Criminal Justice Degree Schools » Paralegal Schools » Texas Paralegal Schools

Texas Paralegal Schools

Texas paralegal schools afford aspiring applicants the ability to get on the fast track to a career that is growing quickly, in spite of the recent economic downturn. While law firms struggle to keep attorneys, the workload is increasingly borne by paralegals in Texas. With a number of two-, four-year and even certificate programs for those who have already had some coursework after high school, Texas paralegal schools offer a number of focused paralegal degree options for students looking to enter a growing field.

Becoming a Paralegal in Texas

Coursework varies depending on the program sought by those looking to become a paralegal in Texas, but generally includes classes on American government, interviewing clients, corporate law in addition to an introduction on the intersection of law and ethics. Additional coursework focuses on specific aspects of legal practice, including intellectual property law and real estate. Many Texas paralegal aspirants focusing on a two-year associate’s degree or four-year program also gain experience via internships.

Paralegal Quote: “One of the best supervising attorneys I ever worked with told me not to make excuses when I made a mistake, because he didn’t want to hear them. Instead, he wanted me acknowledge my mistake, learn from it, and then work on fixing it. Most paralegals are Type A personalities, and we’re devastated when something goes wrong, especially when it’s our fault. But it will happen (more than once) during even the most successful career. What’s most important is that you and your supervising attorney work together to come up with a plan to address mistakes right away – and then take steps to make sure the same mistake doesn’t happen again.” -Lynne J. DeVenny, author of the blog Practical Paralegalism and co-host of the podcast The Paralegal Voice.

Some American Bar Association-certified paralegal schools in Texas include Kaplan College in Dallas, El Centro College, and Lamar State College in Port Arthur. Kaplan College offers online programs for paralegal certificates and an A.A.S in Paralegal Studies, as does South College.

Texas Paralegal Certification

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization was established by the Supreme Court of Texas and provides certification to both attorneys and paralegals in specific areas of the law. To earn a Texas paralegal certification, applicants must pass an examination, and have five (5) years of experience as a paralegal (three in Texas), currently work for a licensed attorney doing business in Texas, have at least 50% of duties focused in one of six legal specialties and attend continuing legal education. In addition, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher, be a graduate of an ABA-approved paralegal program, or be certified and in good standing with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). If so qualified, applicants must then submit a $50 application fee and a $100 exam fee.

Texas Paralegal Job Outlook

Law firms may be cutting down on the number of attorneys, but because paralegals can do much of the same work at a lower rate, becoming a paralegal in Texas can open up a variety of doors. In addition to law firms, working as a paralegal in Texas may include helping corporate finance departments in contract language, working with local, county or state governments or a number of other opportunities.

Texas Paralegal Salary

Pay varies in large part on the employer as well as level of experience, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the lowest paid paralegals still make more than $29,000 a year to start, with the average annual salary closer to $50,000 per year.

Online and Texas Paralegal Schools

Everest University Online
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

Paralegal (Associate's)
Paralegal (Bachelor's)
Criminal Justice (Associate's)

Keiser University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

Paralegal Studies, AA (Online)
Criminal Justice, AA (Online)

Kaplan University
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

BS in Paralegal Studies
AAS in Paralegal Studies
MS in Legal Studies - Education and the Legal System

Everest College
Campuses: 1Fort Worth
Popular Degrees:

Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice

Brown Mackie College
Campuses: 1San Antonio
Popular Degrees:

Associate of Science in Paralegal
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice

Penn Foster Schools
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

Paralegal
Legal Secretary
Administrative Assistant

Stratford Career Institute
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Administrative/Secretarial

University of Phoenix
Campuses: 1Houston
Popular Degrees:

BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Institutional Healthcare
BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Management
BS in Criminal Justice Administration - Human Services

Strayer University
Campuses: 1Plano
Popular Degrees:

BBA: Legal Studies
BSCJ: Criminal Justice Admin

Ashworth College
Campuses: 1Online
Popular Degrees:

Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies
Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

Featured Paralegal School in TX

Texas A & M University-Commerce (Commerce, TX) >>Request Information!
web.tamu-commerce.edu
(888) 868-2862

Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal
Bachelor of Science | Paralegal

Paralegal Schools in Texas

Amarillo College (Amarillo, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Arlington Career Institute (Grand Prairie, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Paralegal

Austin Community College District (Austin, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Center for Advanced Legal Studies (Houston, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal
Certificate | Paralegal

Central Texas College (Killeen, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Collin College (Plano, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Certificate | Paralegal

Del Mar College (Corpus Christi, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

El Paso Community College (El Paso, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Everest College (Arlington, TX / Dallas, TX / Fort Worth, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies

Iverson Business School (Arlington, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies

Kaplan College (San Antonio, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal

Lamar State College-Port Arthur (Port Arthur, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies

Lee College (Baytown, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

McLennan Community College (Waco, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Navarro College (Corsicana, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies (online)

San Jacinto College (Pasadena, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies

South Plains College (Levelland, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

South Texas College (McAllen, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

South Texas Vocational Technical Institute (McAllen, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Tarrant County College (Fort Worth, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Texas State University-San Marcos (San Marcos, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Certificate | Paralegal

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (Brownsville, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal Studies

Tyler Junior College (Tyler, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Virginia College (Austin, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal Studies

Westwood College (Dallas, TX / Fort Worth, TX / Houston, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate Degree | Paralegal Studies

Wharton County Junior College (Wharton, TX)
Paralegal Degrees Offered:
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies