Bryant & Stratton College Online's Paralegal Studies Programs Meet Growing Demand for Paralegals
Paralegal gains "hot job" status from accelerated growth and budget-conscious law firms

BUFFALO, NY, April 28, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In the wake of the recession, with billable hours down and cost-cutting measures up, law offices and legal departments nationwide are turning to paralegals to perform work that was once the responsibility of attorneys. From helping draft contracts, mortgages and pleadings, to helping prepare written reports, legal arguments and motions, the need for paralegals has increased and demand for their services is only expected to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to increase 28 percent through 2018 and opportunities are going to be greatest for paralegals with formal training and experience.

To help prospective paralegals gain the combination of education and experience they need to succeed, Bryant & Stratton College Online offers an online Paralegal Studies Associate's Degree program and a recently launched online Certificate in Paralegal Studies. Bryant & Stratton College offers accredited career education and was founded in New York in 1854.

"The new online Certificate in Paralegal Studies offers students an opportunity to obtain the specialized skills and training employers require, so that they can qualify for entry-level positions and quickly gain experience," said Scott Traylor, Director of Admissions for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. "The certificate program is an excellent option for students who have no formal training and want to enter the industry, or for anyone with a degree in another field interested in transitioning into a paralegal career."

For students who successfully complete the online Certificate in Paralegal Studies and would like to continue their education, Bryant & Stratton College Online will allow them to articulate course credits from the Bryant & Stratton online certificate program toward the corresponding online associate's degree. The online Paralegal Studies Associate's Degree offers a comprehensive curriculum and combines practical, career education with liberal arts courses, ensuring graduates have both specialized career training and critical thinking, English and computer science skills. Additionally, the associate's degree program includes either an internship or a capstone course, so students can demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities to prospective employers upon graduation.

"Our associate's degree in paralegal studies is a good choice for students interested in a long-term career as a paralegal, since a degree often translates into a higher salary, more responsibilities and greater potential for advancement," continued Traylor. "Also, the fact that students can pursue an internship as part of their program is an added bonus because they can graduate with the skills and training they need, as well as experience."

"During my internship I was able to directly connect what I learned in my degree program with the work I was doing and the law firm where I was an intern offered me a job after just a few weeks," said Carrie Reilly, 2008 graduate of Bryant & Stratton College Online's Paralegal Studies Associate's Degree program. "I'm confident that my degree has prepared me to handle any task I'm assigned and employers feel the same. I was recently hired by another firm to a position with more responsibility."

These two programs can help prospective paralegals get the education and experience they need to be competitive in the job market. For students concerned about fitting their coursework around family or work obligations, accredited online education is often the best fit. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations endorses distance education as a viable alternative to classroom-based instruction.

"As a married mother of two, I wouldn't have been able to work full-time, care for my family and go to college if my degree program hadn't been online," continued Reilly. "The Bryant & Stratton program was a good fit for my schedule, and even though I wasn't in a classroom, I was still able to build relationships with my teachers and make friends with the other students."

Enrollments are currently being accepted for classes beginning May 5 and June 23, 2010. For more information about the online certificate and associate's degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online, visit www.bryantstratton.edu/online.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is one of the nation's pioneers in career education and is the premier provider of online associate's degrees. Bryant & Stratton offers accredited education that upgrades student capabilities and maximizes their marketability. For over 150 years, Bryant & Stratton College has helped students gain the career skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Currently, Bryant & Stratton College Online offers three online bachelor's degree programs, ten online associate's degree programs and ten online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Bryant & Stratton College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Bryant & Stratton College also offers flexible scheduling at its 17 campuses located in four states: New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees, visit http://bryantstratton.edu/online/.

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Lindsey Mikal
Communications Strategy Group
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(303) 433-7020 or (937) 408-9321

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Lindsey Mikal
Bryant & Stratton College Online
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