Becoming a paralegal

Emory’s Paralegal Certificate Program graduates have found the paralegal field satisfying, lucrative and replete with opportunity for growth. Metropolitan Atlanta is a burgeoning legal hub – impacting organizations as ‘local’ as the City of Atlanta government and as ‘global’ as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, The Centers for Disease Control and CARE. Would you like to become a part of this exciting field? If so, you might be asking some of the following questions.

Why become a Paralegal?

Many of our graduates tell us that they enjoy the respect they receive from attorneys when they realize what an asset the Emory graduates are to their organization. Many others are interested in the legal field, but choose not to go through years of expensive education to become an attorney. In addition, law firms are increasingly hiring paralegals to do many things that attorneys have historically done (under the supervision of an attorney, of course), so paralegals are becoming even more essential to the success of law firms.

Read about our graduates and what they enjoy most about their jobs as paralegals.

How do I obtain the qualifications needed to succeed in the paralegal field?

Due to the high level of competition in the paralegal field, those with a formal paralegal education and experience are more likely to succeed in the paralegal profession. Below is a description of several forms of formal paralegal education that can help you become a qualified paralegal.

Types of Paralegal Education

Prospective paralegal students have a variety of educational opportunities. Emory University's Paralegal Certificate Program brings a new and dynamic option in paralegal education. Most paralegal education programs take one of three forms:

4 Year College or University Degrees: A few schools offer bachelor’s degrees in the paralegal field. This is a good option for students considering law school. As with any 4 year degree, many courses are general requirements and only those within the paralegal "major" will focus on paralegal skills.

2 Year College or University Degrees: Many technical schools and community colleges offer quality Associate Degree programs in the paralegal field. As with Bachelor programs, most required courses are general requirements for the degree. This is a good choice for candidates who have just graduated high school, or who have little workplace experience.

Paralegal Certificate Programs: Certificate programs offer an exclusive focus on paralegal skills. This proves to be an advantage for most certificate students, who already possess a college degree and prefer to complete a program focused entirely on practical paralegal topics rather than returning to a formal degree program. Many students have legal or other life experience that has helped to prepare them for the profession, but require formal education to progress. Certificate programs generally offer the most focused and highest quality education for the price.

What is the average salary for paralegals who have obtained a certificate?

Legal Assistant Today Magazine publishes a salary survey that is conducted every two years by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). In the 2004 survey, graduates of certificate programs, such as the one offered at Emory University, are compensated at a higher rate than graduates of any other form of paralegal education! Why? Attorneys know certificate program students have received training in one specialized area: paralegal skills.

* Note that these are national averages and not starting salaries. Also note that certificate salaries are for individuals who also hold a 4-year degree in another area.

Paralegal Education	Average Salary	Average Compensation (including bonuses)	Responses
Undergraduate Certificate	45,221	48,076	174
Post Baccalaureate Certificate	48,386	51,165	186
Associate Degree	43,171	45,521	422
Bachelor Degree	41,603	44,090	120
Master Degree	52,000	52,750	2
Other	44,933	47,386	153
None	43,778	46,284	218