Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:
According to data provided by the Legal Services Corporation, in 2012, legal aid services in the state of Minnesota closed 19,246 cases. A total of 32 paralegals helped make up the workforce of the legal aid services in Minnesota that year, and they served 50,789 Minnesotans. This is just one of the many areas of legal service in which paralegals in Minnesota may work, and perhaps the most rewarding area. Becoming a paralegal in Minnesota means that you, too, can realize the challenges and rewards of this exciting career.
Paralegal education in Minnesota is not required under the law, but, without it, you will have a difficult time performing the duties of a paralegal.
Minnesota Paralegal Online and Campus Schools
Featured Programs:
Arizona State University Online - Earn Your Master of Legal Studies in as little as one year.
Regent University - Online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
Liberty University - Online Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies
Purdue University Global - Online Bachelor's in Legal Support and Services - Paralegal Concentration
Rasmussen College - Online Paralegal Associate Degree and Post-Degree Certificate Programs
Liberty University - Online Juris Master – American Legal Studies
Washington University School of Law, Top-20 law school by U.S. News & World Report - 1-Year Online Master of Legal Studies, Bachelor's Required
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law - Online Master of Legal Studies Program, Bachelor's Required
American University - Online Master of Legal Studies- No GRE/ LSAT Req'd, Five Concentrations Available, Bachelor's Required
Programs for paralegals in Minnesota may be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), or by no organization. Accreditation does not matter per se, as paralegal education is not mandated under Minnesota law. Students who choose accredited programs may do so with later career advancement or certification in mind.
Minnesota paralegal programs accredited by both the ABA and AAfPE are:
Minnesota paralegal programs accredited solely by the AAfPE include:
Your paralegal program in Minnesota may offer you the opportunity, or the requirement, to complete a paralegal work internship. This internship will provide you with invaluable experience in the field. If your school does not have such an offering, you may wish to pursue volunteer or paid work experience in the paralegal field on your own. Organizations to contact about this include:
Paralegal certification is Minnesota is wholly optional and a personal choice. Although paralegals in Minnesota need not become nationally certified, some choose to do so to further their careers. If you decide to pursue certification, the Minnesota Paralegal Association recommends the following certifications for Minnesota paralegals:
Paralegals in Minnesota may find work with law groups and agencies, government agencies, nonprofit agencies, and companies/businesses. Potential employers of paralegals in Minnesota include (but are not limited to):
You have made it! Your years of education and hard work have been rewarded, and you now have a career as a paralegal in Minnesota! The following organizations of paralegals and legal professionals in Minnesota offer members opportunities for networking and continuing education:
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