Delivery
Online
Paralegal, Professional Certificate
Program Overview
Earn Your Paralegal Certification in Just 25 Weeks
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s paralegal certificate online program is for individuals pursuing a second career, recent college graduates and working professionals who want to enter the legal field. Working paralegals who want to obtain a North Carolina State Bar–qualified paralegal certificate from an accredited university are also good fits for our program.
Our paralegal certificate online program is topical, intensive, intellectually rigorous and fits the needs of the Charlotte legal and business communities. We designed it to equip you with the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to embark on your legal career with professionalism and acumen.
The online paralegal program is taught entirely in real time in a virtual environment via Zoom and takes approximately 25 weeks to complete. It combines 186 hours of real-time instruction with an additional 73 hours of structured instructional activities that are designed to be completed through other methods outside of class.
Program Contact
Enrollment Team
School of Professional Studies
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North Carolina State Bar
UNC Charlotte’s online paralegal certificate in North Carolina is designated by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification as a qualified paralegal studies program—an important distinction for students pursuing North Carolina State Bar certification. Graduating from our program satisfies the educational requirements to sit for the North Carolina State Bar Paralegal Certification Exam and become an NC Certified Paralegal.
Our curriculum is intentionally aligned with the North Carolina State Bar Certification Exam and incorporates the textbooks used on the exam, providing focused preparation on tested material. This strategic alignment, combined with instruction from experienced attorneys, judges and practicing legal professionals, positions graduates for exam success and long-term career advancement. Our most recent cohort achieved an 80% passage rate on the NC Certified Paralegal exam.
For additional information about certification requirements, visit the North Carolina State Bar Paralegal Certification and the North Carolina Paralegal Association websites.
What Our Alumni Say
“Having professors that were practicing attorneys, paralegals and judges really gave me a well-rounded paralegal education. I appreciate that the program was just six months long and provided material in many practice areas. The paralegal program challenged me to strive for excellence professionally and helped me think critically. I felt prepared to re-enter the law field after having been an independent contractor working from home for a New York law firm. Once I completed the UNC Charlotte paralegal program, I received an offer to join a law firm in a commercial real estate practice group in Charlotte.”
Gail Nathan, ’17, Corporate LPA, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
Course Details
In the first part of the certificate, students will receive comprehensive training in Core Paralegal Skills:
- American Jurisprudence
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Legal Technology
- Administrative Law
- Litigation
- Legal Ethics
- The Paralegal Profession
Likewise, the last weeks of the certificate provide intensive, focused training in the General Practice, which will provide an overview of Criminal Law, Family Law, Wills, Trusts & Estates, Commercial Law, and Real Property.
This certificate is offered live online with a course schedule of Tuesday/Thursday from 6 – 9:30 PM, as well as 3 Saturdays 9 AM – 12 PM.
Admissions
An associate’s degree or college degree is required for the program. You will need to upload an unofficial or official transcript. We will not be able to award your certificate until the transcript is received. However, an unofficial transcript is acceptable. For questions, please contact ceregistration@charlotte.edu.
Proficient in English. Students are required to be proficient in their oral and written use of the English language.
Basic computer/technology skills and access to a computer outside of the classroom. View hardware, software, and connectivity requirements.
What Can You Do With Paralegal Certification?
Law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies highly seek paralegals. Generally, our alumni work locally in the Charlotte region in careers such as:
- Paralegal and legal assistants
- Recruiters and human resources specialists
- Secretaries and administrative assistants
- Compliance officers
- Project management and operations specialists
- Detectives and criminal investigators
Ties to Charlotte
The UNC Charlotte paralegal certificate program has strong ties to the Charlotte legal community. Many of our graduates find jobs in Charlotte. Similarly, our instructors also work in Charlotte and we are affiliated with Charlotte, state, and national organizations. Our paralegal certificate graduates go on to work for companies such as:
- Alston & Bird
- Amazon
- Bank of America
- Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
- Wells Fargo
- Womble Bond Dickinson
Job Outlook for Paralegals
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that certified paralegals and legal assistants earn an average of $60,970 per year, with job growth expected to continue through 2033. According to Lightcast, our Paralegal graduates tend to make $66,300 annually.
Our Paralegal Alumni Live In These Cities:
- Charlotte, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Gastonia, NC
- Huntersville, NC
- Fort Mill, SC
- Mooresville, NC
Our Paralegal Alumni List These Top Skills:
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Legal Pleadings
- Legal Discovery
- Litigation Support
- Civil Law
Why Earn Your Paralegal Certification at UNC Charlotte?
In our online paralegal program, you will learn about the legal system, legal research and writing, and a variety of legal specialties, such as civil litigation, family law and business law.
Other benefits of our program include:
- Convenience: UNC Charlotte makes it easy to fit your paralegal classes into your busy life by offering them live and 100% online, allowing you to learn without the hassle of commuting. Also, lectures are recorded for you to watch at your convenience.
- Accreditation: As stated above, the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification has designated UNC Charlotte’s paralegal certificate online program as a qualified paralegal studies program to satisfy the educational requirements for certification.
- Time to completion: It only takes six months of class time to complete your paralegal certification.
- Value: Earning your paralegal certificate online is a more cost-effective way to advance your career than earning a full bachelor’s degree. Additionally, we offer payment plans to help you pay for your classes as you take them.
- Legal writing instruction: Above all, we believe excellent writing is an essential paralegal skill. Therefore, the UNC Charlotte paralegal certificate online program has made a commitment to its students by offering additional instruction with our legal writing instructors. In these labs, students will have the opportunity to receive candid feedback and helpful insight on ways to improve their writing.
- Clear, Competency-Based Assessments: Assessments are straightforward and directly tied to real-world paralegal skills, including legal research, legal writing, litigation procedures and administrative law. Each assignment is designed to strengthen the core competencies required in law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies.
- Purpose-Built Online Learning Platform: This live, online paralegal program is delivered through a highly functional and organized learning platform designed by UNC Charlotte’s award-winning instructional designers in the Center for Teaching and Learning. The intuitive course structure allows students to focus on mastering legal concepts and practical skills.
Career-Focused Paralegal Training
Career preparation is an intentional and integrated part of the UNC Charlotte paralegal certificate program. For more than 18 years, a dedicated legal recruiter has been embedded within the curriculum, providing expert guidance on resume development, interviewing strategies and navigating the Charlotte legal job market. Students graduate with both rigorous technical legal training and the professional confidence needed to enter the workforce prepared and competitive.
The program also provides meaningful pre-law preparation for individuals considering law school. Many of our graduates have gone on to pursue legal education, strengthening their foundation in legal research, legal writing and civil procedure before beginning law school. Two courses are taught by a law professor, giving students valuable academic perspective and firsthand insight into the expectations and rigor of legal study.
If you are seeking an accredited, North Carolina State Bar–qualified paralegal certificate online, UNC Charlotte offers a comprehensive pathway to certification, career advancement and long-term success in the legal profession.
Program Cost
The registration fee for the UNC Charlotte paralegal certificate program is $5,500 or a $1,500 deposit with 7 payments throughout the program.
The estimated cost of the textbooks is $1,000-$1,350 depending on where you purchase textbooks, rent textbooks or purchase used books. (Information on the required texts for the program will be provided to registered students. Additionally, the UNC Charlotte Student Bookstore also offers the textbooks for purchase online.)
The registration fee includes a personal LexisNexis account, an important resource that you will learn to use and will help you in your career as a legal professional.