According to figures from the US Department of Labor, a paralegal has become one of the most popular career choices in America; there are currently at least employed 238,000 paralegals (also called legal assistants) and the number is growing steadily every year. In fact, the paralegal profession recently ranked 17th on a listing of the 200 best and worst jobs in the US, as paralegals earned an average annual income of $46,155. Paralegals are trained to assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services and work under the direct supervision of a lawyer.

Although it is possible to become a paralegal without any formal training other than a working knowledge of the law, it is advised that you get at least a paralegal certificate to achieve the most favorable career prospects. If you want to shift careers to get on the bandwagon of this exciting employment opportunity, you can do so without having to go back to school by availing of an online paralegal certificate program. However, you should choose your online distance program carefully, bearing in mind that your future success in the paralegal profession depends on the quality of the education you will get.

The most important thing you should look for is accreditation by the American Bar Association. ABA-accreditation ensures that the education you are getting meets certain standards in terms of instruction and academics. Equally important is to check out the reputation of the school by researching its record with the Better Business Bureau and asking other paralegals or lawyers about it.

Passing a good online paralegal certificate program also ensures that you will not have a hard time achieving certification from a major sponsoring organization such as the National Association of Legal Assistants or National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Although certification is not mandatory, it will give you professional credibility with future employers as it indicates that you are committed to your chosen career path.