Trade Schools
If you want to start an in-demand non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is expected to grow by 14 percent over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As a paralegal, your main responsibilities will be:
- Drafting legal documents
- Investigating facts relevant to a case
- Organizing and maintaining documents on paper and in electronic formats
- Helping lawyers during trials
- Filing 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 South Carolina, there are many schools that 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 available.
1Clemson University
Clemson University offers more than 80 undergraduate and 130 graduate degree programs.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Paralegal Professional Certification Program with Externship.
Student tuition for this program is $3,999.
The program can be completed in six months and includes 925 contact hours.
Students learn a variety of useful skills, including:
- Summarizing the role of the paralegal in the American legal system
- Describing the sources of American law
- Preparing for a client interview
- Researching legal matters
- Articulating the legal principles of tort law
- Examining the legal principles of property law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 105 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634
- Phone: 864-656-3311
- Website: https://www.clemson.edu
2University of South Carolina
About the School
The University of South Carolina offers more than 350 degree options- more than any other school in South Carolina.
The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Courses Offered
The university’s catalog features a Paralegal Studies Certificate program that is available in a fully online learning format.
The program includes over 120 hours of learning in a six-month comprehensive format.
Students need a four-year undergraduate degree and/or four years of professional work experience.
This program costs $4,995 and includes tuition, student access to Westlaw during the legal research and writing course, and all e-textbooks and materials.
To earn a certificate students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete all six modules with a score of 70% or higher in each class
- Achieve a score of 75% or higher in the overall program
Contact Information
- Address: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
- Phone: 803-777-0169
- Website: https://www.sc.edu
3Central Carolina Technical College
About the School
Central Carolina Technical College is a public, two-year South Carolina institution that offers more than 50 programs of study students can choose from.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 16 to 1.
Courses Offered
The college provides an Internship for Legal Assistants/Paralegals.
This course is designed to provide paralegal students with hands-on experience and allows them to apply the skills in a law office or a different location where paralegals are employed.
Before qualifying for the internship, students must complete 45 hours of curriculum work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, English 101 with a grade of “C” or higher, and have the approval of the Internship coordinator.
The course awards three credit hours and includes nine lab/shop hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 506 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150
- Phone: (803) 778-1961
- Website: https://www.cctech.edu
4Greenville Technical College
About the School
Greenville Technical College provides a variety of workforce-ready education programs.
The college provides affordable education focused on high-demand careers.
A Career Pathways Scholarship is also available to make education even more affordable.
Greenville Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Paralegal Program approved by the American Bar Association.
Many of the courses are project-oriented and offer hands-on, practical experience.
Students may complete assignments such as:
- Analyzing hypotheticals
- Engaging in simulated litigation processes
- Drafting correspondence
- Estate planning documents
- Examining documents
- Conducting legal research
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 5616, Greenville, SC 29606
- Phone: (864) 250-8000
- Website: https://www.gvltec.edu
5Midlands Technical College
About the School
Midlands Technical College provides training programs in a variety of fields of study.
The Paralegal Studies program available at Midlands Technical College is designed for students with a Bachelor’s Degree.
This Certificate program is an eight-course, 24-credit-hour program that prepares students to assist lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities.
The Program is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Torts
- Business Law
- Introduction to Law and Ethics
- Law Office Management
- Legal Bibliography
- Civil Litigation
- Electives
The program includes 24 credit hours in total.
The estimated cost for this program is $4,512.
Fees and equipment are not included.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 2408, Columbia, SC 29202
- Phone: 803.738.8324
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu
6Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry offers student-centered learning programs that take place in real-world settings in and out of the classroom, in-person and online.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1
Courses Offered
The following paralegal programs are available at the Technical College of the Lowcountry:
- Paralegal Specialist: Certificate
- Paralegal: Associate in Applied Science
The program helps students expand their law office skills and prepares them for work as paralegals.
To earn a certificate, students must take at least nine semester credit hours of required Paralegal Studies Legal Specialty courses.
Tuition for the 30-credit Certificate program is $6,420.
Students learn skills such as:
- Reviewing and applying the law to the facts
- Researching and applying substantive and procedural law to hypothetical situations
- Demonstrating the ability to analyze procedural issues
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29901
- Phone: 843-525-8207
- Website: https://www.tcl.edu
7Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College offers a variety of programs that are tuition-free for most South Carolina residents.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal program provided by Trident Technical College prepares students for employment as paralegals in traditional law offices, state and federal government, legal departments, banks and other corporations, and many other legal and law-related settings.
The Paralegal curriculum includes courses such as:
- Business Law
- Torts
- Legal Bibliography
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Property Law
- Law Office Management
- Wills, Trusts, and Probate
- And more
In total, the Certificate program includes 39 credits.
Students need 48 credits for an Associate in Applied Science.
The program prepares students with skills such as:
- Applying principles of legal ethics
- Drafting legal documents
- Performing legal research
The program prepares students for entry-level employment as paralegals.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 118067, Charleston, SC 29423
- Phone: 843-574-6111
- Website: https://www.tridenttech.edu
8Bob Jones University
About the School
Bob Jones University provides classes that are taught from a biblical worldview.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies Associate of Science available at Bob Jones University provides students with knowledge about law, the court system, and legal terminology and procedures.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Law & Ethics
- Fundamentals of Speech
- Family Law
- Torts
- Civil Litigation
- Real Property Law
- Wills, Trusts & Estates
- And more
Students gain hands-on experience through 300 hours in a professional legal setting.
This internship helps students network and build relationships that could benefit students as they begin their paralegal careers.
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29614
- Phone: 864-242-5100
- Website: https://www.bju.edu
9CLS by BARBRI
About the School
Paralegal training programs that can be completed by students at their own pace, from the comfort of their homes are also available online, at colleges located in other states.
Formerly known as The Center for Legal Studies, CLS by BARBRI provides continuing legal education.
The curriculum is delivered to students in the following formats: online, live lecture, and text-only.
Courses Offered
The following paralegal-related courses are available at the school:
- Paralegal Certificate Course
- Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course
- Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- Personal Injury for Paralegals
- eDiscovery for Paralegals
Costs vary depending on the course.
The Paralegal Certificate Course costs $1,895.
This is a flagship introductory course and functions as a first step toward a paralegal career.
The most popular format can be completed in two seven-week instructor-led sessions.
The school’s interactive platform offers 24/7 online course access with video and printed tutorials available.
Contact Information
- Address: 12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1340, Dallas, TX 75251
- Phone: 800-522-7737
- Website: https://www.legalstudies.com
10Duquesne University
About the School
Located in Pennsylvania, 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.
Among many other academic paths, the university provides a Paralegal program that can be completed by students all over the country and the world.
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.
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
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1,160 | $52,170 | $25.08 | $68,370 | $37,300 |
| Columbia, SC | 1,900 | $55,700 | $26.78 | $67,440 | $37,460 |
| Florence, SC | 150 | $45,040 | $21.65 | $59,620 | $36,630 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 1,320 | $50,760 | $24.4 | $62,160 | $38,410 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 220 | $51,640 | $24.83 | $70,780 | $38,120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 520 | $47,560 | $22.87 | $61,990 | $34,330 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 220 | $50,790 | $24.42 | $70,430 | $31,680 |
| Sumter, SC | 60 | $46,120 | $22.17 | $62,340 | $27,750 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
The paralegal profession can be the right career choice for someone who wants to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field.
Now that you have read our selection of ten of the best paralegal schools available in South Carolina or online, the next step is to continue your research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
