Associate Degree
Legal Studies
Online Associate Degree Program
CLASSES START
Jan 6th
20 Mo. Program Length | 62 Credits |
Online Format | $515 Cost Per Credit |
Associate Degree
Legal Studies
Online Associate Degree Program
Take online classes and step towards becoming a paralegal
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Up to 46 approved credits |
| Certification | Prep for the Certified Paralegal Examination (NALA) |
| Pathways | If you choose, continue your study in advanced legal topics/pre-law (BS in Legal Studies) |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Associate of Science in Legal Studies - Online
The Associate of Science/Applied Science in Legal Studies degree is a 62-credit undergraduate program which prepares you to begin your legal career as a legal assistant/paralegal.
The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in legal writing, legal research, ethics and professionalism, contract law, torts, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start January 6th
Learn More Today
Paralegal program classes & curriculum details
In this program, you will learn about different types of law as well as gain the skills needed to conduct legal research and prepare legal documents.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the Certified Legal Assisting and Certified Paralegal exams through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). You will be ready for a professional role in any area of law.
All classes are delivered online with a capstone or internship (if available in your state).
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Legal Studies | 20 | 62 |
Required Courses
All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Open Elective Courses
A minimum of 6.00 semester credit hours is required. Students may take any accounting (AC), business management (BU), information systems (IS), or paralegal (PL) course. At least 3.00 semester credit hours must be paralegal (PL) courses.
General Education Requirements
Students enrolled in this associate degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Personal and Professional Development Courses
2.00 semester credit hours are required.
An alternative: Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
Designed to provide students with a more advanced understanding of law, this program also incorporates a selection of core business courses to provide a solid background in management and administration. Graduates are prepared for careers in legal assistance, legal administration, business and management training. This degree is also ideal for those wishing to continue on to law school. Learn more about our online legal studies bachelor's degree program.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the paralegal program is $515 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Requirements
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Legal Studies associate degree program include:
- Prior education requirement. Completion of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Entrance testing. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in college-level courses via prior ACT/SAT scores, completion of prior college credit, or additional entrance testing.
- Availability of time, personal commitment, and a professional attitude. We exist to help enthusiastic students fully committed to reaching their highest career goals. Our faculty and leadership are dedicated to helping you reach them.
You will need to meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor and complete an enrollment application to be admitted into the program.
If you have any additional questions regarding admissions into the program, please contact our admissions team.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeDegree Options
Choose your path to begin a career in law:
Associate degree
- Program length: 20 months
- Credits required: 62 credit hours
- Degree: Associate or Associate of Applied Science in Legal Studies
Earn the education you need to become a paralegal fast – and get started in your new career.
Bachelor's degree
- Program length: 36 months
- Credits required: 125 credit hours
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
Earn a 3-year bachelor’s degree in legal studies to build a strong understanding of the law.
Careers
What can I do with a paralegal degree?
Paralegals work in all sorts of different environments and may specialize in many different categories of law. Law firms of all specialties require clerical work, research, dictation and other administrative tasks needed to keep things running smoothly.
Paralegals may work in many different capacities:
- Private sector
- Public sector: government & military
- Freelance / contract
By earning your associate degree online and getting certified, you’ll be qualified for many different types of legal assisting roles and can determine what works best for you.
Getting certified helps your resume stand out
Upon graduating with an associate or bachelor’s degree, you will be eligible to take the Certified Paralegal Examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
Graduate with a degree, pass the exam and you will be a Certified Paralegal (CP).
Herzing’s goal is your success in work. Getting certified may give you an edge in the hiring process and help you earn your dream job.
Do I need to be certified?
The rules vary by state. Certification is not a legal prerequisite to work as a paralegal in every state. However, we encourage you to get certified. The Herzing online legal studies program curriculum includes a class dedicated to NALA certification exam prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our associate degree program takes an average of 20 months to complete; the bachelor’s degree program, 36 months. After earning your degree, you will be eligible to take the Certified Paralegal Examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
A career in legal assisting might be right for you if you exhibit these desirable qualities:
- Are comfortable in a highly structured environment
- Are precise and pay attention to details
- Enjoy research
- Have excellent written and oral communications skills
- Have strong computer skills
- Wish to continually expand your capabilities
- Work well alone or as part of a team
- Handle on-the-job pressure
- Are inquisitive and like to find answers to questions
- Bilingual capability not required—but can be valuable
Educational requirements to become a paralegal vary by state and employer. Given the broad scope of potential roles in legal assisting, different jobs require different levels of education.
Types of paralegal programs to choose from:
- Certificate / diploma programs*. Basic certificate programs (sometimes called a “diploma”) are designed to provide minimum training & education. Some are designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
- Degree program. Associate & bachelor’s degree programs help you become highly qualified for an entry-level paralegal job and often provide a strong foundation to grow into other careers in law.
* Herzing University does not offer a certificate program.
It’s important to understand the difference between the two types of “certificate” programs. A basic certificate/diploma program will typically offer a fast track to getting started as a paralegal, but they will fall short of the comprehensiveness of a degree or post-baccalaureate certificate program.
Which should I choose?
That depends on your prior education and career goals. For students without a degree interested in becoming a paralegal, our associate and bachelor’s degree programs are a perfect starting point.
Paralegals assist lawyers with the creation of legal documents and conduct research on laws, court cases and contracts—but duties will vary depending on the employer. Those entering the field with little or no prior experience will typically perform routine clerical tasks, taking on the additional responsibility of more varied tasks after gaining the appropriate experience.
The duties of a legal assistant/paralegal include assisting the lawyer with research, brief preparation, and other legal office administration, but do not include practicing law, advising clients, or setting fees since paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
Paralegals can work in-house with a law firm in the private sector, in the public sector with a government agency, or in a freelance/contract role. Discover more about what paralegals are and what they do.
Yes! Legal assisting is not only an excellent job if you’ve got the right skillset—but it can also act as a springboard into many different types of careers in law as you get more experience and further your education.
Your first step is getting educated. Our goal is to help you take the first step, discover your true capabilities and thrive in your new career.
Paralegals may work in many different environments with unique specialties in law, including:
- Personal injury
- Family law / divorce
- Business law
- Criminal law
- Government & military: Air Force, Army, etc.
- Bankruptcy
- Real estate
- Civil litigation
- Immigration
- Intellectual property (IP)
- Estate planning / probate
…among many others. With enough experience in your specialty you may regard yourself as an “Immigration Paralegal,” “Litigation Paralegal,” “Corporate Paralegal,” etc.
These titles are sometimes used interchangeably, but the general difference between legal assistants vs. paralegals breaks down like this:
- Legal assistants (alternatively named administrative assistant, legal secretary) handle a broad variety of office tasks, including scheduling, data entry, answering phones or other clerical duties.
- Paralegals often handle more technical legal tasks, including preparing documentation or performing research, and often requires more experience in law.
However, duties vary widely by firm and there are certainly employees titled “Legal Assistant” who perform paralegal duties—and vice-versa.
Herzing’s legal studies degree programs prepare you to thrive no matter the title!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals earn an average salary of $66,460 per year ($31.95 per hour).* Keep in mind this is not an estimate for starting pay in an entry-level position—average pay will vary based on your experience, level of education and the state in which you work. Find the average paralegal salary by state.
The BLS reports a positive outlook for jobs over the next ten years, projecting a 4% increase in employment for paralegals and legal assistants from 2022-2032.*
Yes. Herzing University offers online associate and bachelor’s degree options for students seeking requisite education to earn their first entry-level job as a paralegal / legal assistant.
Related Blog Posts
Accreditation
Accreditation & Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.