Paralegal Certificate Program
Build practical legal-support skills through a 13-week, instructor-guided online program designed for law firms, government agencies, corporations, and nonprofit legal environments.
Prepare for professional legal-support work
This career-focused program introduces the procedures, terminology, research, writing, ethics, and office practices used by paralegals and legal assistants. You will learn through structured coursework, instructor guidance, practical documents, and certification-readiness activities.
What you will be prepared to do
- Use legal terminology and understand jurisdiction, venue, and core procedures.
- Research legal questions and prepare organized written legal communications.
- Support pleadings, discovery, notices, motions, filing, and case preparation.
- Apply professional ethics, confidentiality, accuracy, and law-office standards.
- Prepare for the NALS legal-support professional certification pathway.
See the learning experience
Professional instruction, applied legal work, and focused preparation for real legal-support environments.
Instructor-guided learning
Work through legal documents, research, writing, and professional scenarios with structured guidance.
Career-focused preparation
Develop the accuracy, judgment, organization, and technology skills expected in legal-support work.
Paralegal Program Curriculum
A structured progression from legal foundations to applied practice and credential readiness.
Legal Foundations
Legal terminology, court systems, jurisdiction, venue, civil procedure, professional roles, and ethics.
Research & Writing
Legal research methods, case and statutory sources, citation, memoranda, correspondence, and clear professional writing.
Litigation Support
Pleadings, motions, discovery, notices, document preparation, filing procedures, and practical case support.
Law Office Practice
Workflow, client and case information, confidentiality, accuracy, technology, deadlines, and certification preparation.
2026 NALS credential update
Effective January 1, 2026, NALS transitioned the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) credential to the Certified Legal Support Professional (LSP) designation. Current ALP holders may continue using ALP; new and renewed credentials use LSP.
Where these skills can be applied
Begin your paralegal pathway
Individual students may enroll and pay securely online. Federal agencies, employers, and groups can request invoicing, purchase-order support, or cohort enrollment.
Frequently asked questions
When can I begin?
The program uses open enrollment, so students may begin after registration and course access are confirmed.
How long does the program take?
The planned instructional pathway is 13 weeks. Students receive up to six months of course access.
Are textbooks included?
Yes. Required textbooks are included in the listed tuition.
Does this course award the NALS LSP credential?
No. ADRA awards a Certificate of Completion and provides certification readiness. The separate NALS examination, eligibility decision, and exam fee are administered by NALS.
Program details, schedules, and third-party certification requirements may be updated. Confirm current requirements before enrollment.
