Online Schools Offering Law & Paralegal Degrees

If you are apprehensive about going back to school, you've picked a good field. Becoming a paralegal does not require much special training. You can get a two-year associate's degree in the field, or just get a professional certificate that will enhance your resume and can be completed in under six months. (Both of those links go to Penn Foster Career School, which offers fully online programs.)

In terms of what it takes to be a good student: keep up with the course requirements (i.e., don't procrastinate) and stay in contact with the professor if you are struggling. You probably have other work and family demands on your time, but try to carve out a specific time each day, maybe in the evening, to study in a quiet place. If you find the legal documents you have to read in your paralegal courses difficult to understand, and your professor isn't helpful, you may want to seek out a reading tutor, or see if the college you are studying at has a general composition course that will teach you some reading and writing strategies.

In terms of finding a job after your degree: while there are no guarantees in any profession, the Bureau of Labor Studies says that the paralegal field is growing at 18%, which is about average. In the current economic climate, more law firms are looking to save money by having paralegals take on increased responsibility and do tasks that were previously done by lawyers, which is bad for new lawyers but good for new paralegals. Keep your resume up to date, and be prepared to relocate if necessary. The Paralegal Society has a great article on finding that first paralegal job. Good luck!

California State Fullerton is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, so any institution that accepts transfer credits should accept credits from this university. Some online degree programs may not accept certain courses for credit, or may not accept transfer credits at all. That will depend on the policy of the individual school.

Unfortunately, one requirement for most U.S. based online programs is that the student needs to be a U.S. citizen. If you want to get an education from a U.S. degree program, your best bet is to apply for admittance to a physical college or university and, once accepted, apply for a student visa.

Are you referring to the University of London International Programmes? Since these can be taken online from anywhere, including France, your plan does not seem unrealistic at all.