ABA AA degree versus non-ABA bachelor's degree in paralegal studies

Please advise. I am about to complete my ABA-approved associate's degree in paralegal studies and would like to know if I should pursue a non-ABA bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or do I need to stay on the ABA path?

NO - don't waste more money on the paralegal program going after a Bachelor's Degree. If you want a Bachelor's Degree, put it towards something like a degree in Education. You can always use it later. If you get a Bachelor's in Paralegal, that's it.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Earn a Bachelor's degree in another major. Your A.A. will cover paralegal studies adequately.

Thank you, my professor said the same thing.

Mary inTampa in Tampa, Florida said: NO - don't waste more money on the paralegal program going after a Bachelor's Degree. If you want a Bachelor's Degree, put it towards something like a degree in Education. You can always use it later. If you get a Bachelor's in Paralegal, that's it.

Thanks for the info, I will look into another BA/BS in something other than paralegal studies which will in turn make me more marketable, thanks again!!!

OC Legal Student in Orange, California said: Please advise. I am about to complete my ABA-approved associate's degree in paralegal studies and would like to know if I should pursue a non-ABA bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or do I need to stay on the ABA path?

I agree with everyone above. Get you BA in something totally different. Otherwise, you are limiting yourself to law. If you decide later that you want to change careers, that career change will be a lot less difficult of you have a BA in Biz or Commmunications or education, as someone above suggested.

I make this comment because I am a former legal secretary from Orange County with a paralegal certificate from UCLA. I also once majored in Criminology at UCI but didn't finish. I was already working for attorneys and wanted to use that degree to advance my career in law but dropped out when I realized what a bad idea it was to work for attys. An overwhelming majority of my coworkers regret going into this industry. They'd give anything to get out; a lot of people fear change. They are afraid of the risk it takes to get out.

I quit my job in Costa Mesa and moved back to my hometown in Northern CA. The cost of living here is cheaper - I wanted to go to school full time and new I'd be living on part-time wages. I finally graduted in Dec w/my degree in Economics. I'm almost 43. I have depleted my entire life savings, haven't contributed anything toward retirement in almost 2 years, and have accrued hefty school loan debt.

I had no idea 3 years ago when I returned to school that the economy was going to be what it is today. If I had a crystal ball could see this, I still would've made the decision to get out of this God-forsaken industry and go back to school. If you hate what you do, the money doesn't matter, and you know what? The money ain't that great; it's mediocre.

OC Legal Student in Orange, California said: Please advise. I am about to complete my ABA-approved associate's degree in paralegal studies and would like to know if I should pursue a non-ABA bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or do I need to stay on the ABA path?

I am cutting and pasting a link that a paralegal, also in Orange County, submitted on what it's like to work for attorneys. It's the most outstanding analysis I've seen yet:

www.indeed.com/forum/job/legal-secretary/Age-discrimination-leagal-secretary/t171173

Here's a comment from another thread, written by "Pinkfusuin" in Irvine:

"I appreciate all that have shared their experiences. My sister was warning me (she works at a university) that many of the students that completed the paralegal studies program were VERY unhappy when they began working as paralegals. At first I dismissed her. Now I believe it."

OC Legal Student in Orange, California said: Please advise. I am about to complete my ABA-approved associate's degree in paralegal studies and would like to know if I should pursue a non-ABA bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or do I need to stay on the ABA path?

Oops - sorry - I should tell you that the Orange County Paralegal who submitted the analysis at the link above is "Mezosub." You will need to scroll down closer to the bottom to see it.

Only get a BS in paralegal studies if you want to go to law school. Otherwise choose a different field, like accounting.

You don't need a BS in paralegal to get into law school. I plan on going to law school with a BS in poly sci

Long story short is that law schools admit students with all sorts of undergrad degrees. Choose an undergrad program that appeals to you, that you are interested in. I chose Sociology and Social Work because I was very attracted to the idea of learning how to help socially disadvantaged people and families. Although I work in biglaw now, my earlier aspirations were to practice as a social worker in a government agency, or a pro bono organization such as the Legal Aid Society or the Public Law Center.

Always remember that you get out of education what you put into it, which is to say that you don't need to spend a lot or go to very prestigous school to get a good learning experience. It all depends on the extra research and reading that you are willing to do above and beyond the classwork and readings that are assigned by the professors. As a long-time student, I encourage everyone to study in any way that they can, in any area or field that they have an interest in. Because it's the student's interest, not the teacher's skills, that shape the end product of lifelong learning.

I agree that you should get a Bachelor degree in a different field. Also, if you are able to, find a brick-and-mortar school that offers an online degree completion program. Arizona State Univ. and Oregon State Univ. are two examples of such schools. This way, you can maintain computer skills and no one will know that you completed the degree fully online (unless the interviewer brings it up-which is highly unlikely).

What do you think about these online schools that provides paralegal certificates?

I am a student at National Paralegal College (NPC). I am going for my Associates Degree. I could not be happier with the school I chose. The instructors are ALL attorneys, we get so much positiveness from other classmates, and instructors. I am half way through my studies, have another year to go, but NPC is a great school, I looked into other's , but I am completely satisfied. Please check them out.