Online Legal and Paralegal Training Schools

There are a number of accredited online schools and colleges that offer training for those looking to obtain a degree in the legal and paralegal field. Paralegals, also known as lawyer assistants are responsible for a variety of tasks like researching, preparing documents, meeting with clients, and taking notes. Students who choose to enroll in an online educational program will prepare for careers in law, criminal justice, and more. Online educational options include certificates as well as associates, bachelors, and master's degrees.

Associate level degrees are available through a number of online educational programs. An associate's degree will provide students with the skills necessary to work in a law office or courthouse. Students can train for the career they desire in as little as two years or continue education to earn a higher degree in legal and paralegal studies. An online degree at this level will take approximately 60 credit hours or four full time semesters to complete. Curriculum may include the study of legal research, administrative law, criminal law, contracts, legal analysis, and more. Students can continue their education with enrollment in a bachelor's degree program.

With a bachelor's degree program students can obtain an education in just four years. Length of study will consist of 120 credit hours or eight full time semesters. Online schools provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain a bachelors degree and career in the legal and paralegal profession. Bachelor's degree holders can find employment in corporate law departments, private law firms, law enforcement agencies, state and federal government agencies, and more. Online course study may consist of learning to research legal issues, draft and summarize legal documents, prepare pleadings, interview clients, and more. An online bachelor's degree program will prepare student for study at a master's level.

An accredited online master's degree program allows students to obtain knowledge in a variety of areas. A master's degree in legal and paralegal studies will consist of an additional year of education. Online curriculum may include the study of corporate law, legal research and writing, litigation, government law, international law, and intellectual property law. With a masters degree students will have the training to consider becoming attorneys. Certificate programs can also be completed online after obtaining a masters degree if students choose to obtain specialized education.

Students can choose to obtain certification either before or after completing a degree program. Certificates can be earned in specialized areas that legal and paralegal professionals need knowledge of to further their skills. Certificates can take anywhere from a couple months to one year to complete. Students can choose to obtain a certificate in areas like corporate and property law, environmental law, international law, alternative dispute resolution, and more.

Degrees and certification can allow students to start their careers in areas such as corporate legal departments, law firms, and state and federal government agencies. Students who wish to obtain the career training necessary for employment in these areas can do so with an accredited online education in legal and paralegal studies. Students interested in a career in this field can prepare by enrolling in a number of accredited online schools and colleges.

Two of the Abstract Purposes of Law Education

Three self-asked questions initiated me to write this article: why can't a legal specialist in one country, be equally a legal specialist in all other countries around the world? What can I do, should what I am schooled is different from the real practice in the society? And finally, can I still understand or deal with the law, if the laws adopted by the legislative institution that were once taught in school and latter amended or totally changed, after I become a law practitioner in the society?

Most of us do not know two of the hidden purposes of law education: "being able to deal with brand-new situation and following the positive or negative legal evolution in the society."

Everything, to some extent, always positively and negatively changes; however this tendency has never been taught or been informed in school; it is the hidden purpose of law education. Other subjects besides law may be the same, but I just want to be specific in law subject, to make it easier for me to explain and to make the readers easier to understand this article.

Every law subjects taught in school might not be totally the same as the real practice in the society, or I can say they may be totally different. This is what I call: the social reality. Studying law is also about knowing the social reality. The professors and the learners themselves should teach and be prepared for the always-fluctuated tendency in the society; otherwise we can't be a law specialist.

To me, always making ourselves deeply aware of the real situations not only in the country where the law subjects are taught, but also in other countries around the world, would make us law specialists, then can always adapt to the new situation and be equally a law specialist in any country that we want to work in.

The second purpose of law education is "closely follow the legal evolution." Indeed, as the society diversifies, governmental changes from one mandate to another, laws always change to get on track with these social trends. So the purpose of law education, in this point, is to be always able to follow the legal evolution in the society, the amendments or even the total changes of the laws in the society. Law specialist must be able to practice or give legal advice, no matter how the laws have changed or in even any form of government.

Remember! We are not studying laws for today law specialist, but to always be a law specialist, until we die. And we are not studying law to practice in only one society, we are studying law to practice in any society and any situation.

My advices on law education:

1- Prepare yourself to be a professional problem solver, if you want to study law.

2- Adapting yourself to and always closely follow the legal evolution are the two most important sources to become an internationally-recognized law specialist.

3- Good to the most is the purpose of law.

4- If you study law to be a rich, you will only be rich when you are living, but you will be the poorest, after you die.