Acquiring knowledge of the law and legal processes may increase your marketability when competing for jobs in a variety of career fields. An increasing number of large and small businesses are reducing costs by hiring legal specialists to handle routine tasks once performed by lawyers. In fact, paralegal and legal assistant are among the occupations projected to have the largest increases in employment over the decade ending in 2016.*

An Opportunity to Change Career Paths


If you have already earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, the Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate program at Kaplan University is designed to offer a convenient route to beginning a new career as a paralegal or a legal assistant. Enroll now and let Kaplan University help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to change career paths and enter this fast-growing industry.

 Program Highlights 

In this online certificate program you will have the opportunity to become familiar with the role of the paralegal in the workplace and in the American legal system. Through interactive Web-based courses, you will have an opportunity to:

  • Explore current trends, regulations, and ethical considerations associated with the legal profession
  • Develop practical skills for organizing and managing a law office, conducting legal research, and evaluating legal sources
  • Gain an understanding of the civil law process, rights, and procedures within the U.S. court systems

 Curriculum for the Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate 

    Courses Credits
    The Paralegal Professional 5
    Civil Litigation 5
    Introduction to Legal Research 5
    Legal Ethics 5
    Law Office Management 6
    Legal Studies/Paralegal Electives 15
    Total Program Requirements 41

 What Are the Career Opportunities? 

This program is designed to provide you with the specialized knowledge necessary to seek employment as a paralegal or legal assistant in private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, banks, and government agencies. Paralegals are often hired to manage legal requirements for services in areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law.† When you are ready to further your education, credits earned in fulfillment of this certificate may be transferred to other Kaplan University degree programs.

For more information, chat live or call an Admissions Advisor at 866.527.5268 (Toll Free).

  

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour$353.00
Total program requirements41
Total cost of tuition$14,473.00

This program requires a $100 technology fee per term. Effective July 1, 2009, a minimum deposit of $70 is required at the time of enrollment and will be credited toward your tuition when you begin classes. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs. Refer to the University Catalog for transfer of credit policy. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. For more information, chat live or call an Admissions Advisor at 866.527.5268 (Toll Free).

Kaplan University offers tuition discounts to active-duty military servicemembers and veterans. Call 866.583.4412 to speak to a military Admissions Advisor.

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* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm (accessed May 2008).
† Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practice law or give legal advice to consumers.