A paralegal's job is to assist lawyers with many aspects of trial preparation, drafting of legal documents, research and other tasks that make the practice of law more efficient. The paralegal field is one that is projected to grow rapidly, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are several ways that someone in Florida can become a paralegal.

Community College Programs

Florida residents who want to become a paralegal should investigate the system of 28 statewide community colleges. The community colleges have 62 campuses that offer paralegal education programs that culminate in the awarding of the Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degrees. All of the programs follow a curriculum that has been approved by the Florida Department of Education. Admissions into the program requires a high school diploma and a College Placement Test. The program consists of 64 course hours that focus on building the skills necessary to be a successful legal assistant. Courses in the subject area include Legal Research, Legal Writing, Contracts, Property Law, Civil Procedure, Torts, Criminal Law, Business Organizations and Law Office Procedures. Paralegal students are also required to take courses in humanities, writing and social sciences. Graduates of the program will be able to take the National Association of Paralegals (NALA) exam.

If You Already Have A Degree

If you already have a bachelor's or master's degree in another field, you may be able to prepare for a paralegal career by obtaining a certificate in paralegal studies. A certificate program gives you the specialized legal knowledge you need without requiring you to get a separate associate's degree. Certificate programs vary by location. Some vocational schools such as Kaplan University and Blackstone Career Institute offer paralegal certificate programs that can be completed entirely online. Any good certificate program will include enough hours to qualify you to sit for the NALA examination, just as if you had an associate's degree.

Paralegal Certificate By Correspondence

One Florida-based option that has been nationally recognized is the University of Florida Legal Assistant Certificate correspondence course. It was cited as a Meritorious Correspondence Study course in 1994 by the National University Continuing Education Association. The course is taught in a sequence of twelve lessons given over 18 months and is taught by licensed attorneys. Its "hands-on" approach prepares students to do things like preparing legal documents, investigating cases, preparing for trials, interviewing clients and performing legal research and drafts. There is no application to fill out. Instead, anyone may register for the program online or through the mail.

Source:

U.S. Dept. of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

Florida Community Colleges

University of Florida Legal Assistant Correspondence Program