A Popular Career Pathway for Incarcerated Individuals

Introduction

Benefits of inmate education have been well reported and include a reduction in the rate of an individual returning to prison (recidivism); a decrease in disciplinary actions needed while still incarcerated; an improved mental outlook, self-esteem, and confidence for the individual; increased employment opportunities post-release; and an improved prison atmosphere, switching from the mundane and routine environment. But what available options are there for a career pathway for incarcerated individuals?

Consider the Career Pathway for Incarcerated Individuals of Becoming a Paralegal

A potential career pathway for incarcerated individuals is becoming a paralegal. Paralegals can work in various settings, including law firms, corporations, banks, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Another reason to consider the paralegal field as a strong career pathway for incarcerated individuals is the projected job outlook and salaries. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, although the projected growth may be slower than the average for other occupations, it is estimated that there will be 37,000 job openings for paralegals each year until at least 2033. In addition, paralegals are typically well paid with the median salary for a paralegal being approximately $60,970 annually as of 2023.

There are also opportunities to focus on specific fields like healthcare law, real estate law, corporate law, contract law, and intellectual property law.

What Do Paralegals Do?

Paralegals support lawyers or legal professionals in:

Drafting legal documents such as contracts, pleadings, motions, and affidavits, among others
Providing research on laws and regulations related to a specific case
Assisting with trial preparation
Filing legal documents, exhibits, and appeals with the applicable agency, counsel, or court
Interacting with clients, witnesses, and other professionals, at the direction of the lawyer, to schedule depositions or meetings regarding cases

Blackstone Career Institute’s Paralegal Certificate Program

Training to become a paralegal is a great career pathway for incarcerated individuals to consider. Blackstone Career Institute (BCI) offers a correspondence Paralegal certificate program for incarcerated individuals at a reasonable cost, and sponsorship is an option. BCI is a distance education school accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. The correspondence Paralegal certificate program provides the 900 clock hours needed to take the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

BCI’s Paralegal certificate program provides program materials including the Modern American Law Series (a 14-volume set), Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law, and Writing to Win: The Legal Writer (a graduation gift). The average time to complete the coursework for the program is 12-14 months, but students can finish in as little as four months. If students extend beyond two years, a 6-month program extension will be needed, which can be purchased for $95.

Low-cost, no-interest payment plans for tuition are available. Or, full payment can be made before beginning coursework. Information regarding sponsoring an incarcerated individual for BCI’s Paralegal Certificate program is available for interested friends or loved ones.

Eligibility Requirements and Enrollment

A high school diploma or GED/high school equivalent is required, with valid physical or electronic documentation received by BCI within 60 days of enrollment.
BCI’s Enrollment Agreement for admission to the correspondence Paralegal certificate program has to be completed, and a down payment needs to be submitted at the time of enrollment.
After BCI receives the required agreement and payment, a welcome letter will be sent to the accepted applicant with information on how to begin their program along with the first shipment.
Students may qualify for earned time. BCI recommends the incarcerated individual consult with the Education Director at their facility for eligibility and the policies that apply in each state.

Additional Information to Know About BCI’s Paralegal Certificate Program

If an individual decides to pursue paralegal education during incarceration, there are a few important items to consider. In BCI’s correspondence Paralegal certificate program for incarcerated individuals, a voucher for the CP® Exam and exam preparation materials are not included. A Legal Assistant/Paralegal certificate is awarded upon graduation.

Please know that individuals cannot test for the NALA CP® certification exam until all parole obligations have been satisfied, among other requirements. However, CP® certification is an optional credential that is not required to work in the paralegal field.

Success is Waiting

Jails to Jobs reports, “At any given time, more than 1,200 incarcerated students are participating in the Institute’s Correspondence Paralegal Program for Inmates.”

Gaining paralegal education is a great option to consider and a popular career pathway for incarcerated individuals. Inmates can make good use of their time now, which can help them succeed and gain benefits when they’re back out in the world.

Perhaps the greatest potential benefit of the paralegal career pathway for incarcerated individuals is captured in a quote from a former inmate who participated in BCI’s Paralegal certificate program and is now employed working with a law firm handling criminal cases:

“I’m able to connect with the client in a way that the attorney can’t. I’ve been there and done that,” Harris says. “When clients are in custody and I meet their families and I say I’ve been there, they say, “No you haven’t.” But when he finally convinces them that he has, they know he really understands their situation.

Written by Jo Gambosi