The main benefits of attending an online paralegal program include:

Local paralegal associations are a great way to meet other paralegals in your local area and enhance your paralegal skills.  In some areas of the country, regional paralegal associations bring paralegals together from several states.

Here is a list of local and regional paralegal associations organized by state.

If your association isn’t listed, please let us know by emailing info@pro-paralegal.com.

Alabama
Alabama Association of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPi)
Northeast Alabama Litigation Support Association (NEALSA)

Alaska
Alaska Association of Paralegals (AAP)
Fairbanks Association of Legal Assistants (FALA)

Arizona
Arizona Paralegal Association (APA)
Legal Assistants of Metropolitan Phoenix (LAMP)
Maricopa County Bar Association Paralegal Division
Tucson Paralegal Association (TPA)

Arkansas
Arkansas Paralegal Association (ArPA)
Arkansas Paralegal Alliance, Inc.

California
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA)
California Lawyers’ Assistants (CLASS)
Cuyamaca Association of Paralegal Students (CAPS)
Fresno Paralegal Association (FPA)
Inland Counties Association of Paralegals (ICAP)
Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA)
Orange County Paralegal Association (OCPA)
Paralegal Association of Santa Clara County (PASCC)
Sacramento Valley Paralegal Association (SVPA)
San Diego Paralegal Association (SDPA)
San Francisco Paralegal Association (SFPA)
Santa Barbara Paralegal Association (SBPA)
Sequoia Paralegal Association (SPA)
Ventura County Paralegal Association (VCPA)

Colorado
Pikes Peak Paralegals (PPP)
Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA)

Connecticut
Central Connecticut Paralegal Association, Inc. (CCPA)
Connecticut Association of Paralegals, Inc. (CAP)
New Haven County Association of Paralegals, Inc. (NH-CAP)

Delaware
Delaware Paralegal Association (DPA)

District of Columbia
National Capital Area Paralegal Association (NCAPA)
Navy Legalmen

Florida
Central Florida Paralegal Association, Inc. (CFPA)
Gainesville Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. (GALA)
Gulf Coast Paralegal Association (GCPA)
Northeast Florida Paralegal Association (NFPA)
Northwest Florida Paralegal Association
Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. (PAF)
South Florida Paralegal Association, Inc. (SFPA)
Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc. (SWFPA)
Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc. (TBPA)
Volusia Association of Paralegals

Georgia
Gate City Bar Association Paralegal Section
Georgia Association of Paralegals, Inc. (GAP)
Southeastern Association of Legal Assistants (SEALA)

Hawaii
Hawaii Paralegal Association (HPA)

Idaho
Idaho Association of Paralegals, Inc. (IAP)

Illinois
Central Illinois Paralegal Association (CIPA)
Illinois Paralegal Association (IPA)
Lincoln Legal Professionals Association

Indiana
Indiana Paralegal Association (IPA)
Michiana Paralegal Association, Inc. (MPA)
Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association (NIPA)

Iowa
Iowa Association of Legal Assistants (IALA)

Kansas
Heartland Association of Legal Assistants (HALA)
Kansas Association of Legal Assistants (KALA)
Kansas City Paralegal Association (KCPA)
Kansas Paralegal Association (KPA)

Kentucky
Greater Appalachian Paralegal Association (GAPA)
Greater Lexington Paralegal Association (GLPA)
Kentucky Paralegal Association (KPA)
Louisville Association of Paralegals (LAP)
Western Kentucky Paralegals (WKP)

Louisiana
Louisiana State Paralegal Association (LSPA)
New Orleans Paralegal Association (NOPA)

Maine

Maryland
Maryland Association of Paralegals, Inc. (MAP)
National Capital Area Paralegal Association (NCAPA)

Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts Paralegal Association (CMPA)
Massachusetts Paralegal Association (MPA)
Western Massachusetts Paralegal Association (WMPA)

Michigan
Michigan Legal Assistants Section (State Bar of Michigan)
NALS of Michigan

Minnesota
Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA)

Mississippi
Mississippi Paralegal Association (MPA)

Missouri
Missouri Paralegal Association (MPA)
St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants (SLALA)

Montana
State Bar of Montana (Paralegal Section)

Nebraska
Nebraska Paralegal Association (NePA)
Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA)

Nevada
Nevada Paralegal Association (NPA)
Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (SNAP)

New Hampshire
Paralegal Association of New Hampshire (PANH)

New Jersey
Paralegal Association of New Jersey Inc. (PANJ)
South Jersey Paralegal Association (SJPA)

New Mexico
Paralegal Division of the State Bar of New Mexico

New York
Capital District Paralegal Association
Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations
Long Island Paralegal Association (LIPA)
New York City Paralegal Association (NYCPA)
Paralegal Association of Rochester (PAR)
Western New York Paralegal Association (WNYPA)

North Carolina
Asheville Area Paralegal Association (AAPA)
Guilford Paralegal Association (GPA)
Metrolina Paralegal Association (MPA)
North Carolina Paralegal Association (NCPA)
Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association (RWPA)

North Dakota
Red River Valley Paralegal Association (RRVPA)
Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants (WDALA)

Ohio
Cincinnati Paralegal Association (CPA)
Cleveland Association of Paralegals (CAP)
Greater Dayton Paralegal Association (GDPA)
Paralegal Association of Northwest Ohio (PANO)
Paralegal Association of Central Ohio (PACO)
Pittsburgh Paralegal Association (PPA)

Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma Association of Legal Assistants (COALA)
Oklahoma Paralegal Association (OPA)
Tulsa Area Paralegal Association (TAPA)

Oregon
Oregon Paralegal Association (OPA)
Pacific Northwest Paralegal Association (PNPA)

Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association, Inc. (CPPA)
Chester County Paralegal Association of Pennsylvania (CCPA)
Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations
Lancaster Area Paralegal Association (LCPA)
Lycoming County Paralegal Association (LCPA)
Montgomery County Paralegal Association (MCPA)
Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP)
Pittsburgh Paralegal Association (PPA)
York County Paralegal Association (YCPA)

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Paralegal Association (RIPA)

South Carolina
Charleston Association of Legal Assistants (CALA)
Palmetto Paralegal Association (PPA)
South Carolina Upstate Paralegal Association (SCUPA)

South Dakota
South Dakota Paralegal Association (SDPA)
Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA)

Tennessee
Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance (GMPA)
Memphis Paralegal Association (MPA)
Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association (MTPA)
Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association (SMPA)
Tennessee Paralegal Association (TPA)

Texas
Alamo Area Paralegal Association, Inc. (AAPA)
Bell County Bar Association Paralegals
Capital Area Paralegal Association
Dallas Area Paralegal Association (DAPA)
El Paso Paralegal Association (EPPA)
Fort Worth Paralegal Association (FWPA)
J.L. Turner Legal Association Paralegal Section
Houston Corporate Paralegal Association (HCPA)
Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (HMPA)
Houston Paralegal Association (HPA)
Metroplex Association of Corporate Paralegals (MACP)
North Texas Paralegal Association (NTPA)
Northeast Texas Association of Paralegals (NTAP)
Paralegal Association/Permian Basin (PA/PB)
Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas
South Texas Organization of Paralegals, Inc. (STOP)
Southeast Texas Association of Paralegals (SETAP)
Southeast Texas Association of Legal Assistants (SETALA)
Texas Panhandle Paralegal Association (TPPA)
Tyler Area Association of Legal Professionals (TAALP)
West Texas Paralegal Association (WTPA)

Utah
Legal Assistants Association of Utah (LAAU)
Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA)

Vermont
Vermont Paralegal Organization (VPO)

Virginia
Local Government Paralegal Association of Virginia (LGPA)
National Capital Area Paralegal Association (NCAPA)
Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia (PANV)
Richmond Paralegal Association (RPA)
Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association (RVPA)
Shenandoah Valley Paralegal Association (SVPA)
The Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA)
Tidewater Paralegal Association (TPA)
Virginia Peninsula Paralegal Association (VAPPA)

Washington
Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA)

West Virginia
Association of West Virginia Paralegals, Inc. (AWVP)
Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia (LAPSWV)

Wisconsin
Madison Area Paralegal Association (MAPA)
Paralegal Association of Wisconsin (PAW)

Wyoming
Legal Assistants of Wyoming (LAW)
Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA)

Search our list of national paralegal associations to find a group near you.  We’ve also included international paralegal associations outside the U.S.

Paralegal associations are a great way to meet other paralegals and enhance your paralegal skills.

Several of the national paralegal associations offer paralegal certifications that can boost your earning power!

Here is a full list of national and international paralegal associations. We’ve grouped regional, state, and local paralegal associations separately.  Be sure to check them out, too.

We try to keep this list as current as possible. However, if your association isn’t listed, please let us know!

United States:

Alliance of Legal Document Assistant Professionals
American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.
American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE)
Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)
Association of Litigation Support Professionals (ALSP)
National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. (NALA)
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
National Paralegal Association (NPA)
The Association for Legal Professionals (NALS)

International:

The Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA)
Canadian Association of Paralegals (CAP)
The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario (ILCO)
Institute of Paralegals
International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA)
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals
Paralegal Society of Canada (PSC)
Scottish Paralegal Association (SPA)

Find paralegal associations near you and get involved!  Paralegal associations are a great way to meet other paralegals and enhance your paralegal skills.

Membership in a paralegal association can help you to:

• Network with other paralegals in your area
• Take advantage of continuing education opportunities and enhance your skills
• Get certified! Certified paralegals typically earn more
• Mentor paralegals new to the profession

National and International Paralegal Associations

There are several national and international paralegal associations.  Leading U.S.-based paralegal associations include the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS), and the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.

Several national associations offer paralegal certification as well.

Local and Regional Paralegal Associations

Joining a local or regional paralegal association is a great way to connect with other paralegals in your local area.  While many local associations are affiliated with a national group, the local chapters often are heavily focused on issues and events of interest to paralegals in the immediate area.

Local and regional associations can be a great source of job leads, too.

Common Questions About Paralegal Internships

What is a paralegal internship?

A paralegal internship is an opportunity for you to get some actual paralegal work experience while still in school.  Some schools offer paralegal internship opportunities where you work with a legal employer for an entire credit period.  Internships are a great way to get practical, hands-on paralegal experience.  They also look great on your resume.

Is a paralegal internship necessary?

No, an internship is not absolutely necessary.  You can demonstrate many important job-related qualities such as your work ethic, professionalism, and drive through other job experiences, school activities, hobbies, and so on.

It’s also true that in some cases, adding a paralegal internship to your plate just might be impractical.  For example, if you are getting your paralegal degree at night while continuing to work a full-time job, you may not have the time to devote to an internship.  Employers do recognize this and again, you can probably demonstrate your professionalism through your work experience and a certain level of paralegal knowledge will be assumed from your degree.

How can I find an internship?

The best place to find an internship is through your paralegal program.  Many schools offer paralegal internship opportunities.

What will be expected of me as a paralegal intern?

Your specific responsibilities will depend on your employer, as well as on how many hours you’re working.  Some internships require just a few hours a week, while other positions are essentially full-time for several months.

What if I can’t find an internship?  What then?

There are many ways to get some practical paralegal experience beyond the paralegal internship.  One option is to participate in job shadowing, where you essentially follow a working paralegal throughout their day.  This will give you a feel for paralegal work, but lacks the hand-on opportunities of an internship.

You can seek part-time or volunteer work in a legal office.  The key is to keep an open mind as far as the work is concerned.  Even if you’re just filing paperwork, you’ll learn a lot about what goes on in a law firm and the role of a paralegal.

Another option is to volunteer your services with legal aid.  Again, your goal is to get some practical experience to complement your education.

My answer? Probably.

But, you will have to be more flexible in your search, and it will likely take a whole lot longer than you anticipated.

If you read recent headlines, there are encouraging signs out there that the economy may be starting to rebound. This is excellent news for paralegals and other job seekers. But most pundits still say it will take a while for all those that are out of work to find jobs. And pessimists will remind you not to forget all the people that are employed in less than ideal jobs (in terms of hours, responsibilities, location, etc.). They may also re-enter the job market when it picks up, keeping the hiring market highly competitive for some time.

A recent article entitled Tales of the recession in the National Law Journal highlights the challenges facing paralegals (and others in the legal field) during the current downturn. The article profiles legal professionals at all levels and how they’ve been personally affected by the recent economic woes. Of particular interest to paralegals is the profile of Theresa Prater, a 59-year-old paralegal with 27 years of paralegal experience, who was laid of in January 2009.

The article notes that paralegal job postings seem to be picking up on electronic job boards, which is a good sign. In addition, there are several things you can do now to be in a better position to land that job you’re looking for.

Here are 5 tips to stay motivated and prepared for the eventual economic rebound:
1. Become more flexible about the type of paralegal work you’re willing to accept. You may have your heart set on working for a large litigation firm. Well, right now you may have to accept working for a smaller firm, or in another area. You should consider where you’re willing to work, too. This will open up far more potential job leads that a narrow search.

2. Be creative to get some paralegal experience. If you’re currently studying to become a paralegal, you may be wondering how you’re ever going to get experience with so many unemployed paralegals out there. You may have to get creative! Look for opportunities to volunteer with law firms, corporations, even non-profits.

3. Keep in touch with firms, even if they’re not hiring right now. Let’s say you interviewed with a great firm but they couldn’t offer you a position immediately. Once demand starts picking up, they will likely need to replenish their ranks. Keep in touch periodically (but don’t harass your contacts!) so they remember you when they might be able to hire you.

4. Continue to build your network. Yes, you’ve heard it before…network, network, network. But if every job seeker is out there networking, it can get a little demoralizing, right? Keep at it anyway! By attending paralegal association events, participating on paralegal forums, mentioning your job search to everyone you know, you stay connected. And you never know where the next job lead might come from. And, if you are able to help someone else in their search, they might just be able to help you down the road. Pay it forward whenever you can.

5. Remember this downturn is a blip, and the long term demand for paralegals will likely remain strong. The recession has refocused everyone – not just the legal field – on the need to be more efficient and to keep costs in check. That means paralegals will continue to be needed, as firms try to find the most cost effective way to complete legal work.

Here’s the good news:  if you’ve decided to take the plunge, there’s a lot you can do to get your freelance paralegal business off the ground quickly and successfully.  The key is to effectively market your business and build a pipeline of work to keep you busy.

Check out these five freelance paralegal marketing tips to best market your freelance paralegal business.

What you choose to do ultimately depends on how quickly you want to grow, how established your network is in your local legal community, and the amount of money you are able to invest in marketing activities.  It’s best to try a combination of freelance paralegal marketing tips to see what works best in your local market.

Tip #1: Reach out to your existing contacts.
Chances are you already have a long list of potential client contacts based on your previous work at law firm(s) or the courts. Send a letter or brochure to everyone you’ve worked with, announcing the launch of your business.

And don’t stop with an introduction letter. Successful freelance paralegals make it a practice to stay top of mind with their contacts by distributing a monthly newsletter.

Your newsletter could contain relevant legal news, office management tips, and so on.  It’s yet another chance to remind lawyers about your freelance paralegal business.  It also is another way to showcase your writing and organizational skills.

Tip #2:  Develop a website or blog presence.
It’s possible to create a web blog or site fairly quickly and inexpensively to promote your freelance services, offer testimonials, and so on.  More and more, potential clients look for a web presence to “validate” potential freelancers.  You want to be there when they’re looking for you.

Tip #3:  Get published.
Look for opportunities to write paralegal or law-related articles for local paralegal associations, business journals, or even on Internet article sites.  Be sure to mention your freelance paralegal business in the author’s “blurb”.  Again, these activities will add to your authority and buzz.

Tip #4:  Give seminars.
Look for opportunities to offer seminars, free or otherwise, in your community.  Think broadly about the topics you are able to speak about and the groups you might address.  For example, you probably can put together a good talk on current paralegal or legal issues, office management tips, or project management skills.  Even if there are no lawyers in your audience, attendees may know lawyers who could use your services.

Tip #5:  Get involved.
You are probably a member of local and/or national paralegal associations or the paralegal division of the state bar association.  But how involved are you?

Consider stepping up your involvement which can help strengthen your network.  Plan an event, attend more meetings, and so on.  The next time someone needs freelance paralegal services, they just might think of you first.

One of the biggest challenges of marketing freelance paralegal services (or any freelance services, for that matter) is balancing your paid client work with unpaid prospecting efforts.  However, it pays to take time out regularly to market your business, in order to keep your pipeline full.

The answer depends on several different things including:

• Years of paralegal experience
• Legal specialty
• Geography
• Years as a freelance paralegal

If you’re seriously considering joining the ranks of freelance paralegals, first you need to consider whether or not you have the personality to enjoy working independently.

If you think you do, the next step is to figure out what to charge for your services. There are a couple of ways to calculate this.

What is the minimum amount you need to charge?

A good starting point is to figure out what it will take to essentially get you to the same net take home pay you’re making as a paralegal today. Then you’ll want to add in any extra costs associated with running your business. This gets you to a minimum amount you need to earn in order to make it worth your while to go out on your own.

While the math is different for each person, here are some things to consider:

1. Start with your current take home pay. If you’re willing to accept lower take home income as a trade of for fewer hours, for example, use that figure instead.
2. Add in estimated costs for getting health insurance and disability insurance on your own
3. Add in estimated self employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) as well as estimated Federal and state taxes. You probably want to work with an accountant to get some realistic figures for your situation. Or, the IRS website is a good information resource.
4. Include a modest amount to cover general business operating expenses (marketing costs, office supplies, telephone, rent if you secure space outside your home, utilities, and so on.)

This total represents the minimum amount you want to bring in each year.

Divide this amount by the number of weeks per year you plan to work (for example, 48 weeks means you’ll get four weeks off for vacation, sick days, etc.).

Finally, divide the weekly amount by the hours you plan to work per week. This gets you to your minimum hourly rate.

But wait!! You’re not done yet.

Is this a realistic amount to expect to charge, given the fact you’re just starting out as a freelancer? Keep reading!

What can you realistically charge starting out?

According to the book Paralegal Career for Dummies,

“Your new business should start by charging a comparatively low hourly rate, such as $35 to $45 per hour…As your business grows and you become more experienced, you may charge as much as $75 or more per hour.”

How does $35 to $45 per hour compare to the minimum hourly rate you calculated above? Is it more? If so, great!

If not, don’t give up yet. You may be able to adjust your rate up based on your particular legal specialty and where you live. Paralegals working in large urban areas can typically charge a higher hourly rate, and freelance paralegals with highly specialized skills may also command a premium.

This brings us to a final angle to consider.

What is the going rate in your local area?

It’s smart to do some research to find out the typical hourly rate for freelance or contract paralegal work is in your area.

Your best bet is to network with other freelancers or attorneys that use freelance paralegal services to understand what rates you might realistically be able to charge.

And remember, because you’re just getting established, you may need to offer your services at a discount, or even do some work for free to get references and begin to build your client base.

What to Do Next

Once you’ve figured out how much you need to charge, set up a freelance rate sheet which details the types of services you can provide and your hourly rate. You may vary the rate depending on the individual services.
A final note: It’s a smart idea to have a cushion of several months’ living expenses available in a savings account before you get started as a freelance paralegal. You may need to live off these savings for several months as you get your business off the ground.

Perhaps you should consider becoming a freelance paralegal or an independent paralegal!

Before you take the plunge, however, it helps to have a more complete understanding of what freelancers do and what makes some people more successful than others.

Freelance paralegals contract with attorneys to complete specific paralegal services on a temporary basis. As a contractor, you set your own hours and fees. You work on a project by project basis, and may be working on projects for multiple attorneys at the same time.

Independent paralegals are similar to freelance paralegals, but their work is not supervised by an attorney. Instead, they usually help clients obtain and fill out standard legal forms like simple wills or bankruptcy forms.

Independent paralegals need to be very careful not to commit unauthorized practice of law, so they are generally limited to typing the forms with information provided by customers and giving instructions on how to file documents with the court.

When most paralegals think of freelancing, they envision working as a contractor. Thus, the rest of this article focuses on the benefits of becoming a freelance paralegal and who is most likely to find success following this route. (However, independent paralegals often enjoy the same benefits!) Also, don’t miss our tips on setting up shop.

Why Freelance?

More money!
As a freelance paralegal, you have the potential to make more than other paralegal professionals.

According to Paralegal Career for Dummies, “National studies indicate that freelance paralegals earn significantly more than other paralegal professionals.”

Flexible work!Being a freelancer means you choose to work as much or as little as you want. You can also work from home (or practically anywhere you can set up a virtual office).

However, don’t be fooled: in order to earn a significant income, you have to put in the hours. And as a contractor, you’ll spend additional time networking and marketing your services in order to land clients.

What Types of Paralegals are Successful as Freelancers?

Freelancing has some great perks, but it’s not for everyone. To judge whether you may have the right mindset for the job, consider the following questions.

1. Do you have a decent amount of paralegal experience to draw upon?
The most successful freelance paralegals are those with experience, particularly from law firms. Your product is your paralegal expertise, after all! In addition, the longer you have worked as a paralegal, the more industry contacts you have. These people know you and know what you are capable of. They will also be a great source for potential client leads.

2. Are you comfortable dealing with the financial responsibility of self employment?
As a freelance paralegal, particularly as you build your business, you may have times where you have a lot of work (and income) and slow periods (with little money coming in). Can you deal with that mentally?

3. Are you willing to deal with the added work to operate a business?
As a freelance paralegal running your own business, you will need to determine what type of legal structure fits your needs (i.e., sole proprietorship, LLC, and so on) and deal with any administrative duties that requires. In addition, you will be responsible for paying estimated federal and state taxes and social security. You will also need to secure your own health insurance and liability insurance. Finally, you’ll need to maintain good financial and client records throughout the life of your business.

4. Are you comfortable working solo?
Many professionals who move from an office environment to the freelance world struggle with the transition. They miss the “buzz” of the office and the camaraderie and casual interaction that goes along with it. Depending on your set-up, you may have less face-to-face dealings with co-workers and clients than previously. And while telephone, email, and instant messaging all allow you to get your work done, they are not the same as walking down the hall to ask a quick question of a colleague. Think about whether you see this as a good thing (an opportunity to be more efficient) or a bad thing (you can imagine yourself falling asleep at your desk because it’s too quiet!).

Do you still want to take the leap? If so, good for you! Be sure to check out our tips on figuring out your charge rate and marketing your freelance paralegal business.

If not, remember there’s a wide variety of paralegal jobs and settings to choose from. If you’re feeling frustrated in your current position, search current paralegal job openings.

The primary paralegal degree programs include: associates degree in paralegal studies, bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, and masters degree in paralegal studies.

Associates Degree Programs

An associate’s degree in paralegal studies is a 2-year degree, usually from an accredited local community college or university. Typically, to begin an associates degree you must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).

The advantage of the associates degree in paralegal studies is it is a relatively fast option to getting the educational background to become a paralegal, and is the most common avenue to become a paralegal. Many community colleges also offer flexible schedules so you can take classes while working.

One thing to look out for: there are several ‘for profit’ companies that offer paralegal training. You want to make sure their ‘associate’s degrees’ are accredited.

Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree in Paralegal Studies

Some students opt to get a bachelors degree, or even a master’s degree, in paralegal studies. Bachelor’s degrees typically require four years to complete and you must have a high school diploma and meet other entrance requirements to enroll. If you believe you may want to pursue an advanced degree in the future (for example, a master’s degree) getting a bachelors degree in paralegal studies is a great start.