The body of knowledge required to effectively perform legal support services can only come from a formal education in paralegal studies. As attorneys, corporations and government agencies work within an increasingly complex legal framework, the level of responsibility they expect paralegals to be able to take on has also increased. Law offices and other employers in New Mexico have come to rely on paralegals with the kind of expertise that can only come from earning a certificate or degree in paralegal studies.
A paralegal certificate or degree program is the first step to entering or advancing in the profession. You may be ready to enter the field after years of working as a legal secretary, or maybe you’re a high school graduate with visions of entering the profession and working you way up to one of Albuquerque’s largest law firms. Or perhaps you’ve been in the profession for a number of years and are ready to specialize in criminal law, contract law, or even healthcare law.
Whatever your ambitions, finding the right paralegal program is critical to your success.
Thanks to the meteoric growth of the paralegal profession in the last decade, paralegal programs of every variety are widely available—including plenty of online options. This makes getting the education you need easier than ever. But often times, the sheer number of programs makes narrowing down your options a tricky endeavor in itself.
No need to fret! We’ve taken the overwhelming number of options and narrowed them down to only our favorites, so you can browse the top paralegal programs and find one that best meets your career and personal goals. All the schools we recommend have achieved regional or national accreditation.
Central New Mexico Community College
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies – Campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate (post-associate) – Campus
Clovis Community College
AAS in Legal Assistant Studies – Online
Certificate of Completion in Legal Assistant Studies – Online
Navajo Technical University
Legal Assistant Certificate – Campus
New Mexico State University-Alamogordo
AAS in Paralegal Studies – Online
Legal Assistant Certificate – Online
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
AAS in Paralegal Studies – Campus
Santa Fe Community College
AAS in Paralegal Studies – Campus
Paralegal Studies Certificate – Campus
Legal Secretary Certificate – Campus
Law Office Administrative Assistant Certificate – Campus
University of New Mexico
Paralegal Certificate –Hybrid