Fulfill your dream of becoming a paralegal in Delaware after choosing one of the state’s best training programs for paralegals.
In Delaware, paralegals do not have to be licensed or certified to get hired.
Additionally, certification is available through the Delaware Paralegal Association.
Before you can sit for a paralegal certification exam, choose one of these top paralegal schools in DE.
The schools will train and prepare you for the certified paralegal exam and to start your career.
1 Delaware Technical Community College
Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Start your search with one of the technical community colleges in the state.
Delaware Technical Community College is based in Wilmington, DE.
Even though this is a community college, the institution has multiple campus locations, including:
- Dover, DE
- Georgetown, DE
- Stanton, DE
- Wilmington, DE
Delaware Technical Community College students can take one of two pathways to become a paralegal.
Choose from the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in paralegal studies or earn a certificate.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has approved this school training for paralegals.
The associate in applied science in paralegal studies program is offered at Dover and Georgetown, DE.
Overall, the AAS in paralegal studies at Delaware Technical Community College will take two years to complete.
The ABA requires students to also take 18 general elective courses as part of the degree curriculum.
Students can train as paralegals at Delaware Technical Community College at Dover and Georgetown, DE campuses.
If you are interested in the faster-paced certificate route, you must already have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
The certificate program is available through the same campuses–Dover and Georgetown.
These paralegal studies programs require students to take at least nine specialty courses in legal work.
These can be classes that are completed online or in person on campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 300 N. Orange St. Wilmington, Delaware 19801
- Phone: 302-857-1000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Wilmington University
Post-Bachelor’s Paralegal Certificate
At Wilmington University (WU), graduates with a bachelor’s degree can excel in professional training for paralegals.
A professional course available in paralegal studies at WU leads to a certificate.
To be eligible for this program, you must already have a bachelor’s degree, which is a four-year general or specialized degree.
To pursue this route, ideally, your bachelor’s degree will be in a related subject of study, such as:
- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Economics
- English
These types of liberal arts subjects will prepare you for the rigors of the law office and paralegal studies.
This post-bachelor’s paralegal certificate course has 24 classes.
The coursework can be completed in 10 months.
Students will be prepared to work in a law office or to further pursue a career in law.
Classes for the Wilmington University post-bachelor paralegal program are at two campus locations:
- Dover, DE
- New Castle, DE
This is not an online course; students at Wilmington University must attend traditional classes on campus.
New program classes begin every two months or eight weeks.
Contact Information
- Address: 320 N. Dupont Hwy., New Castle, DE 19720
- Phone: 877-967-5464
- Website: Visit School Website
3 University of Delaware
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Students can earn a paralegal certificate at the University of Delaware (UD) in Wilmington, DE.
This program is available through the UD Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) and the Paralegal Institute.
Courses at the University of Delaware for paralegals are offered on campus in Wilmington.
Classes are held in Arsht Hall on Pennsylvania Avenue on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The class times are from 6 pm to 9 pm.
This University of Delaware course is ABA-approved.
Scholarships and discounts are available for the course tuition, which is $3,995.
Along with the certificate in paralegal studies, students at the University of Delaware can access the advanced paralegal seminar series.
This collegiate seminar features topics and course subjects related to and trending to law school and paralegals.
Contact Information
- Address: 210 South College Avenue Newark, DE 19716
- Phone: 302-831-2792
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Widener University - Delaware Law School
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies
General Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Specialty Certificate in Litigation, Criminal Law, Etc.
The school of Widener University (WU) and the Delaware Law School have an extensive and formal Legal Studies Program.
Widener University has a main campus in Chester, PA, which is out-of-state for DE students.
However, the Delaware Law School is located in Wilmington, DE.
There are a couple of routes to take in the Legal Studies Program at Widener University for students and graduates who want to become paralegals.
The Associate of Applied Science in Legal Studies is a two-year traditional degree program.
You can take general courses and electives that fulfill the degree requirements for a well-rounded education.
At Delaware Law School, if you already have an associate’s degree, you may be able to use some of the classes or credits toward the two-year degree in legal studies.
This can save you time and money on coursework.
At Widener University and the Delaware Law School, you can earn a four-year degree in legal studies to become a paralegal.
This is a typical route for a student who wants to attend law school and earn a master of law degree.
After this, you would sit for the bar exam if you wanted to become a lawyer.
The bachelor’s degree program takes 120 credit hours, leading to a bachelor of science in legal studies.
Widener University has a few legal studies certificates for students who want a faster approach to getting a job as a DE paralegal.
The general paralegal certificate is available to students who want to be an entry-level paralegal as fast as possible.
If you already know about what kind of law you want to work in, you can earn a certificate in a legal specialty concentration.
Widener University has several different subject areas related to law and paralegal studies.
Earn a certificate in:
- Criminal law
- Litigation
- Estate administration
- Health law
- Corporate law
The professional certificates in law studies at Widener University’s Delaware Law School take a shorter time to complete.
You can finish a certificate program in one summer session.
Some longer courses take one academic year of spring and fall semesters.
All legal studies courses available at Widener University and the Delaware Law School are completed online.
Classwork is provided with live class sessions.
Each program must include nine courses in law specialties, per the ABA requirements for certification.
Contact Information
- Address: 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803
- Phone: 302-477-2162
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Goldey-Beacom College
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in English With a Legal Studies Concentration
At Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware, students with aspirations of becoming attorneys can get a foothold in law.
The school offers a legal studies concentration for English majors.
You can work in legal writing as an English major with a four-year degree from Goldey-Beacom College.
Legal writing is a major area for paralegals to cover.
However, you also gain research skills and the ability to write persuasively.
This can help you as you work toward becoming a lawyer.
The four-year degree in English with a concentration in legal studies will take 120 credit hours to complete.
This includes 18 credits in legal studies.
Courses include:
- Criminal law
- Business law
- Cyber law and ethics
- Constitutional law
- International law
- Leadership and organizational behavior
- International marketing
- Presentation design
- Intercultural communication
When you graduate with a BA and a minor in legal studies from Goldey-Beacom College, you are ready for a career as a paralegal.
Other job pathways you are ready to take include:
- Writer in legal affairs
- Legal consultant
- Attorney
- Policy analyst
- Government employee
- Journalist
The Goldey-Beacon College campus is in Pike Creek, near Wilmington, DE.
Go to school outside the city and enjoy a quiet and peaceful education.
Contact Information
- Address: 4701 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808
- Phone: 302-998-8814
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Delaware State University, formerly Wesley College
Bachelor of Science in Law and Justice Studies
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Arguably one of the more rigorous schools for paralegals, Delaware State University (DSU), formerly Wesley College in Dover, DE, has more than 60 paths for a career in law.
As someone working toward a paralegal job, there are a few ways to go about the training at Delaware State University.
Choose from the certificate course for professionals and graduates with a degree.
Training at Delaware State University is campus-based, with no online options.
The Bachelor of Science in Law and Justice Studies is a four-year program.
By graduation, you have a BS degree that can be applied to a master of law or for professional certificates.
You can also work in a law office or as a paralegal.
If you prefer to attend school online or earn a professional certificate, Delaware State University offers a clear pathway to your goal.
The online certified paralegal course is $2,495.
Prepare to sit for the certificate paralegal (CP) exam upon program completion.
To be eligible for the certification exam, you must have graduated from one of the following:
- ABA-approved paralegal program
- Associate of Science degree program for paralegal studies
- Certificate program in paralegal studies for post-secondary students
By having graduated from the Delaware State University program, you are eligible.
You will meet one of these qualifications for the CP exam and be prepared to take the test successfully.
Contact Information
- Address: 120 N. State St., Dover, DE 19901
- Phone: 302-736-2400
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
As a paralegal in Delaware, the starting salary for an entry-level job is $48,841 earned yearly.
The hourly wage for experienced paralegals is an average of $30 an hour.
This equals to $62,500 a year, specifically for Delaware paralegals.
On the upper end, with years of experience, a DE paralegal can make about $102,500 annually.
Earning over $100,000 annually puts you in the upper-middle-class income bracket.
How does this compare to the rest of the US and paralegal salaries in other states?
The average salary range for paralegals in the US is $59,330 to $119,420 a year.
In the competitive state of Arizona, the salary for a paralegal is $74,900 a year, which is on the higher end of the scale.
Therefore, along with being a well-paid career, paralegal as an occupation will pay well even if you move to another US state.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$60K |
|
$68K |
|
$77K |
Average Salary in Delaware
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wilmington | $70,219 |
| Dover | $70,407 |
| Newark | $70,166 |
| Milford | $70,761 |
| Seaford | $69,587 |
| Middletown | $70,176 |
| Lewes | $70,761 |
| Smyrna | $70,249 |
| New Castle | $70,219 |
| Georgetown | $70,761 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 150 | $63,190 | $30.38 | $96,320 | $46,140 |
* 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
Thank you for sharing this info. It’s incredibly useful for those seeking a solid foundation for a career in the legal field right here in Delaware.
Delaware has a variety of excellent paralegal programs, each with its own strengths. It’s about finding the right program that aligns with your career goals.
When evaluating paralegal programs, remember to consider factors like class size, faculty expertise, and internship opportunities, which can all impact your learning experience.
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Finding a quality paralegal program here is essential for anyone looking to enter the legal field. It’s great to have this list as a starting point for research.
I appreciate the thorough research and analysis evident in this post. It’s clear that a lot of effort went into evaluating the paralegal programs in Delaware, ensuring that readers receive accurate and valuable information.
Thank you for compiling this list of the best paralegal programs in Delaware! Aspiring paralegals like myself greatly benefit from such detailed insights into the top educational institutions offering quality programs in our state.
Wow, what a helpful resource for anyone considering a career in paralegal studies in Delaware! The detailed breakdown of the programs, including curriculum highlights, faculty expertise, and accreditation status, makes it easier for prospective students to make informed decisions.