Pennsylvania Paralegal Schools

There are many choices for prospective students who are considering Pennsylvania paralegal schools for their course of study. These institutions are receiving increased attention as the career field expands to handle a rapidly growing need for qualified paralegals across every legal sector, including corporate law, family law, criminal law and tax law.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Community College of Philadelphia: One of the many professional degrees offered by the Community College of Philadelphia is an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies. This program is approved by the American Bar Association and is a minimum of 60 credit hours. The curriculum at the Community College of Philadelphia centers greatly on technology use in the paralegal profession with classes like Legal Technology. An advantage for paralegal students at this institution is the law library that exceeds American Bar Association standards.

Pennsylvania College of Technology: The School of Business and Computer Technologies at the Pennsylvania College of Technology has three American Bar Association approved Paralegal Studies programs: a Bachelor of Science, an Associate of Applied Science, and a Nurse/Health Care Paralegal Studies Certificate. The BSS is a 128 credit hour program while the AAS and Certificate are 62 hours and 21 hours respectively. Introduction to Paralegal Studies is a core course for all students, but Certificate students have a curriculum that is concentrated with civil law and risk management related courses. Both the BS and AAS are designated as a “Natural Gas Major” by the Pennsylvania College of Technology due to the industry’s growing need for legal professionals.

How to Become a Paralegal in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania paralegal market is fast-paced and competitive, but anyone who is interested in the career field can achieve success. Most paralegals begin their career by choosing a paralegal school that will provide the education they need to excel.

A paralegal school may offer classroom study, online coursework or a combination. It is helpful to do research into what program fits best, considering tuition costs, expenses, scheduling and other personal commitments.

The level of experience required will be determined by the employer in most cases, so it is important to find out what kinds of expectations must be met to qualify for employment. Some may require certification, past experience, online study or attendance at a program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Paralegal Schools in Pennsylvania

The ABA maintains guidelines that some in-class program may meet and thereby become approved by the organization. This approval is not a certification, however, and is not required to be a paralegal unless the employer requires it.

Prospective students interested in ABA-approved paralegal degree programs may find them at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Community College of Philadelphia, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport and 10 other locations across the state.

Students who face scheduling conflicts, are hampered by transportation issues or have concerns with additional costs associated with attending on-campus classes may opt to take one of many online courses available. Programs may be found at UMassOnline, Boston University and Penn Foster College.

Pennsylvania Paralegal Certification

The Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Professionals offers certification to its members who wish to become Pennsylvania Certified Paralegals (Pa.C.P.). Applicants must be currently employed as a paralegal as defined by the organization and provide proof of a combination of qualified education and experience, as well as continuing legal education. Education requirements can range from a certificate from a paralegal program to a bachelor’s in paralegal studies depending on years of paralegal experience. An applicant with seven (7) years of substantive paralegal experience may have the educational requirement waived, and other grandfathering rules may apply. The Committee for Paralegal Certification also recognizes many other certifications when evaluating qualifications, including those from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) or the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Applicants must pay a $50 application fee, and no exam is administered.

Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Pennsylvania

Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton LLP is one of Pennsylvania’s largest law firms. The firm believes it can make contributions not only in legal practice but also in civic and charitable works, and encourages its staff to adopt the same viewpoint. MacDonald Illig looks for high quality candidates for all areas of its practice, including paralegals, and invites interested applicants to submit a resume. Located in Center Valley within the Lehigh Valley, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. is a full service law firm representing clients of all types and sizes. The firm encourages its employees to discuss cases in the pursuit of finding solutions for clients, and is always accepting inquiries. Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC is one of the largest law firms in New England, and has two offices in Pennsylvania. This firm places special value on the contributions of paralegals to its practice.

Pennsylvania Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook

Pennsylvania has an incredible paralegal market that serves more than 30 major areas, and all are seeing significant growth. The state offers large markets where firms are prominent, like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and smaller markets where private offices are common, like in Bethlehem or Scranton.

The average salary in Pennsylvania ranges from about $44,000 in the town of Sharon, to as high as $68,000 in Valley Forge and Philadelphia.

Online and Pennsylvania Paralegal Schools

Page Edited by Charles Sipe.