Work toward your goal of becoming a paralegal in Alabama by completing a course in-state.
There are several colleges and universities in AL offering in-person and remote classes.
Whether you want to train online or attend a traditional college classroom, you have plenty of options.
Here are 10 of the best paralegal programs in Alabama for students to attend this year:
1 Auburn University
Paralegal Certificate
As the second-largest public university in Alabama, Auburn University provides instruction at two locations.
The main college campus is located in Auburn, AL.
AU has a satellite school 55 miles west in Montgomery, AL.
For students interested in paralegal studies, Auburn University has a few options.
You can choose the Paralegal Outreach Certificate track, which is not a traditional degree program.
In addition, the school offers an online Paralegal Certificate from the Center for Legal Studies on campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 1161 W. Samford Ave., Bldg. 8 Auburn, AL 36849
- Phone: 334-844-4860
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Samford University
Bachelor’s Degree in History and Legal Studies
Master of Studies in Law Degree
Established in 1841, Samford University is a private college and one of the oldest in the US.
Not to be confused with the Ivy League school in the Northeast, Stanford University, Samford University is one of the Christian colleges of AL.
The school is located in Homewood, AL, which is only three miles away from the big city of Birmingham.
This offers ample opportunity for legal internships and legal assistant jobs while attending college.
Here, students can excel in paralegal studies.
Samford University offers a bachelor’s degree in history and legal studies with a specialized concentration In legal studies.
From there, you can pursue a master’s degree at Samford University.
The Cumberland School of Law has a Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree.
You can choose to concentrate on legal operations as a paralegal.
The MSL degree provides a paralegal’s most advanced level of education in Alabama.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Lakeshore Dr, Homewood, AL 35229
- Phone: 205-726-2011
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Coastal Alabama Community College / Faulkner State Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Another private school in Alabama that trains paralegals is Faulkner State Community College.
If you are interested in attending FSCC, you will be pleased to know the school has been renamed to Coastal Alabama Community College (CACC).
This is a two-year school with several campuses throughout the state:
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Bay Minette, AL
- Fairhope, AL
Programs for paralegals at CACC include the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in paralegal studies.
This two-year program leads to a degree that can be used to pursue advanced studies, such as a bachelor’s degree.
Coastal Alabama Community College also has a paralegal certificate program.
This program allows students to train in several different sections of paralegal studies:
- Advanced substantive law
- Legal analysis
- Basic substantive law
The certificate program is a less extensive course route compared to the AAS degree in paralegal studies.
Here, you can specialize in a specific area of paralegal training.
You may also want to obtain the AAS degree first, then pursue training in the paralegal certificate program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1900 US-31, Bay Minette, AL 36507
- Phone: 800-381-3722
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Gadsden State Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Students can enroll in two-year course programs at Gadsden State Community College (GSCC).
This university is a public institute, and campus locations are:
- Gadsden, AL
- Centre, AL
- Anniston, AL
Students interested in a career in paralegal studies can apply to the associate in applied science degree program in this subject.
The paralegal studies program is an on-campus degree program that takes two years of school.
All classes are taken at the Wallace Drive campus in Gadsden, AL.
Contact Information
- Address: 1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903
- Phone: 256-549-8200
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Faulkner University
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Unlike the school previously known as Faulkner State Community College, Faulkner University is a private institute.
The school has multiple campus locations for paralegal studies.
This includes the main campus of FU in Montgomery.
Students also attend classes at extended campuses in:
- Birmingham
- Huntsville
- Mobile
This is a Christian university, and students may be expected to participate in certain religious activities or programs.
Students interested in becoming an AL paralegal at Faulkner University can start training with a two-year degree.
The associate of science in legal studies applies to paralegals.
This program has classes online, on campus, and in a hybrid learning setting.
Students can also choose to earn a bachelor of science in legal studies.
This program for paralegals is a traditional four-year college program that provides on-campus, online, and hybrid coursework.
Contact Information
- Address: 5345 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36109
- Phone: 334-272-5820
- Website: Visit School Website
6 University of South Alabama
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
The University of South Alabama is a research institute in Mobile, AL.
This is a public college where students can pursue training in paralegal studies.
The school offers a program leading to a certificate in paralegal studies for entry-level paralegals and legal assistants working in law firms.
Whether your goal is to become a paralegal for your career or to advance to an attorney by taking the bar, the USA will help you achieve your goals.
The University of South Alabama is a more affordable college situated on the Gulf Coast of South Alabama.
Students in-state pay an average of $23,000 without financial aid and approximately $16,000 with financial aid.
Financial aid consists of institute and private scholarships and state and federal grants.
The paralegal studies program in the USA can be done in as little as one year or three trimesters.
In addition, all the classes are offered in the evenings to accommodate working adults.
This is one of the few colleges that provide night classes for the paralegal studies program in AL.
The University of South Alabama is one of the few options if you want to study outside traditional class hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 307 N University Blvd, Mobile, AL 36688
- Phone: 251-460-6101
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Shelton State Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Shelton State Community College (SSCC) is a two-year institute.
The campus is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where students can enroll in 22 degree-seeking programs and 50 certificate courses.
One of these courses for a certificate is for paralegals.
You can quickly become a paralegal with this hybrid on-campus and online course for professional students.
The school also offers a degree pathway for paralegals.
You can earn an associate of applied science in paralegal studies.
This is a traditional course that is offered only on campus in Tuscaloosa, which is a mid-size city in AL.
Shelton State Community College and the paralegal studies course require 71 credit hours for completion to graduate.
Once you earn a certificate or degree from SCSS, you can seek employment as a legal assistant or paralegal in AL.
Contact Information
- Address: 9500 Old Greensboro Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
- Phone: 205-391-2211
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Calhoun Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Did you know that Calhoun Community College (CCC) is the largest community college in Alabama?
As a result, Calhoun Community College has two campus locations in Alabama:
- Tanner / Decatur
- Huntsville
Students who want to become a paralegal in AL have access to the Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.
This course covers legal writing, legal research, and legal office management.
This college has a 100 percent acceptance rating for students who are enrolling.
Therefore, you should have no problem getting into this school to take the paralegal studies program.
The average price for this two-year degree is $9,000, which includes approximately $5,500 in student debt.
In addition to being a degree program, the AAS in paralegal studies at CCC is certified and approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Whether you plan to pursue legal studies beyond your AAS in paralegal studies or you want to be a legal assistant for years to come, the program at CCC offers good value for a traditional education.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 2216, Decatur, AL 35609
- Phone: 256-306-2500
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Enterprise State Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Students can enroll in Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) in Enterprise, AL.
This college is a two-year institute with degrees and certificates upon completion of programs.
You are ready to work as a paralegal or to continue with advanced studies.
Previously, Enterprise State Community College was known as Enterprise State Junior College (ESJC).
The new ESCC school combined ESJC with Alabama Aviation Centers in Mobile and Ozark, AL.
For students interested in legal aid work, there are two options at ESCC.
You can complete a certificate in paralegal studies, which involves hybrid online and on-campus coursework.
The other option is an associate of applied science (AAS) in paralegal studies.
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Plaza Dr, Enterprise, AL 36330
- Phone: 334-347-2623
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Wallace State Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Located in Hanceville, AL, Wallace State Community College is a traditional two-year institute in post-secondary education.
The college was established and formerly known as the George C. Wallace State Trade School of Cullman County.
Today WSCC is one of the largest community colleges in the state system.
The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAPE) certifies the school for paralegal hopefuls.
Gain the skills necessary to become a qualified paralegal or legal assistant in a law firm.
Earn an associate of applied science (AAS) in paralegal studies from Wallace State Community College in two years.
This degree will be eligible for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program or law school.
Contact Information
- Address: 801 Main Street Northwest, Hanceville, AL 35077
- Phone: 256-352-8000
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
The average salary for a paralegal in Alabama is $50,344.
This paralegal salary is based on an associate’s degree in paralegal studies and professional employment with a law firm.
Compare this to the national average income for a paralegal in the US, which is $58,157 a year.
You are earning slightly less in AL than the rest of the nation.
However, this accommodates the lower cost of living in this southeastern state compared to the rest of the US states.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$54K |
|
$61K |
|
$69K |
Average Salary in Alabama
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | $63,117 |
| Montgomery | $59,974 |
| Mobile | $61,847 |
| Huntsville | $63,953 |
| Tuscaloosa | $62,699 |
| Madison | $63,953 |
| Dothan | $57,547 |
| Decatur | $61,848 |
| Auburn | $60,353 |
| Gadsden | $63,000 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 50 | $42,430 | $20.4 | $61,000 | $29,740 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 1,610 | $57,580 | $27.68 | $76,730 | $36,990 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 110 | $47,040 | $22.61 | $70,990 | $33,430 |
| Decatur, AL | 50 | $41,440 | $19.92 | $58,000 | $31,160 |
| Dothan, AL | 90 | $44,580 | $21.43 | $75,030 | $31,090 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 90 | $41,630 | $20.02 | $50,220 | $31,270 |
| Gadsden, AL | 40 | $38,120 | $18.33 | $50,310 | $29,880 |
| Huntsville, AL | 270 | $51,570 | $24.79 | $77,770 | $31,440 |
| Mobile, AL | 380 | $48,790 | $23.46 | $71,000 | $31,200 |
| Montgomery, AL | 540 | $50,030 | $24.06 | $72,920 | $27,860 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 100 | $46,300 | $22.26 | $72,350 | $30,900 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Paralegal Programs by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Kudos to those who compiled this list. Providing information about the best paralegal programs in Alabama can make the process of choosing the right program much smoother for future legal professionals.
The city offers a variety of excellent paralegal programs, each with its unique strengths. It’s all about finding the right fit for your aspirations in the legal field.
As a practicing paralegal, I can say that having a solid education from a reputable program is key to success in this field. Kudos for showcasing Alabama’s best!
Does anyone have personal experience with any of these programs? I’m trying to decide which one to apply to and would love some insight.
It’s refreshing to see a list that highlights not just the big-name universities but also some lesser-known programs that offer excellent paralegal education.