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Paralegal Certificate

Paralegal certificate

Begin your paralegal career in 4 months!

As Georgia’s longest-running post-baccalaureate paralegal program, Emory Continuing Education (ECE)'s Paralegal Certificate program prepares college graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the legal profession. Our comprehensive program—taught by experienced attorneys—consists of Introduction to Law, Civil Litigation, Legal Research & Writing, and Contract Law totaling 75 classroom hours. The program is offered in convenient evening and weekend formats and also includes a career development module to help you prepare for your job search.

In this newly streamlined and 100% online program, students will learn about state and federal court systems while conducting research using Westlaw, writing memos, and creating discovery documents. Areas of study also include attorney/paralegal ethics, contracts, and additional legal terms and court procedures. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in customary law office tasks under the supervision of an attorney.

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Feature your skills through an official digital badge from Emory. These are issued at program completion and can be displayed in your online channels like Linkedin.

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Career Outlook


The data above is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.


Required Textbooks

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this program, students will be able to:

  • Identify the ethical duties imposed on attorneys and paralegals
  • Distinguish between the federal and state court systems
  • Define the terminology and rules of civil procedure
  • Identify the trial process from beginning to end
  • Draft a complaint and answer
  • Create discovery documents for submission to opposing parties
  • Identify and distinguish the differences between primary and secondary legal authority
  • Conduct online research using Westlaw software
  • Use proper Bluebook citation format for both primary and secondary legal authority
  • Research primary authority and conduct legal analysis based on a given fact pattern
  • Author a closed-legal memorandum
  • Recognize what is required for a binding contract
  • Gain practical skills in drafting and analyzing contracts
  • Recognize when a party commits a breach of contract
  • Compare available contract remedies

Certificate requirements

To receive the certificate, students must:
  • Earn a passing score of 75% or higher in each module

Prerequisites

This program is open only to students who have already completed a bachelor's degree (or verified foreign equivalent) or higher. There are no exceptions to this policy. No previous legal experience is necessary to join the program.


Apply

Please follow the instructions below to apply to the Paralegal Certificate program.

Submit your application and pay the application fee ($25) online. Please note that a bachelor's degree is required to be admitted to the Paralegal Certificate program.

After submitting your application, please request your transcripts be sent to us so we can verify that you have previously earned a bachelor's degree.

  • Digital transcripts: If offered by your school, please request a digital copy of your transcripts be sent to CEtranscripts@emory.edu 
  • Paper transcripts: If digital transcripts are not an option, please have your school mail an official copy of your transcripts to:
    Emory Continuing Education
    2635 Century Pkwy NE
    Suite 300
    Atlanta, GA 30345

You will be notified regarding the status of your application after we receive your transcripts. You may proceed with registering for the program before your application is approved. You must register to hold your seat. Please note that we must receive your transcripts prior to the completion of your program for you to be eligible to earn the Paralegal Certificate.

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Registration & Payment Instructions

Review the upcoming program schedules on our registration page and determine the one that will work best for you. Students will have the option of paying program tuition in full or selecting a 50% deposit. The invoice for your second payment will be due 10 days prior to the start of the program in which you registered with a deposit.

Certificate overview

Duration
4 months

Cost
$3,695

Time commitment
75 hours

Audience

The following types of people will benefit from this program:

  • Students wishing to make a career change
  • Students currently working as legal secretaries or assistants who want to expand their career options
  • Students who are legal professionals in other countries and wish to work in the legal field in the U.S.
  • Law students wishing to gain experience in the legal field

Our program is open to students from across the country, with concepts and best practices that can assist any current or aspiring paralegal.

Please keep in mind that regulations to work as a paralegal vary from state to state, so please check with your local jurisdiction to confirm eligibility requirements.

Legal Specialization Courses

Enhance your Paralegal Certificate by adding a specialization. Specialization options include:

Specialization courses are also open to working paralegals or anyone who would like to learn more about these areas of law. These courses are offered based on popular interest.