10 Free Online Paralegal Courses & Certificates in 2025

If you want to become a paralegal but don't know if you can afford the training costs, there are cost-effective options available. Various programs can help you earn skills to work as a paralegal.

While some academic programs may charge you several thousand dollars for a certification, there are several free online paralegal courses that might help you along the way to gainful employment at reputable law firms. These courses are not automatic tickets to a new job, but they can make your resume much stronger for little or no cost.

Are There Any Free Online Paralegal Courses?

Paralegals, also known as legal assistants, fulfill administrative support services for lawyers but do not practice law themselves. Their training also does not require years of law school. You can become a paralegal by completing a paralegal certification, but this is not a mandatory academic credential and does not guarantee employment.

There are several free online certification programs for paralegals, which do a terrific job of boosting your resume, especially if you have other administrative experience or a background in criminal justice, intellectual property, or other areas of the legal system. So, the right mixture of job experience, along with a free paralegal certification, could increase your chances of employment in various law offices.

How Can I Get My Paralegal Certification With a Free Course?

The paralegal course itself may not cost anything, but there is often a fee for receiving the corresponding certification. ExpertRating, for example, offers a free online course but charges $99.99 for the certification once you finish. Many other certification vendors have similar fees for their paralegal certificate programs.

Free Online Paralegal Courses and Certificates

Here are 10 supplementary paralegal courses that go great along with the best online ABA-approved paralegal programs. This includes a description of the program along, with any applicable certification costs.

1. National Association of Legal Assistants - Estate Bankruptcy

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers several free continuing education courses, which are effective for professional development and a great way to boost your resume. One such course, ''Chapter 7 Trustees and the Property of the Estate'' grants one credit hour of education, delving into the most important aspects of bankruptcy and the rights of estate inheritors. This course costs $23 for non-members but is free to any NALA member.

2. Alison - Introduction to Tort Law

Alison.com hosts free legal coursework on various topics, including the concept of tort law. This topic focuses on civil cases, especially those that involve victim compensation. The course receives accreditation from Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and takes only about two to three hours to complete.

3. Academic Earth - Environmental Law and Policy

Academic Earth offers three legal courses, featuring in-demand subfields of law, such as environmental law and copyright law. The free course on environmental law and policy has 25 course modules, which are each about one hour, covering specific topics such as environmental common law, legal issues regarding natural resources, and air pollution control.

4. ExpertRating - The Paralegal Certification

ExpertRating is a private firm that offers a comprehensive paralegal certification. The coursework is free, but once you complete everything, you must submit a $99.99 fee to qualify for certification.

To prepare for this course, you'll need internet access, an email account, and a web browser. Most new learners take between two and four weeks to complete each course module, with about one to two hours of studying. You can retake the course exam three times, but each retake costs $20 extra.

5. Coursera - GenAI for Paralegals: Streamlining Legal Drafting

Coursera offers a free legal certificate, which you can share on your LinkedIn profile through its unique free training opportunity. This program has a simple, one-module format where students learn how to do legal writing and research with artificial intelligence (AI). This could be a helpful resume component as the paralegal profession continues to experience further automation.

6. Udemy - Legal Research & Legal Writing: A Paralegal Skills Course

Udemy offers free access for members to enroll in a legal research and writing course for paralegals. This course covers the basic and intermediate elements of drafting and researching for legal assistants, paralegals, and even law students.

7. Duke University - FinTech Law and Policy

This 100% online program from Duke University is open to anyone in diverse career fields, but may be a solid credential for paralegals who want to work for a financial tech law firm. This convenient six-week course gets into important regulatory topics regarding cryptocurrencies, online lending, and even banking regulations.

8. Vanderbilt University - Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

Vanderbilt University offers a criminal justice online course powered by Coursera. The university's faculty helps you explore major issues in the field, including mass incarceration, crime prevention, and more. This is a terrific alternative for aspiring paralegal professionals who do not wish to pursue a full-time degree in criminal justice before entering this field.

9. Case Western Reserve University - Introduction to International Criminal Law

Paralegals can also find gainful employment in international criminal law, which is why it may be worthwhile to try Case Western Reserve University's 12-hour course on the topic. This online class has a 98% approval rating among past participants and covers various international criminal cases.

10. University of Michigan - Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order

Since paralegals do lots of writing, it never hurts to take a writing course taught at one of America's top universities. The University of Michigan teaches this course, featuring a career certificate you can post to your resume or LinkedIn profile before applying for paralegal positions.

What Free Online Paralegal Courses Cover

Paralegal courses introduce students to all the fundamentals of law and legal documentation, preparing them for an entry-level paralegal career. Many courses, however, are topic-specific and will focus on certain areas of law. This includes family law, business law, tort law, constitutional law, civil litigation, contract law, criminal law, property law, and so forth.

FAQs About Free Online Paralegal Courses

Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding free online law courses with certificates and other important concerns. These address how long it will take to complete a free online paralegal course.

Are There Any 8-Week Paralegal Certificates?

Yes, there are many program lengths and formats for paralegal studies, including self-paced paralegal certificates, which beginners can take at their own pace. The program duration for training paralegals and legal secretaries can take anywhere from six weeks to two years, depending on whether you pursue coursework full-time or part-time.

What Is the Quickest Way To Become a Paralegal?

The quickest way to become a paralegal is to earn a paralegal certificate and try to obtain entry-level employment. Of course, it also helps to have earned at least an associate degree or bachelor's degree to help your resume, and most law offices prefer to hire legal secretaries with experience in the legal field.

Can I Be a Paralegal Online?

Yes, it is possible to hold employment as a paralegal while completing job tasks online from a remote location. Today, most paralegal work involves electronic documentation, which you can process and manage digitally from anywhere, rather than commuting to a law office for work.

Is an Online Paralegal Certificate Worth It?

There are many positive testimonials from students who recommend pursuing these credentials in legal studies. While there is no guarantee of immediate employment upon completion, it is possible to combine your certification with other resume highlights to demonstrate your initiative and eagerness to serve as a qualified legal professional.

Explore Online Certificate Courses

Learn.org can show you the fastest way to enroll in online courses in every academic field. This includes law school, online bachelor's degrees, healthcare certifications, and other programs for continuing education.