Consider your own desires. A person who wants to graduate from college with a degree in paralegal studies will spend more time and money than a person who just wants to add a paralegal certificate to their education. Take stock of your resources and decide which kind of school will work best for you.
Determine whether or not you need to go to a school that is on the American Bar Association's (ABA) approved list. While the Bar does not approve paralegals, it does have a process to recognize the best paralegal schools and programs in the country. Every law firm will accept a certification or degree from an ABA approved institution, but some firms don't consider ABA approval necessary when hiring legal assistants.
Go to the ABA website and search its directory for "ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs." You can search by state and narrow it down to find schools in your general area. Some programs offer paralegal certificates via an online course of study or through the mail, but as of 2010, none of these distance learning schools are on the Bar's approved list.
Search your state's local bar association website for referrals and recommendations regarding paralegal schools. If you are not wed to attending an ABA-approved school, you can investigate other options that are also close to home. There are many excellent programs out there that are not associated with the ABA's approved list.
Perform some Internet searches to find paralegal schools that meet your individual criteria. All reputable programs will have informative websites and offer to send you promotional material that details their programs.