Paralegal Studies

Associate Degree 4 months per semester

Paralegal Online Program

If you're interested in a challenging career that allows you to use your organizational and research skills, our Paralegal Studies Associate Degree can help you take the first steps toward a career in law. Through flexible online classes, you'll learn how to complete essential paralegal skills on your schedule, from home.

Our Paralegal online program can prepare students for entry-level legal careers as a paralegal.
In your online paralegal degree, you'll learn foundational skills relevant to the field like preparing legal paperwork, filing court documents, and performing legal research.
Graduates qualify to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal examination, an industry-recognized credential that can help your resume stand out when applying for jobs.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

First Semester

$1,399

$1,799 Save $400

$59/month, Start for as low as $20

Enroll Now Request Info

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

paralegal with folder standing in office.

What You Will Learn

How to comply with legal ethics and regulations including understanding when communications with clients and others are privileged and how to avoid conflicts of interest.
How to discuss torts and defenses to tort actions and understand negligence, liability, and workers' compensation.
How to research primary and secondary sources to determine relevant case law, find statutes and other information from appropriate sources using Lexis.com and other Internet sources, and how to correctly cite sources.
How to prepare, file, and serve complaints and motions.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Paralegal Studies Career Outcomes

Paralegal

AVG SALARY*

$59,200/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

354,300

Our paralegal online degree can help students prepare for work as a paralegal in a variety of settings including law offices, corporate legal departments, and more. Graduates are also eligible to sit for the NALA certification exam to become a certified paralegal, the national professional standard for paralegals.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Paralegal Online Program Curriculum

4 semesters
69 credits

Estimated completion time per semester:

Fast track = 4 months
Average time = 10 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times per semester are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from November 2020 - October 2021, excluding withdrawals.

In our paralegal online program, you'll learn the fundamental legal and writing skills that can help you prepare for an entry-level job and certification as a paralegal. Your online paralegal courses include:

Legal Terminology
Torts
Civil Litigation
Family Law

Show Full Curriculum

Paralegal Studies Success Stories

Penn Foster’s Paralegal online degree can help prepare you for the first step in your legal career. This program has helped recent graduates find new jobs or start their own businesses while learning at their own pace. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.

View Student Success Stories

Melonie E.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2021

“This program has helped every part of what I do from drafting great legal documents, knowing how to complete legal research all the way to effectively communicate with those in and outside the department.”

Looking for training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Paralegal Online Program Tuition

Take the first steps toward a new career with our Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay semester in full

First Semester

$1,399

$1,799 Save $400

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

First Semester

$1,799

Pay $59 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

First semester

$1,799

Pay $59 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Our Proven Paralegal Studies Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Start anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Webinars and discussion boards

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Online student community
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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Career Diploma

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5 months As low as $59/mo

legal professional with paperwork using laptop in office.

LexisNexis® Legal Research

Certificate

Learn how to use industry-recognized LexisNexis® to conduct legal research in our online Legal Research Certificate.

4 months Total cost $329

Paralegal Online Degree FAQs

What can you do with a paralegal associate degree?

An associate degree in paralegal studies can prepare students for entry-level jobs as paralegals after graduation. Throughout your four semester program, you'll learn the fundamental skills to be a successful paralegal from legal research to understanding legal concepts in torts and civil law. Paralegals most often work in law offices, for individual attorneys, courthouses, local and federal government agencies, and corporate legal departments. Typically, the day-to-day duties of a paralegal include case management, drafting reports and legal documents, and some administrative work.

What is the average salary of a paralegal?

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average salary for a paralegal was $59,200 in per year in 2022.* Salary can vary based on your education, credentials, work experience, who you work for, and even the state you live in.

What is the career path of a paralegal?

For paralegals who wish to advance in their careers over time, there are a few career path options. Many study to become a paralegal as the first step toward earning a bachelor's and then a law degree, allowing them to work as attorneys, law librarians, and more. However, if you're not interested in being a lawyer, there are other possible pathways to advancement. Paralegals who specialize in a particular area of the law can find that they're more in-demand and can even earn a higher salary. Paralegals can specialize in commercial law, healthcare, estate planning, family law, intellectual property, and real estate. Paralegals can also earn the title of paralegal manager within a law firm.

Sources:

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Paralegals and Legal Secretaries." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 2, 2023.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.