What is an ABA-Approved Paralegal Program?

The ABA is an abbreviation of the American Bar Association. This is an association comprised of attorneys who are licensed to practice in any of the 50 United States, or its territories and possessions. Membership in this organization is strictly voluntary. The ABA is dedicated to providing quality education to the paralegals, who work alongside attorneys. For this reason, the organization has developed its own paralegal program.

An ABA-approved paralegal program is usually taught at an accredited college or university. The program is generally under the direction of an attorney who is licensed to practice in the state in which the school operates. This attorney must be in good standing with the bar association of that particular state.

All courses taught in an ABA-approved paralegal program are, likewise, taught by licensed lawyers in good standing with the state's bar. These attorneys should also be concurrently practicing law in a private firm or working for a government agency. It is preferred that these professionals teach courses related to their specialty, or area of practice. For example, a bankruptcy attorney may teach classes in bankruptcy law.

A few basic courses that are taught in an ABA-approved paralegal program are commonly an introduction to paralegalism, legal research, legal writing, and civil litigation. The paralegalism class usually discusses basic legal terminology and how the law works. Legal research and writing classes typically focus on finding information in a law library and preparing legal documents. Civil litigation courses teach prospective paralegals the basics of how a case flows through the court system.

Other courses that may be taught in an ABA-approved paralegal program focus on laws governing real estate, bankruptcy, worker's compensation, family issues, and criminal offenses. Some program electives may include environmental, international, or immigration law classes. All courses typically provide practical exercises, such as preparing case briefs — a task students will do as part of their paralegal work in a law office.

The American Bar Association prefers that courses be taught in a traditional classroom setting rather than through distance learning. This is because it allows students to better interact with instructors, who are subject-matter experts in their fields. It will also encourage academic honesty, and ethics are a very important aspect of law for paralegals as well as attorneys.

An ABA-approved paralegal program may be two or four years in length. At the end of her studies, a student should be prepared to work in a legal environment. Duties generally include preparing cases for trial, conducting legal research, and gathering evidence. A diploma that is accredited by the American Bar Association can go a long way toward securing such employment.