Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:
According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor, the annual mean wage as of May 2012 in Ohio for paralegals and legal assistants is $44,530. Paralegals earning in Ohio’s 75th percentile average $54,320; while paralegals in Ohio’s 90th percentile average $60,780. If you would like to discover how to become a paralegal in Ohio, this article should prove quite helpful.
Education is important to becoming a paralegal in Ohio. Paralegal schools will give you the tools, knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as a paralegal in Ohio.
Ohio Paralegal Online and Campus Schools
Featured Programs:
Purdue University Global - Online Bachelor's in Legal Support and Services - Paralegal Concentration
Regent University - Online Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
Arizona State University Online - Earn Your Master of Legal Studies in as little as one year.
Washington University School of Law, Top-20 law school - 1-Year Online Master of Legal Studies, No GRE/LSAT required.
Post University - Online Associate and Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
Rasmussen University - Online Paralegal Associate Degree and Post-Degree Certificate Programs
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
Ohio has not set forth any requirements for education for paralegals in Ohio, although the Ohio State Bar Association recommends post-secondary education and requires it if you plan to seek certification through them (see Step 3 below). Paralegal programs may be American Bar Association (ABA) approved or not. Some students choose an ABA-approved program thinking it might be easier to become employed as a graduate of an ABA-approved program, while others do not give credence to ABA approval status.
Currently, these paralegal programs in Ohio hold ABA approval:
Your legal assisting or paralegal studies program in Ohio should afford you the opportunity to gain some paralegal work experience while still a student. If it does not, consider pursuing such experience on your own, possibly through legal aid or voluntary associations to help Ohioans with low to no income who need legal assistance. Organizations in Ohio include:
Certification is not required for Ohio paralegals, but some choose to become certified to set themselves apart from the rest of the applicants for Ohio paralegal jobs. The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) offers a voluntary paralegal certification program for interested paralegals. In order to qualify to take the OSBA certification exam, you must meet the following criteria:
If you meet the above qualifications and apply to take the certification exam, it will cover the following areas:
If you pass the exam, you may call yourself an OSBA Certified Paralegal. Certification periods are four years, and you must show that you have completed 12 CLE hours every two years of your certification period.
Paralegal jobs should be available across the state of Ohio, if you know where to look. Law offices, corporations, businesses, industries and more hire paralegals in Ohio. Potential employers include:
Congratulations! You are now a qualified paralegal working in Ohio! Your next step should be joining one of the many statewide or regional paralegal associations in Ohio, such as:
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