Paralegal certificate programs are offered at most colleges and Universities, but does one ned a certificate to become a Paralegal? This is a question many people wanting to become a paralegal ask about. Paralegals are an essential part of any law firm, government organization or corporation large enough to need a legal department. As we’ve stated in several previous articles, paralegals have many responsibilities that allow the organization they work for to operate in an effective manner and the attorneys to focus on client acquisition.
While the National Federation of Paralegal Association recommends paralegals to have a bachelor’s degree, only about 50 percent had degrees in 2001 according to a national survey. Paralegals obtaining a four year degree is however, rapidly becoming the standard to be competitive in the job market.