Georgia Paralegal Schools

Whether you have a degree or not, Georgia paralegal schools have tailor-made options to ensure students get the skills and training they need to perform important work for law firms or corporate legal and finance departments. Earning a paralegal degree can lead to a good rate of pay, with the median salary for paralegals in Georgia averaging about $50,000.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Herzing University, Atlanta: Herzing University in Atlanta has two American Bar Association approved programs for paralegal students, an Associate of Science in Legal Assisting/Paralegal and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. The AS is 63 credit hours while the BS is 126 hours, both taking 20 and 36 months to complete respectively. All students are required to complete introductory legal courses such as Introduction to Legal Assisting and Legal Research, and must earn three credit hours through an internship. Graduates from Herzing University Atlanta are eligible for four different legal assisting/paralegal certification opportunities.

South University, Savannah: South University has five locations where students can pursue an American Bar Association approved Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, one of which is in Savannah, Georgia. The Savannah campus is the only program that offers ABA approved online courses, which is useful for students wanting to dedicate their day time hours to an internship or a full time job. Students enrolled partially online are required to complete Legal Research and Writing I as well as three electives in the face-to-face mode of instruction. This 92 hour associate degree most often takes students two to three years to finish, with online courses offering them the chance to shorten the time to graduation.

How to Become a Paralegal in Georgia

The metropolitan area of Atlanta has the fifth highest amount of paralegals in the United States, while the state of Georgia is reported to have over six thousand paralegals employed within the state. There are no particular rules as far as the educational level of an individual wishing to practice as a paralegal but the standard law applies that a paralegal must work under the direct supervision of a lawyer. However, the Georgia Association of Paralegals does recommend that at new paralegal have either an A.A. in Paralegal Studies, a B.A. in Paralegal Studies or a B.A. in any concentration with a paralegal certificate from an accredited institution or approved program.

The median salary for a paralegal in the state of Georgia is $49,587.00.

Types of Paralegal Programs in Georgia

Paralegal studies applicants have the option of a number of schools, both those with campus locations and those offering online coursework. Either way, they’ll start with general education requirements if you don’t already have an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree, with courses focusing on economics, literature and rhetoric. These classes provide the foundation for more focused paralegal studies courses like legal research and legal writing.

Curriculum of Paralegal Schools in Georgia

At Georgia paralegal schools, students are taught that they cannot practice the law on their own, unless they complete a juris doctor degree. Still, classes focus on much the same topics, including family and real estate law, as well as criminal procedures and civil litigation. Some programs also offer electives that help those who may become law office managers, such as accounting and business organization courses.

Paralegal Schools in Georgia

Students who want flexibility may want to consider Herzing University’s Atlanta Campus or South University’s Savannah Campus. Both offer associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies, and while both have campus options, they also offer their courses online. South University notably requires a mandatory internship to help students learn on-the-job skills to augment classwork.

Other Georgia paralegal schools include Athens Technical College and Gainesville State College, with Gainesville State also offering a certificate program for those looking to focus on becoming a paralegal after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Clayton State University also offers programs for students looking to become a paralegal in Georgia with AAS, bachelor’s degree and certificate programs; the campus is located in Morrow.

Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Georgia

Stites & Harbison PLLC is a prestigious firm that does business across the Southeast. The firm traces its foundation back to 1832, and its attorneys and staff are nationally recognized as being among the top lawyers in their fields. Stites & Harbison continually seeks out accomplished paralegals to join its firm. Oliver Maner LLP has over 100 years of history, and is committed to professional, ethical service. Based in Savannah, Oliver Maner is now one of the largest law firms in Southeast Georgia. Its attorneys have been recognized by such publications as Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Atlanta Magazine’s Super Lawyer. Jones, Cork & Miller, LLP is a forward looking law firm that continually adapts to meet client needs. It recognizes the contribution of paralegals to its practice and rewards its paralegal staff with an excellent benefits package.

Online and Georgia Paralegal Schools

Page Edited by Charles Sipe.