Trade Schools
If you’re a recent high school graduate or an adult passionate about law who’s looking to change careers, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
As a paralegal, you may find employment at law firms, banks, accounting firms, the court system, hospitals, and other similar fields.
Paralegals are usually responsible for tasks such as:
- Drafting legal documents
- Investigating facts relevant to a case
- Organizing and maintaining documents on paper and in electronic formats
- Helping lawyers during trials
- File exhibits, briefs, and other documents
- And more
Before being ready for employment in this field, the first step is to earn a certificate or degree in paralegal studies.
If you live in Pennsylvania, many schools provide programs designed to prepare you for employment after graduation.
To help you choose the format that best meets your needs, on this page, we have compiled information about the best paralegal training programs in your state.
1Bucks County Community College
About the School
Bucks County Community College helps students learn new skills, update credentials, refresh their software know-how, and advance their careers.
The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Courses Offered
Bucks County Community College provides a Paralegal Certificate Program that qualifies graduates to serve as paralegals and legal assistants for law offices, government agencies, or businesses involving legal work.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Business Law
- Legal Research
- Negligence and Personal Injury
- Internship
- And more
In total, this program includes 30 credit hours.
Graduates are able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of substantive and procedural law
- Perform the duties of legal assistant in the public and private sector
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical obligations and legal limitations of legal assistants in the public and private sectors.
Contact Information
- Address: 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940
- Phone: 215-968-8000
- Website: https://www.bucks.edu
2PennWest Clarion
About the School
PennWest Clarion offers a wide variety of programs students can choose from.
Students are guided by top-ranked faculty and get hands-on experience in their chosen field and in doing their research before they earn a degree.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at PennWest Clarion offers the following degree options:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies- Paralegal
- Advanced Paralegal Certificate
Students learn skills such as:
- Completing legal research tasks
- Effectively prepare legal documents
- Understanding the ethical responsibilities of a paralegal
- Understanding complicated issues of substantive law
- Having the legal skills needed to become an effective member of a legal team
All the Paralegal Programs available at Clarion University are approved by the American Bar Association.
Contact Information
- Address: 840 Wood St. Clarion PA, 16214
- Phone: 800 672 7171 or 814 393 2000
- Website: https://www.clarion.edu
3Community College of Allegheny County
About the School
Community College of Allegheny County is an open-admission institution that does not require college entrance examinations.
Applicants who want to enroll as a full-time student must:
- Have a high school diploma or Pennsylvania GED or
- Be at least 18 years of age with experience reasonably equivalent to a GED
Courses Offered
The college provides a Paralegal Studies & Court Reporting program that may lead to:
- Court Reporter, A.S.
- Paralegal, A.S.
- Court Reporting, Certificate
- Paralegal, Certificate
This program offers training in essential business, technology, and office administration skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 808 Ridge Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
- Phone: 412.237.CCAC
- Website: https://www.ccac.edu
4Community College of Philadelphia
About the School
The Community College of Philadelphia offers training programs for recent high school graduates who start on their path to a bachelor’s degree and for adults who want to change careers.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at the Community College of Philadelphia leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree approved by the American Bar Association.
The program is designed for students who want to transfer to a four-year institution in a law-related program and for those who want to enter the workforce as a paralegal.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Legal Research and Writing
- Legal Technology
- Civil Litigation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone: 215-751-8000
- Website: https://www.ccp.edu
5Delaware County Community College
About the School
Delaware County Community College is located in Delaware and Chester counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Courses Offered
Delaware County Community College offers an associate degree and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Paralegal Studies.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Students learn from legal experts that keep the curriculum up to date with the constantly evolving legal field.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Paralegal
- Legal Research and Writing
- Technology in the Law
- Contract Law
- Family Law
- Civil Litigation and Tort Principles
- Real Estate Law
- Criminal Law
- And more
All students in the Paralegal Studies Program have to complete a 180-hour paralegal internship in the law office or legal environment of their choice.
Contact Information
- Address: 901 S. Media Line Rd, Media, PA 19063
- Phone: 610-359-5264
- Website: https://www.dccc.edu
6Drexel University
About the School
Drexel University offers a variety of masters and certificate programs for professionals who want to gain an understanding and knowledge of the law that will help them advance in their careers.
The law school received full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 2011.
Courses Offered
The following law Master’s and Certificate programs are available at the school:
- Master of Legal Studies Program
- Compliance Certificate Program
- Master of Science in Biomedicine and Law
The Master of Legal Studies Program is a 45-quarter credit program that can be completed entirely online or supplemented with live courses in full-time or part-time programs.
The following concentrations are available:
- Financial Regulatory Compliance
- Health Care Compliance
- Human Resources Compliance
- Higher Education Compliance
- Criminal Law
- Entrepreneurship and Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Phone: 215.895.2000
- Website: https://drexel.edu
7Duquesne University
About the School
Duquesne University offers more than 80 undergraduate majors that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Undergraduate majors and graduate programs are available at the university’s nine schools of study.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Institute at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University offers a certificate in Paralegal Studies that prepares students to start or advance their careers in the legal field.
The Paralegal Studies Certificate program is available in a fully online format and is accessible to students all over the country and the world.
This program can be completed in 1.5 years by part-time students and in 11 weeks by full-time students.
Students need 33 credit hours.
Graduates are equipped with skills such as:
- Understanding the fundamentals of the legal system, its processes, and alternatives
- Being capable of considering complex and varying legal issues
- Analytical and judgment abilities
- Legal writing skills
- Management and organizational skills
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
- Phone: (412) 396-6000
- Website: https://www.duq.edu
8Gannon University
About the School
Gannon University has a campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, one in Ruskin, Florida, and an online campus.
The Erie campus is located in the heart of downtown and central to businesses and organizations that provide project and internship opportunities.
The university has a 13 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Courses Offered
Among many other career paths, Gannon University provides a Legal Studies program that can lead to an Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Arts, or a Certificate.
Students enrolled in this program gain a solid foundation in legal principles and practice.
Internship opportunities are available at banks corporations, courts, insurance companies, law firms, or others located near campus.
Students may accelerate their education through a Legal Studies 3+3 program option with Duquesne University Law School.
The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation of specialty legal courses and skills in interviewing, investigation, legal research, and preparation of legal documents.
Students have the option of choosing from a variety of core courses and electives that suit their career goals.
Contact Information
- Address: 109 University Square, Erie, PA 16541
- Phone: 800-GANNON-U
- Website: https://www.gannon.edu
9Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College offers programs for students who are looking to learn the skills for a new career.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Paralegal Studies- Certificate and a Paralegal Studies Associate in Applied Science Degree program.
The Paralegal Studies program prepares students for entry-level employment in the legal field or helps them earn the credits needed to transfer to a four-year school.
The program is accredited by the American Bar Association.
The major requirements include courses on:
- Intro to Paralegal Studies
- Legal Research and Writing
- Contracts
- Civil Litigation
- Paralegal Ethics & Professionalism
Students also have to complete nine credits from electives such as Criminal Evidence, Family Law, Employment Law, Bankruptcy Law, Administrative Law, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110
- Phone: 800-ABC-HACC
- Website: https://www.hacc.edu
10Lehigh Carbon Community College
About the School
Lehigh Carbon Community College offers academic degree programs and workforce training programs available in person and online.
The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Courses Offered
A Paralegal Studies Associate in Applied Science program is available at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Students have access to internships that provide them with practical experience in the paralegal field.
They may also transfer credits to various four-year colleges or universities toward a bachelor’s degree.
The Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Students take classes like:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Torts and Personal Injury Law
- Law Firm Experience
- Civil Law and Litigations
- Law Office Technology
Contact Information
- Address: 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, PA. 18078
- Phone: 610-799-2121
- Website: https://www.lccc.edu
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 340 | $57,020 | $27.41 | $76,960 | $38,590 |
| Altoona, PA | 40 | $49,610 | $23.85 | $65,490 | $35,620 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 40 | $58,290 | $28.03 | $81,040 | $35,610 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 60 | $49,040 | $23.58 | $71,800 | $29,620 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 50 | $49,130 | $23.62 | $70,450 | $36,280 |
| Erie, PA | 120 | $52,440 | $25.21 | $69,540 | $34,910 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 850 | $58,920 | $28.33 | $76,810 | $43,820 |
| Johnstown, PA | 40 | $48,570 | $23.35 | $83,240 | $32,250 |
| Lancaster, PA | 260 | $55,690 | $26.77 | $75,920 | $37,090 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,830 | $69,350 | $33.34 | $97,280 | $45,380 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,390 | $62,590 | $30.09 | $84,610 | $37,500 |
| Reading, PA | 170 | $57,990 | $27.88 | $79,040 | $37,690 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 240 | $56,440 | $27.14 | $81,540 | $27,860 |
| State College, PA | 60 | $47,850 | $23 | $68,900 | $20,730 |
| Williamsport, PA | 80 | $51,240 | $24.64 | $73,250 | $36,100 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 220 | $51,510 | $24.77 | $75,930 | $29,500 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Pennsylvania provides plenty of training options for students who want to start a career in the paralegal profession.
Now that you have read our selection of the top training programs available in your region, it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your needs.
