and professional satisfaction.