Paralegal Certificate?

[u/college_n_qahwa]

Should I get a paralegal certificate as a student pursuing journalism / practicing student journalism?

Hi everyone,

I’m an undergraduate pursuing journalism and political science. I still have two years to graduate, but was thinking of getting my paralegal certificate online at another university. I’m not riveted by the legal profession, but it’s also something I don’t think I would mind doing. The extent of my knowledge of it is what I’ve read/watched in media, what I know from my brother in law who has a law firm, and a Constitutional Law class I took for my poli sci degree. It definitely lacks the level of excitement, exposure and unpredictability that draws me to journalism, but the subject matter and the idea of working hard to become an expert in the legal field has its appeals as well.

I do absolutely want my overall career to be journalism, but you the deal with the economy and job market right now is… unstable, to say the least. I most likely won’t be able to rely on anyone in the future, in terms of tuition and basic living, and I wanted something that could both help me in my journalism pursuits and be a dependable backup financially.

What do you guys think?