It’s true you can get a 2 year or 4 year degree in paralegal. However, you can also get career training and then test for the CLA exam through NALA. Meditec.com offers a paralegal program and I know it qualifies one to take the CLA exam through NALA. Now, I’ve not personally gone through the program, but I did go through their MT, coding, and billing programs and they were awesome w/ great job placement assistance.

Your best options are either a 4 yr bachelors degree in paralegal studies or a 2 yr associates degree in paralegal studies. Since you don’t have a degree already, I’d stay away from a simple certificate program for now. How to decide between the two?

The bachelors degree might give you more flexibility down the road, (i.e. some employers might require a bachelors so you’d be able to look at the widest variety of entry level jobs). Also, if you start working as a paralegal and decide you don’t like it, many other jobs will require a bachelors, so again, more flexibility. You’re already a sophomore, so it’s likely that, depending where you transfer, many of your credits would transfer, too. I’m guessing you might be looking at just 2 years or so to complete the bachelors in paralegal studies??

The associates degree is the quickest way to get the required paralegal training (a certificate program would work if you already had a degree, but since you don’t, I’d go at least for the associates). And again, you might be able to do it even more quickly if a lot of your existing credits transfer over. A large percentage of paralegals start with an associates degree.

I’d recommend that you research both options to see how many existing credits would transfer in each scenario. If the timing is close, go for the bachelors.

As far as ABA-approved schools, the ABA maintains a list (see below) and that’s probably your best way to find those.

Good luck with your decision!