Most paralegals choose to get their certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Four of those hours are in a specific legal field or general law, and the other four are on ethics.Īlthough it is not a legal need, many jobs for paralegals require you to pass a background check. This includes eight hours every other year. There are also two- and four-year degrees (Associates and Bachelor’s, respectively) in paralegal studies.Īfter you become a certified paralegal, you will have to meet continuing education requirements to maintain the certification. An example would be a four-year degree or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In either case, your supervising attorney will have to certify your paralegal abilities.Īlthough they are not required, you can find even more employment opportunities as a paralegal if you choose to complete a relevant degree. The requirements increase to three years to those without a B.A. This must be with a State Board of California licensed attorney. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you need to have one year of experience. The certification must have required you to complete 24 credit hours or more on legal courses.Ĭertified paralegals must also have experience. Specifically, you must get a certificate from an American Bar Association-approved program or an institution with regional accreditation. You must also be at least 18 years old and either a United States citizen or a legal alien.Īlthough there is no license, you must have a certification to be a paralegal in California. To be a paralegal in California, you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent or a bachelor’s degree with any major. How Do I Become a Certified Paralegal in California? This means that a paralegal license search in California will display certifications and additional relevant information about paralegals, not licensing. Instead, there are other requirements, including a certificate. No, California does not need a license for paralegals to work in the state. Do Paralegals Have to Be Licensed in California? Are Paralegals Licensed in California? The regulations on paralegals in the state are fairly lax. The certification and licensing are likely different than you expect them to be. Before you use the search, learn a bit more about paralegal licensing and certifications in California. In either case, a California paralegal license search can be a great tool. Working with a paralegal or know someone who is one and want to confirm that they are certified to work in that role? Or maybe you want to verify that others can check your license to be a paralegal.
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