Utah has long ranked among the best states for economic opportunity, which has encouraged the growth of the legal services industry and, as a result, the paralegal profession. Whether you’re interested in corporate law or litigation in Salt Lake City or Provo, chances are you’ll find ample opportunities to get your paralegal career up and running in Utah. A career in this field begins with earning the proper education and credentials, so before you hit the ground running, you’ll need to learn how to become a paralegal in Utah.
State law in Utah does not mandate training or educational requirements for paralegals. Thus, people interested in becoming paralegals can begin their careers through on-the-job training or education. While not legally required, the Utah State Bar encourages paralegals to pursue national certification as Certified Legal Assistants/Certified Paralegals (CLA/CP) through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). To qualify to take the CLA/CP, applicants must possess a combination of education and work experience. Specific requirements may be found here.
As in other states, Utah’s Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers describe lawyers’ obligations to directly supervise their nonlawyer assistants, including providing them with sufficient professional and ethical instruction. Lawyers must also accept professional responsibility for the work generated by their nonlawyer assistants.
Is There Paralegal Certification in Utah?
A combination of factors, including the increased professionalism of the paralegal profession, a competitive job market, and the possibility of obtaining national certification, has motivated increasing numbers of aspiring paralegals to choose education over on-the-job training in recent years. Paralegal studies programs are growing, offering interested students the opportunity to increase their skill level, be more competitive in the job market and being their careers with confidence.
Utah Job Statistics
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Potential paralegal students should research program choices carefully. Not all programs offer the depth and rigor that the American Bar Association (ABA) and the professional paralegal programs require for approval, and not all are offered by accredited schools. These factors can affect a paralegal’s qualifications for employment, membership in a professional organization or eligibility for national certification.
Associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are available in paralegal studies. Degree programs combine specialized coursework in paralegal studies with general education courses that broaden students’ knowledge base. Depending on the type of degree and the coursework, a degree can usually be completed in two to five years.
Another educational option for aspiring paralegals is a certificate program. These programs usually have few general education requirements and instead focus primarily on paralegal studies. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs are available for those who already have earned a bachelor’s degree in any subject and desire to specialize in paralegal studies. Other certificate programs require a high school degree and help students directly enter the paralegal field. Graduates from a certificate program are considered certificated paralegals.
National Certification
National certification, such as the NALA CLA/CP certification supported by the Utah Bar Association, is available to paralegals who meet educational, training or work experience requirements. National certification aims to set a standard for proficiency. A certified paralegal, one who has passed the national certification exam, should be able to demonstrate competence in the field and a strong skill set.
Currently the three professional organizations offer four national exams from which to select:
- The PACE offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
- The PCCE also offered by National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
- The CLA/CP offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
- The PP offered by the Association for Legal Professionals (NALS)
Paralegal Associations
As a NALA affiliate, the Utah Paralegal Association (UPA) works to support the educational and professional goals of its members, including earning CLA/CP certification. The UPA works across the state to increase the professionalism and utilization of paralegals, to collaborate with other legal associations, and to provide networking and support to its members. The UPA has five levels of membership:
- Active – Open to those who meet one of the following:
- Passed NALA’s Certified Paralegal (CP)/Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam
- Graduate of an ABA-approved paralegal program
- Graduate of an institutionally-accredited paralegal program that includes 30 semester credits of law-related courses
- Graduate of a paralegal program plus one year of in-house paralegal training
- Bachelor’s or associate’s degree in any field plus one year of in-house paralegal training
- Three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney plus one year of in-house paralegal training
- Two years of in-house paralegal training
- Associate – Open to those who are working towards becoming Active members or those working in the legal field who promote the paralegal profession
- Student – Open to any student in good standing who is enrolled in a paralegal program
- Sustaining – Open to any person, law firm, association, or legal assistant program which promotes the paralegal profession
- Honorary – Open to anyone approved by UPA who endorses the paralegal profession
Paralegals in Utah may also choose to join the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA), which has a Utah division and also members in South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. The RMPA promotes continuing legal education, networking, education and collaborative relationships with other legal organizations. RMPA is a National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) affiliate with four membership levels:
- Voting Member – Must be an employed paralegal
- Associate Member – Open to individuals who support the RMPA
- Sustaining Member – Open to firms, organizations, and businesses that support the RMPA
- Student Member – Open to students enrolled in a paralegal program
The Utah State Bar also has an active Paralegal Division, which often tackles some of the larger questions surrounding the paralegal profession including certification, specialization, and internal discipline. The Paralegal Division works to keep paralegals apprised of current issues and provides many continuing legal education opportunities. Networking and pro bono work are also offered by the Paralegal Division.
The Bar offers the optional credential Licensed Paralegal Practitioner. Licensed Paralegal Practitioners will be able to work with a certain degree of independence in the following areas:
- Family law such as temporary separation, divorce, paternity, cohabitant abuse, civil stalking, custody, support, and name changes
- Residential eviction
- Debt collection
Law Firms
Many paralegals begin their careers in large law firms, which are top employers of paralegals. Large law firm in Utah include:
- Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP
- Bendinger, Crockett, Peterson, Greenwood & Casey
- Berman Tomsic & Savage
- Burbidge & Mitchell
- Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Durham Jones & Pinegar, A Professional Corporation
- Fabian & Clendenin
- Holland & Hart LLP
- Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
- Janove Baar Associates
- Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough PC
- Kirton & McConkie
- Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar
- Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless
- Parsons Behle & Latimer PC
- Ray Quinney & Nebeker PC
- Snell & Wilmer LLP
- Stoel Rives LLP
- Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Important Contacts for Paralegals
- Utah Paralegal Association (UPA), formerly the Legal Assistants Association of Utah (LAAU), affiliated with NALA
- Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA), affiliated with NFPA
- Utah State Bar – Paralegal Division
- Utah State Bar
- Utah Secretary of State
- Utah State Courts
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.