I didnt get a certificate. I was promoted after I was a legal secretary for the same attorney for 7 years. I became his paralegal and he hired a new secretary. I then changed firms after 2 years for more $$. If you are thinking of whether getting a paralegal certificate is worth it, go for it because I know lots of people who have done that and ended up being placed right away. You'll definitely make more $$ than a legal secretary and the work is more interesting in my opinion.