As of May 2018, about 1,820 paralegals were employed in Mississippi, with the majority working in the Jackson metro area.1 Mississippi paralegal schools have seen a greater influx of students as paralegal job opportunities are increasing as more firms look to administrative professionals to fulfill support tasks. Mississippi schools offer prospective paralegals a solid place to earn a degree or certificate and start their careers.
How to Become a Paralegal in Mississippi
Those who would like to become a paralegal in Mississippi have a variety of options. The state does not have any education or training requirements for paralegals, and paralegals must work under the supervision of an attorney. However, it is strongly recommended that prospective paralegals earn a paralegal degree; while it is possible to be hired at a law firm and learn the trade on the job, trends demonstrate that employers prefer to hire candidates who have a formal paralegal education.
Paralegal Quote:
Mississippi Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook
Paralegals in Mississippi made an average annual salary of $44,300 as of 2018, with a higher average annual wage of $47,980 reported in the Jackson metro area.1 Considering that the state has a lower cost of living than the US average, these average salaries can go much further than in other states. The outlook for paralegals in the state is positive. Through 2026 Mississippi paralegal jobs are expected to grow by 7%.2 These statistics are encouraging for individuals considering becoming a paralegal in the state of Mississippi.
Featured Online Programs
Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.
Mississippi Paralegal Career Interviews
Rachel Nesbit, Vice President, Mississippi Paralegal Association
Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Mississippi
Mississippi University for Women: The College of Business and Legal Studies at the Mississippi University for Women has a Bachelor of Arts in paralegal studies and a Bachelor of Science in paralegal studies. Both courses of study are approved by the American Bar Association and consist of 124 credit hours. All students are required to complete lower-level major courses such as Introduction to the Legal Profession, Legal Bibliography and Research (I and II), Law Office Tech and Management, and the Legal Environment of Business. The required Practical Legal Lab is similar to an internship, in which students are assigned to a professional setting based on their specialization.
University of Southern Mississippi: The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs has an American Bar Association-approved Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies. This 124-credit hour degree dedicates 36 credit hours to major courses and 12 credit hours to learning a foreign language. Internships in the paralegal studies curriculum are elective, but many students decide to pursue internships over the summer months. Paralegal studies juniors may apply for the Frank D. Montague, Jr. Paralegal Studies Endowment.
Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Mississippi
Wise Carter Child & Caraway PA is a growing law firm that seeks to understand its clients' business goals in order to provide exceptional representation. Many clients of Wise Carter are high profile, including Ace USA, Inc., G.E. Med Pro, the Coca-Cola Company, Safeco Insurance Company, and other notable names. Wise Carter encourages all of its staff to engage in pro bono work, both legal and otherwise; the firm regularly partners with clients to work with Habitat for Humanity and similar charitable services.
Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes PLLC has over 100 years of history and is now one of the largest law firms in Mississippi as well as one of the most respected. Its client list comprises Fortune 500 companies and smaller companies, all of which benefit from Brunini Grantham's focus on commercial, litigation, and regulatory law. Brunini Grantham offers some of the highest compensation in the region and welcomes applicants to its professional staff.
Hand Arendall LLC works in civil practice, focusing on maximizing efficiency and results for its clients. From its offices in Jackson and elsewhere Hand Arendall works with clients based in Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle in a variety of practice areas where paralegal help is crucial.
Paralegal Schools and Programs in Mississippi
An asterisk indicates that one or more of the school's programs have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).Coahoma Community College (Clarksdale)Associate's Degree | Paralegal/Legal Studies
Delta College (Cleveland)Associate's Degree | Legal Support Professional
Hinds Community College (Raymond)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal TechnologyAssociate of Applied Science | Court Reporting TechnologyAssociate of Applied Science | Court Reporting Technology: Broadcast CaptioningAssociate of Applied Science | Court Reporting Technology: Communications Access Realtime Translation (CART)Associate of Applied Science | Judicial ReportingProgram | Pre-Law
Holmes Community College (Goodman)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal TechnologyTechnical Certificate | Paralegal TechnologyAdvanced Technical Certificate | Paralegal TechnologyProgram | Pre-Law
Itawamba Community College (Fulton)Associate of Arts | General Studies: ParalegalAssociate of Applied Science | Paralegal Technology
Mississippi College (Clinton)Bachelor of Science | Paralegal StudiesBachelor of Science | Paralegal Studies (online)Bachelor of Arts | Law/English (Literature) 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Arts | Law/English (Writing) 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Arts | Law/Sociology 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Arts | Law/Political Science 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Arts | Law/Business Administration 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Science | Law/Business Administration 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Science | Law/Administration of Justice 3+3 ProgramBachelor of Science | History- Pre-Legal EmphasisBachelor of Science | Political Science- Pre-Legal EmphasisMaster of Laws | AdvocacyMaster of Laws | Traditional StudiesMaster of Laws | American Legal StudiesMaster of Laws | International and European StudiesCertificate | Civil Law StudiesPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Business and Commercial LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Civil LitigationPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Criminal PracticePost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Family and Juvenile LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Health Care LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | International LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Civil Law StudiesMinor | Paralegal StudiesProgram | Executive Law
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal TechnologyCertificate | Paralegal Technology Gaming Concentration
Mississippi University for Women (Columbus)*Bachelor of Technology | Professional Studies: Legal AdministrationBachelor of Technology | Professional Studies: Legal Administration (online)Bachelor of Arts | Legal StudiesBachelor of Science | Legal StudiesMinor | Legal StudiesMinor | Legal Studies (online)
Northeast Mississippi Community College (Booneville)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Technology
Northwest Mississippi Community College (Senatobia)Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal TechnologyAssociate of Applied Science | Paralegal Technology (online)Associate of Applied Science | Pre-Paralegal StudiesCertificate | Paralegal Technology
University of Mississippi (University)Bachelor of Professional Studies | Paralegal StudiesBachelor of Engineering | Pre-Law EmphasisMaster of Laws | Air and Space LawMaster of Laws | Air and Space Law (online)Minor | Legal StudiesPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Business LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Business Law (online)Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Criminal LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Criminal Law (online)Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Remote Sensing, Air and Space LawPost-Baccalaureate Certificate | Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law (online)
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg)*Bachelor of Arts | Paralegal StudiesMinor | Legal StudiesProgram | Pre-Law
*Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
Additional Resources
Mississippi Paralegal Association – Dedicated to the paralegal profession in the state of Mississippi, promoting professional development, continuing education, and national certification.
References:1. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm2. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm3. US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm
