Do You Need A License To Be A Paralegal

Certain states, including California, Florida, Texas and Utah, have state-specific certification requisites. Because of that, it’s critical to confirm paralegal requirements for the state where you intend to work.

How to Become a Paralegal in 2023

Paralegals function in a supportive capacity, performing tasks that help attorneys better serve their clients. Whether working in a private law firm or in government, paralegals may help lawyers improve their practice.

There’s no single pathway to becoming a paralegal. Here, we’ll break down different paralegal requirements that may help you prepare for a paralegal career:

Steps to Become a Paralegal

Below, you’ll find some common steps you may take to become a paralegal. Familiarity with the prerequisites for paralegal roles can help you better prepare for a career in the field

Step 1. Fulfill Paralegal Education Requirements

Paralegals are not licensed at the national level. With the exception of a few states, paralegals are not regulated at the state level either. While it is not required in every state, several professional organizations do provide paralegal certification.

In the absence of state and federal regulations, employers establish the hiring standards for paralegals. At the most basic level, you typically must have some formal education to become a paralegal. You may consider earning one of the following:

• An associate degree in paralegal studies. An associate degree generally takes about two years to complete. The minimum admissions requirements vary from school to school, but typically includes a high school diploma.
• A bachelor’s degree in legal studies or a related field. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. Employers may prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree, which can be in a subject other than paralegal studies, according to the BLS.
• A master’s degree in legal studies. If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree, you may want to consider a master’s degree. A master’s degree in legal studies (MLS) may cover topics such as negotiation, intellectual property law, employment law, legal writing and trial advocacy, preparing graduates to take on a variety of tasks as a paralegal or other legal professional.

If you want to make a career change or have unique scheduling needs, you may consider enrolling in an online Master of Legal Studies program, which grants you the flexibility to pursue a degree while working.

As you map out your graduate degree pathway, you may choose to explore programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The Directory of ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs can help you evaluate options and consider common paralegal requirements.

Step 2. Determine a Specialty

There are a number of specializations to choose from when considering your path to becoming a paralegal. If you’re interested in pursuing a master’s degree, you may select one of the numerous legal studies concentrations offered by programs across the country, allowing you to specialize in a specific area of law. Different concentrations can lead to different careers. For instance:

• Litigation paralegals work with trial attorneys throughout various phases of a trial, from investigations to pleadings and discovery.
• Government paralegals work with regulatory agencies, law enforcement or politicians.
• Estate planning and probate paralegals communicate with families, tax auditors and trustees in handling estates.
• Labor law paralegals work on issues between employers and employees, such as discrimination or poor working conditions.

If you’re not interested in a career in government, you may pursue jobs in real estate, hospitals, social work, human resources or other fields in the private sector. Of course, paralegals can be found working at law firms or corporations as well.

Step 3. Complete a Paralegal Certification (Recommended)

Beyond your education, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) recommends that you complete a certifying examination to receive paralegal certification. Paralegal certifications are available through a number of professional organizations. Your options for paralegal certifications include, but are not limited to:

• The Certified Paralegal certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
• The Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) certification is also from NALA.
• The Professional Paralegal certification from the National Association for Legal Support Professionals (NALS).

While certification is not required to be a paralegal, you may benefit by pursuing it. As noted by the ABA, certification may enhance your employment prospects. That’s because, for some employers, certification demonstrates your competency in and commitment to your chosen field.

Aside from certification, NALA suggests professional standards for paralegals. Some employers use NALA’s set of standards as a rubric in assessing a paralegal’s preparedness. These qualifications are not a requisite and are simply intended to demonstrate—both to the attorney and the public—that you have a formal legal education and have received broad exposure to the issues you may encounter as a paralegal.

Each certification has its own criteria for continuing education and renewal. Review the requirements and choose a certification that best aligns with your goals.

Step 4. Meet State-Level Paralegal Requirements (Optional)

Those who want to become a paralegal may also consider state-level certifications, most of which are voluntary and issued by local paralegal associations.

Certain states, including California, Florida, Texas and Utah, have state-specific certification requisites. Because of that, it’s critical to confirm paralegal requirements for the state where you intend to work.

• California: The path to becoming a paralegal in California comprises a few steps. According to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA), candidates must have a paralegal certificate from a school approved by the ABA and complete some semester hours in paralegal studies from a school accredited by the state of California.
• Florida: There are no minimum requirements for the education and practice of paralegals in the state, but some law firms may prefer new hires to have passed Florida’s Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.
• Texas: Texas has a Paralegal Division within the State Bar of Texas, and certification is voluntary through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
• Utah: Beyond satisfying the educational and professional certification requirements outlined by the courts of Utah, candidates for the position of licensed paralegal practitioner must complete 1,500 hours of substantive law-related experience within the three years prior to application, pass a professional ethics exam and pass a Licensed Paralegal Practitioner Examination for each of their desired practice areas.

Of course, you’ll want to double-check the latest information for the state where you want to practice. To find a complete list of paralegal certifications by state, check our guide on paralegal certifications.

Step 5. Gain Paralegal Experience and Find a Job

Some accredited degree programs help students find an internship. This internship experience allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical setting, demonstrating their understanding of legal precepts and their ability to function as a real-world paralegal. Internships may also provide students with opportunities to network and potentially earn full-time employment post-graduation.

Upon graduating, paralegals may have a myriad of job options available to them, including working for banks, insurance companies, trade organizations, private law firms or in the legal departments of large corporations. Within the public sector, paralegals may choose to work for state and federal government agencies, public defenders’ offices, district attorneys’ offices and consumer organizations.

Experienced paralegals might want to continue their education or pursue new certifications with the goal of vying for more advanced positions or being entrusted with more job responsibilities.

Learn more about how to pursue a career in law and become a paralegal with the guide: What Can You Do With a Master’s in Legal Studies?

Paralegal – Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosure

While all states require attorneys to obtain a license to practice law, the same is not true for paralegals. No state requires licensure as a prerequisite to working as a paralegal, which means that students who complete the Paralegal Professional Certificate program may work as a paralegal in any state.

While licenses are not required, some private organizations offer a voluntary credential, commonly referred to as certification, to paralegals who feel that the credential may enhance their employability in a given market. The specific requirements for obtaining a paralegal certification vary depending on the certifying body, but private certifications have no legal authority, and Villanova takes no position as to their quality or benefit.

If you are interested in obtaining a paralegal certification, you are encouraged to do your own due diligence as to which certification might make the most sense for you. If you have questions about whether our program meets any relevant educational requirements, please contact the College of Professional Studies.

Last Updated – September 2023