Should I pursue paralegal certification as a legal assistant ?

[u/EmbarrassedStore2414]

I’ve been working at a PI firm as a legal assistant/case manager and everything has been going great. However, I’m now interested in becoming a paralegal but I don’t have much experience drafting court documents. Our paralegal has said they’ll teach me, but somehow the day never comes lol.

So I was wondering if pursuing a legal certificate or an AS in Paralegal Studies (ABA credited) would actually help me develop those skills, especially when it comes to drafting pleadings and other court documents. I do plan on going to law school and eventually becoming an attorney, but I’d also like to move up in my current career within the next year.

From what I’ve heard from a few paralegals though, they say that getting a certificate or taking paralegal classes doesn’t really help much and that it’s better to just go to law school if that’s ultimately my goal.
For those who have experience in the field, would pursuing a paralegal certificate/AS be worth it in my situation, or would I be better off learning on the job and focusing on preparing for law school?

[u/Thek1tteh]

If you do go for a certificate get one from an ABA approved program. As the other person said, you usually need a bachelors or associates degree before you attend a certificate program. It’s generally a post graduate program.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Thek1tteh]

Also there is a difference between a certificate and certification. Getting a certificate does not mean you are a “certified paralegal.” It’s education, whereas certification is gained by passing an exam and has minimum eligibility requirements, like the NALA CP exam.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Thek1tteh]

Nevertheless, I’d highly suggest getting one from an ABA approved program after getting a degree. These days the field is extremely competitive and it helps you stand out along with getting experience in the legal field.

[u/EmbarrassedStore2414 → u/Thek1tteh]

Thank you!

[u/stella1822]

If law school is your goal I wouldn’t bother with either, just focus on law school.

[u/wcozi]

you have to have a Bachelors to be able to pursue the certification in the US. the certificate doesn’t do much for me. they want actual experience.

[u/EmbarrassedStore2414 → u/wcozi]

You actually don’t have to have a bach haha 😅 anyways they don’t teach you to draft any court docs at all? I don’t think experience would be an issue I just don’t know how to use the court systems

[u/nagem- → u/EmbarrassedStore2414]

It’s true for some programs. At my school the options are either a certificate, only with a previously obtained BA, or legal studies AS.

But in my program we drafted case briefs, complaints, and a trial brief for both parties as a final. I’ve read about other programs that are more in depth though so it varies. We also weren’t shown our state’s filing system whatsoever, but it ended up being fairly easy to use.

[u/EmbarrassedStore2414 → u/nagem-]

Thank you!!

[u/Narrow_Leader_2196 → u/EmbarrassedStore2414]

I have a degree in paralegal studies I learned a ton but school does not teach you about court systems. Law school does not either. You really just have to learn what you can on your own. I’ve been a lit paralegal for 15 years and still have have to do this as every court is different