Paralegals work closely with attorneys.
They are not allowed to give legal advice or to practice law.
However, they do perform many legal functions.
As a paralegal, you may conduct research perform interviews, and create legal briefs.
Some paralegals choose to continue their education and become lawyers, while others enjoy being a paralegal.
Getting an education as a paralegal typically takes 1 to 4 years, depending on the type of education you choose.
1 Baton Rouge Community College
About School
Baton Rouge Community College offers a variety of programs and options.
You can choose an Associate degree that can be transferred to a four-year college, or a career or technical program that will prepare you for a new career.
The college was opened in 1998.
They expected less than 1,000 students but found that 1,700 students wanted to enroll in the first year.
The small college has continued to grow, currently enrolling more than 8,000 students each year.
Program/Courses Offered
Baton Rouge Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.
This degree is designed to prepare you for a career as a paralegal.
If you plan to continue your education, this isn’t the best program for you.
However, if you want a solid foundation for your new career, this can be a great starting point.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association or ABA.
You’ll need to complete 60 credit hours, which usually takes 2 years of study.
You’ll take 18 hours of general education courses, including Composition, Math, and Social Science.
You’ll take 42 hours of paralegal courses, including Paralegal Studies, Litigation, Criminal Law, Computers in the Law Office, and Legal research.
You’ll also choose 4 law elective courses.
If you want to begin your career as quickly as possible, you can take the Paralegal Certificate Course.
This course prepares you to take the Certified Paralegal Exam, offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants, or NALA.
Once you’ve completed the course, you can take the exam and become a certified paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 201 Community College Drive, Baton Rouge, LA. 70806
- Phone: 1-866-217-9823
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Louisiana at Lafayette
About School
The University of Louisiana is a prestigious research university.
They are rated as a Carnegie R1 university.
This is the same classification that renowned institutions, including Harvard, Duke, and Princeton have.
The college offers a variety of programs, ranging from certificate courses devoted to workforce development to graduate degree programs.
You can choose from more than 240 programs and concentrations.
Program/Courses Offered
The University of Louisiana offers a paralegal certificate through its continuing education division.
The course is offered in a live lecture format on Saturdays and Sundays for six weeks.
After completing the program, you’ll be ready to work as a paralegal.
The course also covers job search strategies.
Tuition is $1,189, in addition to the costs of books and materials.
The University of Louisiana also offers a pre-law concentration Bachelor’s Degree.
This program provides you with a Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a concentration in law.
This 4-year degree program is designed for those who are planning to attend law school, but it can also provide you with a comprehensive paralegal education.
Contact Information
- Address: 104 E. University Circle, Lafayette, LA 70503
- Phone: (337) 482-1000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Loyola University New Orleans
About School
Loyola University was founded in 1912 by Jesuit priests.
The school focuses on educating the whole person and encouraging creative thinking.
Their mission is to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue.
They also believe it’s important to work for a more just world.
Their namesake comes from Loyola, who believed God was present in all things.
The university offers a foundation in liberal arts and sciences, as well as professionally focused certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs.
Program/Courses Offered
Loyola University offers a Paralegal Certificate program.
The program is offered completely online and can be completed in 6 months if you devote 10 to 15 hours a week to your studies.
Tuition is $5,695.
You’ll learn legal writing, legal terminology, trial preparation, discovery and e-discovery, document creation, and how to use physical and virtual law libraries.
Contact Information
- Address: 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Phone: 504-865-3240
- Website: Visit School Website
4 LSU Online & Continuing Education
About School
LSU Online and Continuing Education is a division of Louisiana State University, or LSU, devoted to online and continuing education.
LSU Online aims to allow students to earn the same degrees and get the same quality education they would get on campus in an online format.
Students learn from the same world-class teachers that provide classroom instruction.
Some programs have a stackable option, which allows you to start by earning a certificate and then continue your education to get your degree.
Program/Courses Offered
LSU Online and Continuing Education offers a paralegal certificate program.
You’ll need a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for the program.
The program focuses solely on paralegal courses and doesn’t require any general education courses.
The course is live online, which means you’ll need to be online at the correct time each week, and complete assignments on a schedule.
You can choose a full-time or part-time schedule.
Full-time students complete the program in one year, while part-time students take 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete the program.
The course has six required courses.
You’ll also take a legal ethics seminar, and two legal electives, and complete a 150-hour internship.
Contact Information
- Address: 495 E. Parker Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70808
- Phone: 833-280-5634
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Bossier Parish Community College
About School
Bossier Parish Community College focuses on providing programs that align with high-demand employment sectors.
These include nursing, allied health, cyber, oil and gas technology, and engineering.
The school offers more than 40 Associate degree programs and a variety of certificate courses designed to prepare students to enter the workforce in their chosen career.
Program/Courses Offered
The Paralegal Online Training Program is offered through a partnership with Bossier Parish Community College, Ed2Go, and the National Association of Legal Assistants, or NALA.
You’ll learn how to conduct legal interviews and research, how to perform legal analysis, legal ethics, the legal process, and the role a paralegal plays in the legal system.
Your tuition includes access to the exam preparation courses offered at the nearby NALA campus.
This can prepare you to take the NALA-certified paralegal exam.
If you pass, you’ll become a Certified Paralegal.
Tuition is $2,695.
This includes the self-paced paralegal course, access to NALA exam preparation courses, and a voucher to take the certification exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 6220 E. Texas Street, Bossier City, LA
- Phone: 318-678-6000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Herzing New Orleans
About School
Herzing is a private non-profit university.
They take a student-focused approach.
They work with industry leaders and employers to make sure that their programs are relevant and prepare students for success after graduation.
U.S. News and World Report ranked Herzing as one of the best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
The school takes pride in having credentialed teachers, engaged students, and state-of-the-art technology to support students.
More than 90% of graduates say they are satisfied with their educational experience at Herzing.
Program/Courses Offered
Herzing offers an Associate’s degree in Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Legal Studies.
The Associates program can be completed in just 20 months.
The Bachelor’s program takes at least 36 months.
Once you have your Associate’s degree in Legal Studies, you will be prepared to take the Certified Paralegal Exam offered by NALA.
You can choose to work as a paralegal after earning your degree. You can also continue your education to become a lawyer.
Contact Information
- Address: 3900 N Causeway Blvd Suite 800, Metairie, LA
- Phone: 504-613-4295
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Grambling State University
About School
Grambling State University is a small four-year university.
It’s historically black colleges and university, or HBCU.
The school offers more than 43 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Some are very unique.
Call Me Mister is a program designed to increase the number of African-American Males who are teachers.
They also offer a degree in cloud computing, which is the only one in Louisiana.
Program/Courses Offered
Grambling State University offers a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with a Paralegal concentration.
This program is designed to expose you to different aspects of the legal system.
You’ll learn how to perform the tasks of a paralegal, including legal research, legal writing, and legal analysis.
You’ll learn about different types of litigation, and study legal ethics as well.
The course requires general education classes, including Spanish/French, Precalculus, and Biology.
You’ll also choose elective courses, which can allow you to specialize in a specific type of law.
In your final year, you’ll have a paralegal internship to gain hands-on experience.
You’ll need 120 credits to get your degree.
This typically takes 4 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 403 Main Street, Grambling, Louisiana 71245
- Phone: (318) 274-3811
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Delgato Community College
About School
Delgado Community College is committed to diversity.
They are an open-admissions community college.
Students can choose from a variety of academic and workforce programs.
The school offers associate’s degree programs to fit a variety of goals and lifestyles.
They offer student services to help promote diversity and student success.
Program/Courses Offered
Delgato Community College offers a Paralegal Studies Associate of Applied Science degree.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Federated Paralegals Association (NFPA).
Courses included in the program include Fundamentals of Accounting, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Litigation and Trial Preparation.
You’ll also take general education courses, including English Composition, and Algebra, and Natural Science.
Contact Information
- Address: 615 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Phone: (504) 671-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
Paralegals in Louisiana make an average of $63,033.
The average salary range is $55,916 to $71,311.
How much you make as a paralegal will depend on several factors, including your experience, education, certification, and whether or not you specialize in a specific type of law.
Your location also has an effect on your earnings.
Generally, if you live in a city like New Orleans, you’ll earn more than those who live in a smaller town.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$56K |
|
$63K |
|
$72K |
Average Salary in Louisiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $65,664 |
| Baton Rouge | $63,033 |
| Shreveport | $61,665 |
| Lafayette | $61,153 |
| Lake Charles | $60,778 |
| Kenner | $65,628 |
| Bossier City | $61,665 |
| Monroe | $60,404 |
| Alexandria | $59,424 |
| New Iberia | $60,795 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 140 | $48,110 | $23.13 | $67,300 | $34,190 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 980 | $49,840 | $23.96 | $76,820 | $31,200 |
| Hammond, LA | 60 | $43,420 | $20.88 | $58,700 | $30,760 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | ** | $50,200 | $24.13 | $64,380 | $38,830 |
| Lafayette, LA | 470 | $52,800 | $25.38 | $70,090 | $36,040 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 230 | $51,330 | $24.68 | $71,870 | $31,680 |
| Monroe, LA | 250 | $40,330 | $19.39 | $56,260 | $35,350 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,290 | $57,630 | $27.71 | $77,410 | $38,900 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 450 | $49,880 | $23.98 | $62,000 | $36,680 |
* 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
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