UPDATE
Introducing: Penn Foster’s Paralegal Career Diploma Program
While Ashworth College is no longer accepting enrollments in our Paralegal Studies Career Diploma Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
Take the first steps toward a legal career with Penn Foster’s Paralegal Career Diploma Program.
LEARN MORETake the Next Steps Towards a Career You Want
Penn Foster’s online Paralegal Career Diploma Program can help you prepare to take the first steps toward the job you want. With flexible, online courses, you can learn skills and knowledge on your schedule, from home.
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you launch, accelerate, and thrive in their careers for more than 130 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits their busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. The program you choose is structured to fit your learning needs so you can achieve your goals, and is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career preparation for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a pathway towards your career goals.
Enroll at any time and complete your program on your schedule.
Use traditional and technology-based tools to research and prepare cases for court.
Our flexible payment plans allow you to earn a career diploma without breaking the bank!
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Paralegal Career Diploma Program
- How to understand the litigation process for both criminal and civil litigation, including discovery, depositions, interrogatories, laws of evidence, venue, important hearsay exceptions, and rights of the accused.
- How to recognize ethical violations and understand ethical rules that regulate conduct of lawyers and paralegals.
- How to write an effective legal memorandum, including how to state and characterize facts and legal arguments to best advance a legal position.
- How to research primary and secondary sources to determine relevant case law, find statutes and other information from appropriate sources using Lexis.com and other Internet sources, and correctly cite sources.
Penn Foster’s Online Paralegal Program Curriculum
In our Paralegal Career Diploma Program, you’ll gain the fundamental skills you’ll need to prepare for an early career in the legal field. Your online courses include:
- Legal Terminology
- Business Law Basics
- Litigation Basics
- Legal Research and Writing
Online Paralegal Diploma FAQs
There are a few qualities that successful paralegals share. These include strong communication, organization, and research skills. Many of these skills can be learned through in-depth training like the online Paralegal training program from Penn Foster. In this program, you'll learn how to conduct legal research, write effectively, and build your legal knowledge on your schedule, from home.
There are many entry-level job opportunities in the legal field. After earning your paralegal diploma online, you can take the first step towards jobs like paralegal, legal transcriptionist, legal secretary, or legal assistant. While not all jobs in this field require certification, many graduates may choose to pursue industry-recognized credentials to boost their resume and affirm their knowledge. Depending on where you live, you may also be required to complete further education or training to qualify for these jobs.
Paralegals need to have a specific educational background in order to begin a career in the field. Most paralegals pursue associates degrees, which many law firms and legal organizations require for employment. However, an online diploma program like our Paralegal courses may help students get their foot in the door in legal departments or law firms. This program will train you to assist lawyers and corporations in doing research and legal paperwork. You can be employed by law firms, banks, credit offices, or different government agencies.
Under the supervision of lawyers, paralegals provide assistance to attorneys, company legal departments, law offices, or even occasionally judges. They're responsible for drafting documents, from memos to case briefs, handle vital legal research, schedule appointments for depositions and interviews, and other administrative tasks as needed.
Please review your state board requirements that are applicable to your field of study. State boards may impose a variety of different requirements. Penn Foster has determined that the curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following state: California.