In 2018, there were 4,890 paralegals in Minnesota, with the majority of paralegals working in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul metro area.1 Minnesota paralegal schools offer aspiring legal assistants targeted coursework to earn a paralegal degree and join a growing field that is predicted to gain job opportunities faster than average until 2026. The opportunities for career growth in the legal field and high salary compared to the education requirements involved makes becoming a paralegal in Minnesota a worthwhile effort.
How to Become a Paralegal in Minnesota
Minnesota does not have any state-level regulations for paralegals to become employed. Some law firms hire paralegals in Minnesota and train them on the job. However, Minnesota paralegal schools offer coursework that can increase employment prospects. All paralegals in the state, however, like in other states, must work under the supervision of a licensed attorney, and is prohibited from practicing law on their own.
Minnesota Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook
Coming in with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 3.2%, Minnesota can be a great place to launch a paralegal career.2 Paralegals in the state earn an average salary of $56,880 per year.1 The outlook for Minnesota paralegals also looks promising. The profession is expected to grow by 13.2% by 2026, which, though a little slower than in other states, is still relatively fast.3 With these statistics in mind, prospective paralegals choosing Minnesota as a place to start with a paralegal degree should have good prospects.
Featured Online Programs
Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.
Minnesota Paralegal Career Interviews
Lori Boris, President, Minnesota Paralegal Association
Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Minnesota
Hamline University: The Department of Legal Studies at Hamline University houses the paralegal certificate program, certified by the American Bar Association. The certificate is 32 credit hours with 16 of those credits dedicated to paralegal courses, all of which typically takes a year to complete. Those who pursue an internship must commit to 150 work hours within a law firm or other type of legal office. Students must also fulfill a portion of their elective requirements by completing both legal specialty courses and law-related courses.
Minnesota State University – Moorehead: The Paralegal Department at Minnesota State University Moorehead offers an American Bar Association approved Bachelor of Science in Paralegal. Areas of emphasis include commercial law, elder law and probate, and litigation. Students must complete 12 major core courses, including Principles of Accounting, Introduction to Paralegal, and Civil Procedure I. Paralegal majors can also earn one to twelve credit hours through an internship after completing two courses from their emphasis.
Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Minnesota
Faegre Baker Daniels is a global firm, one of the largest law firms in the US, and the largest law firm in Minnesota, with offices in Minneapolis. Faegre Baker Daniels is consistently ranked among the top law firms in the US and the UK in various practice areas, including M&A, food regulation, product liability, and many others. Its work culture is one of high performance, teamwork, and overall excellence, while its paralegal benefits are among the best available.
Moss & Barnett is one of the top law firms in the Upper Midwest and gives its clients personalized attention paired with its full-service experience. Paralegals are deeply involved in the delivery of Moss & Barnett's legal services and work closely and directly with the firm's clients.
Vogel Law Firm has Minnesota offices in Moorhead and Minneapolis, and practices primarily in commercial transactions, criminal law defense, and family law. Vogel Law Firm is regularly hiring as it expands in Minnesota and neighboring North Dakota.
Paralegal Schools and Programs in Minnesota
An asterisk indicates that one or more of the school's programs have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).Alexandria Technical College (Alexandria)Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative AssistantAssociate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative Assistant (online)Associate of Applied Science | ParalegalAssociate of Applied Science | Paralegal (online)Diploma | Legal Secretary
Anoka Technical College (Anoka)Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative AssistantAssociate of Applied Science | Judicial ReportingDiploma | Legal Administrative AssistantCertificate | Judicial Reporting: Broadcast Captioning/CARTCertificate | Judicial Reporting: Scoping/Proofreading
Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato)Bachelor of Arts | ParalegalCertificate | Paralegal
Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount)Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative AssistantDiploma | Legal Administrative Assistant
Hamline University (St. Paul)*Master of Laws | (online)Master of Laws | Conflict Resolution Concentration (online)Master of Laws | Health Care Compliance Concentration (online)Master of Laws for International LawyersPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | ParalegalPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Health LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Advocacy and Problem-SolvingPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Global Arbitration Law and PracticeCertificate | eDiscoveryMinor | Legal StudiesProgram | Pre-LawProgram | 3-3 Law School Early Admission
Inver Hills Community College (Inver Grove Heights)*Associate of Science | Legal Office AssistantAssociate of Science | ParalegalCertificate | Legal Administrative AssistantPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal
Lake Superior College (Duluth)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal StudiesAssociate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies (online)Associate of Science | Paralegal StudiesAssociate of Science | Paralegal Studies (online)Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative AssistantDiploma | Legal SecretaryCertificate | Legal SecretaryCertificate | Paralegal StudiesCertificate | Paralegal Studies (online)
Minnesota State University Moorhead (Moorhead)*Bachelor of Science | Paralegal: LitigationBachelor of Science | Paralegal: TransactionsMinor | Pre-Law
North Hennepin Community College (Brooklyn Park)*Associate of Science | ParalegalCertificate | Paralegal
Ridgewater College (Willmar)Diploma | Legal AssistantCertificate | Legal Assistant
St. Cloud Technical Community College (Saint Cloud)Associate of Applied Science | Legal Administrative Assistant
Winona State University (Winona)*Bachelor of Arts | Law and SocietyMinor | Business LawProgram | Pre-Law
*Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
Additional Resources
Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA) – Supporting paralegals in the state of Minnesota by offering ongoing education, promoting diversity, and encouraging community service.
References:1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm#ind2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment Rate for States: https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm3. Projections Central: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
