How to Become a Paralegal: Steps, Skills, and Responsibilities

By Dr. James Barney  |  01/15/2025

While many people focus on the role of an attorney in the legal system, paralegals and other legal professionals play critical functions that allow attorneys and their clients to achieve positive outcomes that often go uncelebrated. Technological changes are altering the paralegal profession, which will likely alter the relationship between attorneys and paralegals in the future law firm.

The legal profession is undergoing radical transformation, presenting both challenges and opportunities. For example, technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) can be helpful for research, writing documents, and other tasks previously completed by paralegals working in a traditional law firm.

Individuals who want to learn how to become a paralegal should expect a hyper-competitive environment that requires adaptability, continuous education, skill development, and networking. Paralegals can play a role in shaping the future of the law and the paralegal profession, as the distinction between paralegals and attorneys is likely to undergo a shift.

What Do Paralegals Do in a Law Firm or Legal Department?

Over the years, some students mistakenly view becoming a paralegal or legal assistant as a step in the process of attending law school or becoming a lawyer. This view, which is quite common, confuses the roles of an attorney and paralegal. These two professions are distinctly different; they have different job duties, educational requirements, and expectations.

Paralegals predominately provide support and assistance for licensed attorneys. For example, paralegals engage in legal research, writing, and trial preparation to support the work of licensed attorneys. Some paralegals go on to attend law school, but the vast majority of paralegals do not continue their education at a law school.

How to Become a Paralegal

In an attempt to regulate paralegals, some states in recent years have endeavored to create formal educational and registration requirements for paralegals. However, there is not one universal way to become a paralegal.

While it is possible to obtain a job as a paralegal in some states without a formal education, most opportunities for paralegals require at least some college education. This formal education can involve either a certificate program, associate degree, or bachelor's degree.

If you are interested in attending a formal paralegal program, you should do your research into the program's job placement rate, internship and externship opportunities available, and the typical profile of a student and their outcomes.

Paralegal Education

Paralegal programs and courses are constructed to focus on the types of skills and knowledge that paralegals would need in the field. For instance, paralegal programs expose aspiring paralegals to legal writing and research as well as:

• Contract law
• Criminal law
• Tort law
• Property law
• Real estate law
• Corporate law
• Business law
• Intellectual property law
• Legal ethics

Many students think that they have to complete a paralegal degree program, such as a bachelor's degree, to obtain a paralegal position. A paralegal program differs from a pre-law or a legal studies program because it is designed for students who aspire to become paralegals.

There are many excellent programs offered by many schools across the United States. However, attending one of these programs is not absolutely necessary as there are many pathways to becoming a paralegal. 

Paralegal Certification Pathways

Some paralegals have obtained paralegal certification by attending a college course in paralegal studies or completing one of the many paralegal education programs. Other paralegals have received on-the-job training after receiving a high school diploma.

In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion over the certification or registration of paralegals and whether such certification or registration is necessary. This issue remains in flux and is subject to state law. As a general rule, certification is optional and there are several professional organizations that offer certification.

For example, aspiring paralegals can obtain a useful certification via professional organizations such as:

• The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• The National Association for Legal Support Professionals (NALS)
• The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

Aspiring paralegals seeking certification often can do so without completing a formal paralegal degree program. Some of these organizations administer a paralegal core competency exam that can be taken once a candidate has some experience or formal education like an associate degree or a certain number of college credits. Students interested in one of these programs should research the exact requirements for certification.

All of these programs require some formal educational requirements, which can be satisfied by non-American Bar Association programs and without completing a paralegal certificate. For example, completing a bachelor's degree in any major and some work experience may allow a paralegal to obtain certification via a respected professional organization.

Developing Practical Skills

While many aspiring paralegals focus on formal education, it is essential for a prospective paralegal to obtain some practical legal experience through an internship or volunteer work on a legal team at a law office. Obtaining an internship or volunteer position at a law firm, government agency, or not-for-profit organization provides aspiring paralegals with:

• Exposure to real-world legal experience
• Development of practical legal skills including legal writing
• A solid understanding of different legal specializations
• Networking opportunities
• Familiarity with new legal technology
• Knowledge of the ethical guidelines that govern the practice of law

The Skills and Competencies Needed by Paralegals

Being a paralegal requires possessing a collection of technical skills, personal attributes, personal behaviors, and the commitment to grow. Technical skills include the ability to:

• Conduct legal research and draft documents (which requires strong writing skills)
• Manage documents
• Use databases and artificial intelligence to complete legal tasks
• Complete scheduling tasking to meet deadlines

Paralegals also need a knowledge of substantive law and an understanding of legal ethics. They must also have the ability to use that knowledge to complete various legal and administrative tasks while supporting the work of attorneys.

Paralegals also must have:

• Strong organizational skills
• Time management skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving abilities
• Adaptability
• Emotional intelligence
• Effective communication skills, especially when dealing with subordinates or superiors on the same legal team

Attention to detail is important because one error can seriously harm a case. For example, forgetting a deadline may result in the dismissal of a lawsuit or other penalties.

Moreover, many paralegals often find themselves in stressful situations when they interact with clients, attorneys, and colleagues. They must deal with everyone with professionalism and respect in all encounters. They also need to have humility, as paralegals serve as support for attorneys and must understand that there are many tasks that they are barred from completing.

In the paralegal field, paralegals often have to deal with opposing counsel, interview, interview clients, or interact with potential clients. In essence, paralegals require a high degree of understanding of their role within a law firm's structure as well as the limitations on their activities.

Finally, paralegals must be interested in continuing their education, which includes:

• Attending continuing education classes
• Networking
• Obtaining certifications
• Deciding what area of the law will become their specialty
• Pursuing a formal degree or program to keep up with changes in the law and field

The Power of Networking

Aspiring paralegals also should not underestimate the importance of networking. Networking involves making connections with both peers and potential employers.

Building a network can be done by joining student or professional organizations. Networks can also be formed by getting involved in local charities and religious and civic organizations.

Making connections not only could lead to job leads, but it also could provide a support network and opportunities to collaborate with one's peers. A paralegal, for instance, could join the American Bar Association, which is open not just to attorneys, but to law librarians, paralegals, and other law-related professionals as well.

Trends and Challenges Facing Today’s Paralegals

Over the past years, several mega-trends have impacted the legal field.

The first and most important trend is the use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law. Law firms are using artificial intelligence to streamline the discovery process, conduct legal research and writing, and manage documents.

At the same time, artificial intelligence has the potential to dislocate numerous paralegals as many tasks formerly completed by paralegals will become more automated. Ideally, paralegals must have a firm understanding of both the uses of artificial intelligence and the impact of that technology on their work.

Second, several U.S. states have discussed ideas for regulating paralegals over the past several years. These programs aim to establish certain requirements to become a "certified paralegal." For example, Florida has created a voluntary registration program, which recommends that paralegals have certain education, training, and experience and must comply with an ethical code.

Other states have experimented with the creation of new legal titles. For example, California has created a class of legal professionals called legal document assistants (LDAs), who can complete legal documents for the public.

Similarly, Washington State created Limited License Legal Technicians (LLLTs), who can provide legal advice and assistance to the public in areas like real estate or family law. Other states, like Utah, are developing a class of paralegals who provide limited legal advice to the public under the supervision of an attorney.

These ways of regulating the work of paralegals partly developed due to the legal needs of many communities (such as people in rural towns and inner cities), who have historically been underserved. While these experiments are still in their infancy, they have the potential to transform what it means to be a paralegal in the future.

Third, changes in technology may require paralegals and legal assistants to engage in increased professional development over the next decade. For example, future paralegals will likely use technology to complete tasks like drafting documents in ways different from how current paralegals complete these tasks. Staying employed will likely require many paralegals to retool their skills and knowledge, which may require advanced education via formal or informal programs as a means of remaining competitive.

Seeking Job Opportunities as a Paralegal

While the marketplace for paralegals remains very competitive, there are career opportunities in the field for people with the right skills and knowledge.

When considering job opportunities, paralegals should give careful consideration to the type of law office where they want to seek employment and help attorneys practice law. Large private law firms and governmental agencies are typically the largest employers. Additionally, there are opportunities for paralegals at a small law firm or in a corporation's legal department.

Also, aspiring paralegals should research employment and salary trends in their local legal market from reliable sources of employment information. For example, opportunities and salaries for paralegals in the corporate legal departments of urban areas will differ greatly from the law firms of rural communities.

Similarly, prospective paralegals should do research into the laws that govern the regulation of paralegals as well as the typical background of a paralegal in their desired marketplace.

Facing the Future with Confidence

For adult learners who want to become a paralegal or legal assistant, it is most important to face the future with confidence. Such confidence must be based upon a realistic assessment of and preparation for a highly competitive, changing legal environment and job market.

Legal Studies Degrees at American Military University

For adult learners interested in becoming paralegals or pursuing other opportunities in the legal industry, American Military University (AMU) offers various degree programs, such as:

• An online associate degree in legal studies
• An online bachelor’s degree in legal studies
• An online master’s degree in legal studies

Courses in these programs cover a wide variety of topics such as litigation, real estate law, and civil practice and procedure. Other topics include legal ethics, an introduction to legal technology, constitutional law, and family law.

All of these online courses are taught by experienced instructors with a deep knowledge of the legal field. For more information, visit our legal studies program page.

Note: Completion of the associate or the bachelor’s program in legal studies does not award any professional paralegal or any other certification, but may be helpful in preparing to seek such certifications.

Note: Although some states do not require a Juris Doctor for bar entry, the master’s program does not prepare you for the practice of law or admission to the bar of any state based solely on completion of this program. Completion of American Military University’s Master of Legal Studies online program does not qualify an individual to sit for the bar exam in any state.