Legal & Paralegal

USF Integrates Traditional Paralegal Skills with Cutting-Edge AI Skills

With the University of South Florida's Paralegal Certificate program, you can start (or advance) a rewarding, lucrative career in the legal field — and do it fast. Designed for paralegals by paralegals, attorneys and judges across the country, our hands-on program focuses on the real-world skill sets in demand by law firms, legal divisions, attorneys, corporations and government agencies.

Launch Your Legal Career with Confidence – Enroll in USF's Paralegal Certificate Course!

Ready to step into the legal field without spending years in law school? USF’s Paralegal Certificate Course offers a fast-track, high-impact education designed to equip you with real-world legal skills and prepare you for a successful career as a paralegal. Learn from practicing attorneys, gain practical insights into the U.S. legal system, and build a strong foundation in legal research, writing, ethics, and more. Whether you're starting fresh or advancing your current role, this flexible and respected program helps you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

In focus is a bronze statue of Lady Justice with shelves of law books out of focus in the background

Paralegal Certificate

Tailored for paralegals, this hands-on program, designed by legal professionals, imparts real-world skills sought by law firms, attorneys, corporations, and government agencies, providing the certification necessary for career advancement.

Discover the USF Paralegal Certificate Program in Under 10 minutes

Welcome to the USF Paralegal Certificate!

What is a Paralegal?

Curriculum and What to Expect

Meet Your Instructors: Judges

Go Beyond the Basics to Get an Edge with a Paralegal Specialty Certificate in a Segment of the Law You're Most Passionate About

In today’s ultra-competitive labor market, you need skills that will help you stand out amongst the crowd,and USF’s Paralegal Specialty Certificates provide you with the opportunity to concentrate on the high-demand segments of the law that you’re most passionate about.

USF’s convenient, self-paced paralegal specialty programs can help you advance your legal career in only a matter of months!

Successful participants in the paralegal specialty programs have achievement or experience in at least one of the following:

Completed their Paralegal Certificate
A degree in Paralegal Studies
Substantive experience (at least four years) as a Paralegal

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Bankruptcy Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

Examine the paralegal role at every stage of a bankruptcy proceeding, and learn a practical introduction to the code and rules. The course covers everything you need to become a competent bankruptcy paralegal in all areas of bankruptcy.

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Elder Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

Essential Elder Law topics are explored relative to America’s growing elderly population such as advance directives, guardianship and conservatorship issues, Medicaid and Medicare planning, long-term care planning, financial planning, end-of-life, discrimination and other family matters are studied.

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Embracing AI for Legal Professionals

The Embracing AI for Legal Professionals Program is a 24-contact hour course of study designed to train students in the basic aspects of artificial intelligence, as well as a deep- dive into the practical tools paralegals and other legal professionals are likely to experience while working in a law firm.

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Employment Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

Explore the history of employment law, labor and unions, ADA, sexual harassment, discrimination, age discrimination, and employees' rights. Introduction to Labor and Employment Law examines the historical development of labor and employment law in America alongside the nature of the employment relationship.

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Healthcare Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

This course provides essential information necessary for students pursuing careers in the growing health care sector, as paralegals, managers, or compliance/ethics professionals.

Application for immigration, social security card, residence card, and a gavel

Immigration Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

This course offers a thorough, practical and accessible approach in the understanding and application of U.S. laws and regulations to help protect refugees, bring needed workers to the U.S, prevent separation of and reunite families, and provide relief to foreign nationals facing removal proceedings.

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Intellectual Property Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

This course provides a thorough guide to the four fields of intellectual property law: trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets, covering topics such as the duration of rights, protection from infringement, and new and international developments in each field.

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Law Office Administration Paralegal Specialty Certificate

This course is a comprehensive introduction to law office management emphasizing ethics, law office culture, law office systems, and soft skills such as communications and critical thinking.

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Litigation Paralegal Specialty Certificate

You will be introduced to a substantive view of Evidence Law. This course combines content with relevant cases, allowing students to learn and analyze the legal reasoning and court decision-making process behind the laws.

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Personal Injury Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

This course provides an accessible overview of tort law for paralegals who work on personal injury matters. Real life scenarios and clear examples demonstrate how abstract tort law pertains to real life accidents and injuries.

A contract agreement, set of keys, small model house, gavel, and scales of justice arranged on a table

Real Estate Law Paralegal Specialty Certificate

Offering consistent coverage of both substantive and procedural law, this course delves into the legal theories and terminology, explaining why real estate law is a world onto itself, while also introducing students to increasingly more complex real estate concepts and transactions.

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LSAT Preparation

Enhance basic reading, logic, and analysis skills with USF's LSAT prep course, offering 30 hours of live online instruction. Led by experienced professionals, it provides proven techniques to simplify the LSAT and improve progress tracking through practice tests.

Note: This is a standalone exam prep course and is NOT one of the paralegal specialty courses described above.