Associate Degree

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common path for someone to become a paralegal is to pursue an associate degree through a community college. An associate degree in paralegal studies takes about two years to complete and includes both general education courses and courses specifically geared toward paralegal studies. Course work can include studies in areas like legal research, legal writing, family law, civil litigation and procedures in criminal law. Students also take courses in areas like speech and communication and English in preparation for work in the legal field.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree

• Another common way to break into the field of paralegal studies is to pursue a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or legal assisting. The primary difference between the associate and bachelor's degree is in the number of required general education courses that students generally are required to take. A bachelor's degree will take four years to complete, two of which will be largely devoted to general education course work. Some schools like Kaplan University and the Minnesota School of Business even offer online bachelor's degrees in this field.
  
  

Master's Degree

• The master's degree in paralegal studies is a rarity in the academic community and is not necessarily required to work as a paralegal. In fact, most paralegals have either the associate or bachelor's degree. Nonetheless, it is possible to pursue a master's degree in the field. These degrees are more likely to be beneficial to those already working in the field for larger legal firms. A master's degree like the one offered by George Washington University can prepare paralegal students for management positions in the paralegal field.
  
  

Certificate

• Some professionals break into the paralegal field without pursuing a degree. Instead, they may choose to pursue a certificate in paralegal studies and complete their education in about one year or less. However, employers in the legal field tend to prefer candidates with a degree because of the advanced research and communication skills needed to be a successful paralegal. A certificate program at the undergraduate or graduate level is more likely to benefit applicants who want to break into the field but have a degree in another field like history, business or political science.