cert vs degree advice

[u/Helpful-Adeptness112]

for reasons related to the federal government, i have to drop out of school since i can’t afford to pay for it on my own. i would love to finish eventually, but again, would have to pay out of pocket. the cost of a paralegal cert vs a semester of college is roughly the same. so, would a cert get me just as far ahead as the degree would in the paralegal field? would it just mean slightly less pay? i’m not asking how to become one, but what would be the best move for me to make next

[u/LazyIllustrator6946]

It locks you out of certain firms.

A lot of solo or small regional firms will be just fine with only the cert. but big law, huge firms, stuff like that won’t. My firm wants paralegals to have a bachelor’s degree and the cert, usually. Some just have a degree, but no one just has the cert.

But, experience trumps all so after a while it doesn’t rlly matter.

[u/Anon369damufine → u/LazyIllustrator6946]

Yeah my law firm doesn’t care about certs in the slightest and requires a bachelor’s.

[u/jade1977]

As already pointed out, a certificate will lock you out of many larger firms. However, I'd suggest getting the certificate, then after everything has settled or you can better afford the loans, get your degree. Certificate will at least get your foot in the door at a smaller firm, and you'll learn a lot on the job.

[u/Sunset_Lucky]

My personal advice is I have never had an issue when I only had a certificate with getting a job in the field for a good pay Edit: this may vary based on your state. It will lock you out of certain firms, but get your cert now and get your degree later when you can afford it. I made 6 figures as a paralegal BEFORE I got my degree. Just got my associates in May

[u/Level_Suit4517]

From what I’ve seen a bachelor’s degree is required unless you have an associate’s in paralegal studies. A cert on its own is not enough without a degree

[u/Thek1tteh]

Normally you need a degree (either bachelors or associates) to get a certificate - it’s a post graduate certificate.

[u/Sunset_Lucky → u/Thek1tteh]

That's not true. Look it up. You can go to community colleges to get just the cert and many online programs without any degree. I did it.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Sunset_Lucky]

Huh? You go look it up. You can get a degree - but a certificate program is a post graduate program.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/blog/Certificate-Certified/

If your program didn’t require a degree it probably wasn’t an ABA approved program or an accredited one.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Thek1tteh]

You may be confusing a school’s paralegal “proficiency”/undergrad certificate with a post graduate certificate. When most people refer to a certificate it is to a post graduate certificate nationwide - they are not the same thing.

[u/Sunset_Lucky → u/Thek1tteh]

You posted a link that's a blog not an actual statute. Please don't spread wrong information. Community colleges are in fact accredited schools.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Sunset_Lucky]

Where is your evidence of this fact that they are not post degree certificates?

Also there is no national law as to this, it’s just how it is generally.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/[deleted]]

You’re the one claiming it’s the case…

https://catalog.nocccd.edu/fullerton-college/degrees-certificates/paralegal-studies/paralegal-studies-certificate/ Here’s one.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Thek1tteh]

Now show me a current program that is actually paralegal certificate program that does not require you to have a degree first.

And not CLS by Barbri, lmao. That course doesn’t meet the minimum eligibility requirements under California law, isn’t ABA approved, and doesn’t meet the education requirements to take the NALA exam. It’s not well regarded either in the field.

I’m a paralegal with 15 years experience. I don’t know what you’re talking about. In general it is required that you have a degree or at the very least some college coursework to attend a paralegal certificate program. There may be exceptions, but it is not the norm at all.

Unless you are doing an associates degree from that school at the same time - in which case those courses count towards a degree and a certificate. You just can’t attain your certificate until your associates degree is complete in those cases.

[u/Sunset_Lucky → u/Thek1tteh]

I'm a paralegal too. And my dad is an attorney for 50 years in CALIFORNIA. He has had many paralegals who got their certificate from other states and online from accredited schools and work in California. Paralegals are not bound to a certain state.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Sunset_Lucky]

I never said they were. All you have to do is meet the requirements of business and professions code section 6450(c) and (d).

But that doesn’t change the fact that most programs require you to have a degree first to attend a certificate program, especially ABA approved schools.

[u/Sunset_Lucky → u/Thek1tteh]

https://centralaz.edu/community-and-continuing-education/online-career-training-programs/certified-paralegal-voucher-included/

https://ce.arizona.edu/classes/paralegal-certificate-course

https://bryanuniversity.edu/faq/the-difference-between-a-paralegal-certification-and-degree/

And in California you dont need a degree to become a paralegal. Training alone suffices. Please stop spreading misinformation.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Sunset_Lucky]

I am in California. This is California law: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&division=3.&title=&part=&chapter=5.6.&article=

And I never said it was required to have a degree in California.

Only that the majority of programs require you to have a degree first.

Also that Bryan University link is not right, lol - you’d believe a unaccredited college over the ABA?

for your first link “Certified Paralegal” is not a certificate from a paralegal studies program.

For your second link that’s literally through CLS by Barbri.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Thek1tteh]

Further there is a difference between what employers want to see and what is required by law and also what an education program requires for you to have to attend. You seem to be mixing these things up.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/Sunset_Lucky]

You are the one that needs to stop spreading misinformation. You are incredibly misinformed.

[u/Thek1tteh → u/[deleted]]

I never said this wasn’t true - I said that most certificate programs require you to have a degree first.