Which degree would be better and more valuable?

Which is a better-a degree or applicable knowledge?

• Ok, I'm 30 and just started back to school for a BS in Criminal Justice. I would like to be a legal assistant or a paralegal. I haven't worked in about 4yrs since I had my oldest and don't expect to work for another 2.5yrs until my youngest starts school. I'm not good on computers. I can do the basic stuff but when it comes to Microsoft Office and other programs, other than writing a paper, I have no idea. So I got to thinking how useful will a BS degree be if I can't work on computers. I do have work experience, insurance and prior military but I didn't have to use Office programs with those. I already have my AA in general studies. So my question is would it be better to continue my BS degree or would it be better to get another AA degree in Office work, etc or just get certificates. I'm afraid that if I spend the next 2yr getting my BS degree it will do me no good if I can't work the office programs. Only serious answers please. thank you

• Answer:

  If a "Dummies" book gets it for you, great. If you prefer video tutorials, sign up for a month at http://www.lynda.com/Office-training-tutorials/263-0.html - no affiliation, I've just used the service with good results. Alternately, you can use my other method for learning programs - wade in and make mistakes ;-) Don't go much beyond Word, Excel, and PowerPoint though, as many law firms have specialized software which will be outside the the scope of conventional Office products. Beyond that, talk to law firms, governmental agencies, or major corporations in your area (anyone likely to have a legal department) to find out what their hiring practices are - do they require a Bachelors degree from an American Bar Association approved institute, or will an eight month paralegal certificate obtained online suffice? Are there any areas of specialization that are especially marketable in your area - immigration, bankruptcy, or environmental law (or some other)? And so on. Find out if they offer internships; you'll need some experience to flesh out your resume. Improve your visibility by offering to do some work at the direction of staff attorneys who have been assigned pro-bono work. Network; make yourself known, so when it's time to apply for a job, you'll already be a known quantity. Good luck with it.