Alabama Paralegal Schools

There are many reputable Alabama paralegal schools available for individuals interested in pursuing a career in legal administration. The percentage of available paralegal jobs is increasing across several legal disciplines in both the civil and criminal justice arenas.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Auburn University – Montgomery: The Department of Justice and Public Safety at Auburn University at Montgomery has a Paralegal Certificate Program that has been approved by the American Bar Association. This 60 hour course of study requires students to complete 41 hours of core college courses with the remainder being dedicated to Legal Specialty courses such as Civil Litigation, Legal Research and Computer Applications in Law. The Paralegal Student Association, Lambda Epsilon Chi, is sponsored by the American Association for Paralegal Education and provides students with extensive professional networks. The Department of Justice and Public Safety is also effective at placing paralegal students with valuable internships within local attorney offices.

South University: An Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies is offered through South University’s Legal and Criminal Justice Division. This American Bar Association approved program typically takes 24 months to complete and students are matched with law firms and legal offices prior to graduation. Students enroll in specialized courses and learn the fundamentals of a paralegal career such as legal document preparation and client interviewing. Out of 92 credits hours, 40 are dedicated to general education requirements while the rest consist of business and legal courses.

How to Become a Paralegal in Alabama

Paralegals are not lawfully required to be certified in any way to perform their duties as a paralegal in Alabama, but most attorneys and law firms require that their paralegals attain a formal education.

Alabama has several different legal markets, and location and demand will determine what level of education paralegals require. Many successful Alabama paralegals will have completed either a two-year or four-year paralegal degree in a campus or online program.

Paralegal Schools in Alabama

The ABA is responsible for regulating practitioners in the legal field to ensure that educational and ethical standards are being met. ABA-approved paralegal programs in Alabama can be found at Auburn University, the Community College of the Air Force, Faulkner University and South University in Montgomery. Other on-campus offerings can be found at Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, and Stamford University in Birmingham. These Alabama paralegal schools offer a range of options, from shorter certification programs to Masters-level classes in the paralegal field.

If taking classes on campus is not an option, online paralegal degree programs are available. Online paralegal degree programs include the Paralegal Certificate program at Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in paralegal studies at Virginia College.

Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Alabama

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings was recently named the top law firm in Alabama for public finance by Thomson Reuters. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings is growing at a rapid clip. With this growth comes the need for support staff, including paralegal graduates, for its offices. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings looks for individuals from diverse backgrounds and offers its employees the benefit of its commitment to work life balance. Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. is one of the largest law firms in Alabama, with offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery, and has been placed on Fortune Magazine’s list of Top Ranked Law Firms. Maynard Cooper is also regularly recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work, and offers its support staff many of the same benefits as its attorneys in a competitive recruitment package. Burr & Forman LLP is a large firm with a long history, having served clients for over 100 years. It offers its paralegal and litigation support staff tuition reimbursement and training opportunities, among other benefits.

Alabama Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook

The average projected salary for an Alabama paralegal based on current jobs postings ranges from $25,729 to $32,718. Generally speaking, paralegal salaries are based largely on the location of the work and the level of experience attained by the paralegal.

Paralegal jobs are growing in all sectors due to the fact that more firms are moving to save money by relying on the expertise of paralegals over attorneys. On-campus and online paralegal class offerings will help prospective paralegals prepare to take advantage of these opportunities.

Online and Alabama Paralegal Schools

 

Last Edited by Charles Sipe on July 12, 2012