Others accept high school graduates or persons with legal experience. A few schools require standardized tests and personal interviews. Most paralegal programs are completed in 2 years, although some take as long as 4 years and award a bachelor's degree upon completion. Other programs take only a few months to complete, but require a bachelor's degree for admission. Programs typically include a combination of general courses on subjects such as the law and legal research techniques, and courses that cover specialized areas of the law, such as real estate, estate planning and probate, litigation, family law, contracts, and criminal law.
Many employers prefer applicants with training in a specialized area of the law.
Programs also increasingly include courses that introduce students to the legal applications of computers. Many paralegal training programs include an internship in which students gain practical experience by working for several months in a law office, corporate legal department, or government agency. Experience gained in internships is an asset when seeking a job after graduation. Depending on the program, graduates may receive a certificate, an associate degree, or, in some cases, a bachelor's degree. Prospective students should examine the experiences of recent graduates of programs in which they are considering enrolling.