Are you a detail-oriented, responsible person who gets satisfaction from completing precise research? Are you fascinated by law but aren’t sure if law school is for you?
Dallas College has one of only a few paralegal programs in the state approved by the American Bar Association and is designed to teach you to work as a paralegal to attorneys. It also can help you decide if a law career is right for you.
Paralegal at a Glance
1 year to complete1
$2,970 tuition2
- El Centro3
2 years to complete1
$5,940 tuition2
- El Centro3
What Can I Study?
I Want to Go to Work
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) Certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others, offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work towards an Associate Degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a Pathway Specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- PathwaySpecialist@DallasCollege.edu
What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?
Knowing how to draft legal documents, manage law office procedures and research legal data will make you a valuable employee in a variety of settings. Check out a few of the incredible career opportunities you’ll be ready for. Your future starts here!
Compliance Officers
$36/hr
Median Salary
1108
Job Openings
+13%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
- Time Management
- Persuasion
Legal Secretaries
$28/hr
Median Salary
398
Job Openings
+5%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Time Management
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$29/hr
Median Salary
995
Job Openings
+10%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
$27/hr
Median Salary
193
Job Openings
+7%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Time Management
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Coordination
All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.
“My paralegal classes really gave me the fundamental foundation of what it means to be a paralegal. I had always been the only paralegal in a small law firm and I got a much better understanding of how paralegals are utilized in much larger firms.” Read Rosa M. Berdeja's story.
Our Paralegal program is not only widely respected but is also an incredible bargain. Its setting near downtown Dallas provides access to the Records Building, George Allen Civil Courthouse, Frank Crowley Criminal Courthouse and Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse. As a Paralegal student, you will:
- Have instructors who are practicing attorneys and paralegals.
- Have access to an on-campus law library and two computer-assisted legal research systems.
- Prepare for exciting and challenging work with law firms, corporations and agencies.
School of Law and Public Service by the Numbers
Please review current job openings and contact your advisor to review your options. All data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth.
Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence
Find Out More About Paralegal
Sign up to receive additional information about Paralegal or call 972-669-6400.
School of Law and Public Service
Dallas College
- 972-669-6400
- Text College to 214-978-6457
- StudentHelp@DallasCollege.edu
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1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
2Cost is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.
3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.
4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
HB1508 Notice
This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible.
For more information, please visit dallascollege.edu/hb1508.