Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) turns 39 years old today!

On February 23, 1987, Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) started its first live classes with 16 morning students and 10 evening students. These were the first 26 students, with thousands to follow.

Today, CALS confers more paralegal certificates and paralegal degrees than any other accredited program in Texas and ranks second in the nation in the number of accredited credentials conferred. ¹

CALS’ objective is to be recognized as a national leader in paralegal education, not only in the number of students served or credentials awarded, but also in the scope and quality of its programs. CALS’ commitment to continuous improvement has marked the institution’s growth and evolution since its inception. Most recently, CALS earned ACCSC accreditation in 2020 and began offering its Bachelor of Law and Business degree in 2024. In 2025, CALS was recognized as an ACCSC School of Excellence. Earlier this year, CALS’s programs once again became approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Below is an updated list of important milestones that first appeared in CALS’ 37th Anniversary announcement.

Important Milestones

• Paralegal Certificate – The college opened in 1987 as a branch of Career Institute, San Antonio. Two years later, it became free-standing and changed its name, based on suggestions from current students, to Center for Advanced Legal Studies.
• Associate of Applied Science Degree Program – CALS sought approval and began offering the Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) program in 1994. This more comprehensive program enabled students to earn their first college degree and specialize in a broader range of practice areas.
• Financial Aid – Financial assistance has always been available for those who qualify; however, many students choose to limit their debt by paying for their education while attending.
• Institutional Accreditation – CALS was initially licensed to operate by the Texas Education Agency and was accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions Division of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1987. Between 1989 and 1995, CALS was approved as an independent institution, authorized by the Texas Higher Education Board, approved to train Veterans, and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. In 2020, CALS earned accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Accreditation is an external quality review process used by higher education to scrutinize colleges, universities, and educational programs for quality assurance and improvement. Only accredited institutions can participate in federal student loan programs.
• Blended/Hybrid Evening Classes – In 2006, CALS was approved to offer blended/hybrid evening classes. This enabled students to attend class one evening per week on campus and complete the balance of their studies online. Students preferred the blended format and enjoyed a better work/life balance. For the next three years, this delivery method proved successful, enabling CALS and its faculty and staff to gain experience in distance education.
• Online Interactive Instruction ™ – In 2009, CALS was approved to offer courses via 100% online delivery. This allowed CALS to serve a larger number of students, including out-of-area individuals and local students who preferred the convenience of online classes. By 2013, CALS was offering complete paralegal certificate and degree programs online.
• Bachelor of Arts in Law and Business – This innovative program launched in January 2024. It is intended primarily for graduates of paralegal programs at CALS and other accredited institutions and is designed to help paralegals enhance and advance their legal careers and to better qualify for opportunities in the commercial and business sectors.
• ABA-Approval – Center for Advanced Legal Studies was ABA-Approved from 1998 through 2012, when it became necessary to request voluntary withdrawal from ABA-Approval in order to offer its paralegal programs 100% online. It was a very difficult decision at the time. In 2020, the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals revised its definition of synchronous learning activities to include live, online, classroom technologies such as Blackboard Collaborate and Class for Teams. By lengthening the Paralegal Certificate from 24 semester credit hours to 30, all CALS programs once again aligned with ABA guidelines, paving a path to reapproval. Earlier this year, CALS became ABA-Approved once again and couldn’t be happier for its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Over the past 39 years, CALS has been in three different locations, conferred some 8,000 credentials, developed innovative online programs, earned new accreditation, added its first bachelor’s degree, and become ABA-Approved. A lot was learned along the way. Some lessons came easily, and others were quite challenging. All the while, CALS has delivered on the goals, values, and principles it started with in 1987.

¹ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2023-24. Retrieved on February 14, 2026.