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Paralegal Studies

FAQ

Is this Program Approved for "Qualification" by the NC State Bar?

Yes, the classroom-based program was recently approved for qualification. Our current students will be eligible to take the voluntary state exam to be offered beginning in 2007. Information regarding this exam, qualifications for eligibility etc. can be found in detail at http://www.nccertifiedparalegal.gov/.

Will graduates be able to sit for the NFPA Pace exam and the NALA CLA exam?

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offer (for a price) voluntary examinations. No state requires that a paralegal take these exams, and the majority of paralegals have chosen not to take either exam. NALA offers the CLA Examination, and NFPA offers the PACE Examination. If a student has a Bachelor's degree in any field and graduates from the Duke University Paralegal Program, that student qualifies to sit for the CLA and/or PACE examinations. Please note that the above organizations frequently alter their exams' requirements. Contact each association for the most current requirements to sit for those examinations.

Why a Certificate Program?

We understand that students have many choices in paralegal education. That is one of the strengths of the profession. The form of program a student takes usually depends on several factors, including:

• Prior Educational Experience - Students who already possess a college degree are not likely to attend a two or four year paralegal program.
• Prior Life Experience - Many paralegal certificate students have valuable real-world experience, but lack qualifications to be competitive for job opportunities.
• Motivation - Students who take certificate programs must be motivated, since they are expected to gain knowledge and skills in a relatively short period of time.
• Compensation - Graduates of certificate programs are best compensated.

Why are certificate program graduates paid more?

Attorneys are interested in paralegals who can perform specific law related tasks efficiently and accurately. They want, and are willing to pay for, paralegals who possess skills that make them and their firm more productive. As a general rule, attorneys don't care about the geometry, psychology, and other general study courses an employee has taken. They care about whether the employee can maintain a client file, draft legal documents, and perform other relevant tasks. Paralegal Certificate programs offer training in the specific skills attorneys are looking for in their paralegal employees.

Does the Duke Paralegal Program provide job placement assistance?

Job placement is not provided by the Duke Paralegal program. Job search skills such as interviewing and resume preparation will be addressed during the program, but a formal placement service is not a component of this program. Students are responsible for researching and obtaining desired positions through their own efforts.

Why does the Classroom-based program require an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree for admission and the Online Global program does not?

The difference in admission requirements between the Duke classroom-based and the online-based program is due to the recent NC Bar Association paralegal program qualification process and is not indicative of one program being superior to another. NC paralegal certificate programs approved by the NC Bar Association, such as Duke's classroom-based program, must adhere to the guidelines set by the NC Bar: to only admit candidates with either an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree. Graduates of Duke's approved classroom-based program will be eligible to sit for the voluntary NC paralegal exam to be offered starting July 2007 as they will have met the required educational component (Note: there are also experience requirements to be met). NC based online paralegal programs are not eligible for program qualification approval by the NC Bar Association. Regardless of the fact that both paralegal programs offered at Duke(classroom-based and online) offer the same curriculum - online students will not be eligible to take the NC voluntary state paralegal exam in adherence to the guidelines established by the NC Bar Association in its approval of programs. However, due to the fact that the majority of Duke's online paralegal students reside and will work outside of North Carolina the criteria set by the NC Bar Association and eligibility for the NC exam will not apply to these students. Thus, this is the reason the enrollment criteria established for the Duke online paralegal program is not the same as the criteria for the Duke classroom-based program. North Carolina residents that choose to enroll in the Duke online program will be notified prior to enrollment that they will not be eligible for the voluntary NC paralegal exam in accordance with the NC Bar Association program approval criteria. Further information on the NC Program qualification process, the voluntary state exam and its implications for paralegal students who reside in North Carolina can be found at http://www.nccertifiedparalegal.gov/.

Can I apply for federal funding or FAFSA?

No. The Duke Paralegal Certificate Program is non-credit and therefore NOT eligible for federal education loans. Please do not submit FAFSA forms for this program.