In a nutshell, the paralegal profession is right for you if you have a passion for the law.
Your paralegal education will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to perform well. But, nothing spells success like a desire to excel, dedication and determination. Talk to other paralegals and attorneys in a variety of practice areas. Shadow them for a day or more if you can. Above all, evaluate your appetite for the law.
The National Association Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) has denounced the programs in their
Position Statement Regarding Short-Term Programs.
The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) also has a
Policy on Short-Term Programs, which states that "these programs do a fundamental disservice to the legal profession by creating unrealistic expectations in both employers and students that a quality paralegal education has been delivered when such may not be the case."
CALS encourages anyone interested in pursuing a paralegal career to conduct a thorough investigation of prospective programs to ensure that expected outcomes can be achieved and professional goals attained.
The job market is good! As a graduate of CALS, you will receive individual attention from our Director of Career Services that includes assistance in resume writing, interview tips, salary negotiation, follow-up, and acceptance of an offer.
2010-2011 reported employment rate as reported to the State of Texas are as follows:
| Paralegal Certificate |
86.67% |
| AAS Degree |
87.04% |
We are 100% committed to your success. Our comprehensive education and excellence in job placement is the combination you need to get started in your career!
Go to Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the Internet at
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants for a review of national and comprehensive information on this profession.
Employers who require a paralegal certificate as a condition of employment normally assume the four year degree has previously been earned. This is especially true in the larger law firms where a ‘degree plus certificate' is the standard. Students without a college degree should earn one. The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies program offered at the Center accomplishes that goal for students lacking a degree upon entering the Center.
Yes, without question. As a graduate of CALS and a new law school student, you will suddenly become very popular with fellow students who “don’t have a clue” about legal research, procedure, contracts, etc. Many of the fundamentals of law and theory learned at CALS will be repeated in law school. However, most of the practical skills you gain here will not be addressed in law school at all. Will a paralegal education help? Absolutely.
History shows that there are certain characteristics that are important to the success of students taking online classes. Interestingly, these qualities are also important to a successful paralegal career. They include:
- Self-motivation
- Ability to Organize
- Good time management skills
- Ability to work independently
CALS also provides applicants with the opportunity to take an online assessment that reviews these and other attributes that are related to optimal performance in online classes.
Research shows that most paralegals work in law firms. However, many businesses other than law firms utilize paralegals. Such employment is not unusual. These employers include banks, mortgage companies, airlines, churches, non-profit organizations, hospitals, the government and many other businesses.
Paralegals may also work independently on a contract basis locally or at a distance; however, the unlicensed practice of law (UPL), can become an important issue especially when a paralegal has a business of his or her own. In all cases, a licensed attorney is ultimately responsible for a paralegal’s performance on specifically delegated substantive legal work.
To make you more competitive as a paralegal, our programs have a huge concentration of paralegal specialty courses. CALS provides its students with the necessary depth of paralegal training so they may begin a rewarding and challenging paralegal career.
AAS Degree Paralegal Program graduates may wish to continue their education and eventually earn a bachelor's degree. If that is the case, please understand that our programs were not designed to be a shortcut to a four year degree. The purpose of the paralegal programs is to lead you to and advance your paralegal career. However, oftentimes CALS credits are accepted by a variety of institutions but their acceptance is strictly up to the receiving institution.
The Center currently holds articulation agreements with Sam Houston State University, University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Peirce College. Some other four year colleges and universities have accepted credits based on our graduates' individual application and presentation even though no articulation agreement exist at these colleges.
This is great news for individuals who seek to receive their paralegal credentials and start working as soon as possible yet still desire to complete their bachelor’s degree in the future.
No matter what your financial situation is right now, we have a professional staff and variety of plans to help you get through school and begin your paralegal career. While some students pay for their education as they attend, many of them rely on the financial assistance that is available for college students. Rarely is a person denied the opportunity to continue their education due to a lack of funds. Contact us today and receive more details about your tuition payment options.
