Paralegals earn a good salary and have good working hours.
The U.S. has an increasing need for more paralegals who are qualified to work in the field.
Completing a paralegal program provides students with the skills and knowledge to become a paralegal in their state.
These best paralegal programs in Michigan offer students the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and to work in the legal field without having to complete the many years of study that are required to become a lawyer.
1 Eastern Michigan University
About the School
Eastern Michigan University is the second-oldest university in the State of Michigan.
The school offers more than 300 programs, including a bachelor’s degree program in paralegal studies.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Courses Offered
Gain real-world skills that are necessary to work as a paralegal by completing the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program at Eastern Michigan University.
The 120-credit program is taught in a hybrid format, meaning that students may complete some requirements on-campus or online.
Students learn from attorneys, who prepare students to work under the supervision of an attorney as paralegals.
Students gain knowledge in areas such as performing legal research and analysis, learning court rules and court procedures, and drafting legal documents.
The program provides students with legal writing skills, office management skills, and the skills that are needed for interviewing clients and witnesses.
Some courses offered in the program include Transactional Law, Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis, Cyberlaw, and Law Office Administration and Technology.
Students also gain hands-on skills by taking the Legal Resource Center course.
They work in the EMU-Washtenaw County Legal Resource Center.
The center is located at the Washtenaw County Courthouse.
Contact Information
- Address: 900 Oakwood St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197
- Phone: 734-487-1849
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Oakland Community College
About the School
Oakland Community College is one of the largest multi-location community colleges in Michigan.
It is also a top transfer institution.
The college offers degree and certificate programs, including the Associate of Applied Science Paralegal program.
Courses Offered
The 62-credit Associate of Applied Science Paralegal program at Oakland Community College is approved by the American Bar Association.
The publication Michigan Lawyers Weekly named the paralegal program first in its paralegal education category.
Program courses prepare students to work as paralegals at law firms, corporations, and at government agencies.
Some courses in the program include Substantive Law, Litigation, Legal Technology, and Trial Preparation.
Students complete one Special Topics course, choosing from options such as Bankruptcy Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property, or Immigration Law.
The school also offers the Paralegal Post-Bachelor Certificate program.
Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university can earn the certificate after completing 34 credits of study.
Contact Information
- Address: Auburn Hills Campus, 2900 Featherstone Rd., Auburn Hills, MI, 48326
- Phone: 248-232-4100
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Henry Ford College
About the School
Henry Ford College offers more than 150 affordable academic programs.
Students enjoy the strong support from the college and the flexibility in scheduling.
Courses Offered
Henry Ford College offers an associate degree in paralegal studies program.
Students who enroll in the Paralegal Studies – Associate in Business program gain the core knowledge and skills that are required to work as a paralegal.
Program graduates have basic knowledge and understanding of substantive law in one or more areas.
They know how to use critical thinking skills, legal writing skills, legal analysis, and legal research skills.
Students demonstrate effective communication skills.
They have knowledge of the technology used by paralegals.
Some courses in the 60-credit program include Essential Paralegal Skills, Civil Litigation, Business Law and the Legal Environment, and Property Law.
They also choose one option from courses such as Personal Injury Litigation, Technology in the Law, and Family Law.
Students who have an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree may want to enroll in the 25-credit-hour Paralegal Studies – Certificate of Achievement program.
Contact Information
- Address: 5101 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI, 48128
- Phone: 313-845-9600
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Central Michigan University
About the School
Central Michigan University Global Campus offers students the opportunity to complete their studies from anywhere in an online format.
The school offers the Online Certified Paralegal program for students who want to sit for the Certified Paralegal Exam.
Courses Offered
Central Michigan University recognizes the important role that paralegals have in the legal profession.
The Certified Paralegal program prepares students to perform the daily duties of a paralegal.
Students learn to perform legal research, to perform legal analysis, and to draft legal documents.
Learn office skills and the technology that is used by paralegals.
Gain knowledge of litigation, how to perform interviews with clients, and how to perform interviews with witnesses.
Courses in the program include Introduction to the Legal System, Legal Writing, Investigation in a Law Office, Advanced Legal Research, Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law.
There is a required Capstone Project near the end of the program.
Students receive membership and access to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal Exam Review.
Contact Information
- Address: 103 Rowe Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Northern Michigan University
About the School
The historic Northern Michigan University is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy, also known as the Council of Three Fires.
Northern Michigan University offers more than 170 degree programs, including the Paralegal Major – Bachelor of Science Program.
Courses Offered
The 120-credit paralegal bachelor’s degree program at Northern Michigan University prepares students to learn the skills and knowledge that they need for their careers in an interactive learning environment.
Gain an understanding of the U.S. legal system.
Learn the important tasks that are performed by paralegals.
Students learn the basic paralegal skills.
They also learn how to investigate the facts of a case, and to gather and arrange evidence.
Students gain specialized knowledge in many areas of the law.
Program courses include Business Law I: Legal Environment of Business, Introduction to Law, and Legal Research and Writing.
Fulfill the 16 credit electives requirement by taking courses such as Contract Law for Paralegals, Family Law for Paralegals, and Discovery and eDiscovery for Paralegals.
Northern Michigan University offers two other paralegal programs.
One program is the 60-credit Paralegal – Associate of Applied Science program.
The other program is the Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1401 Presque Isle, Marquette, MI, 49855
- Phone: 906-227-2019
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Grand Valley State University
About the School
Grand Valley State University has a reputation for academic excellence.
Recent accolades include being named a Top Public School for 2024 and being named as one of the Best National Universities.
The school offers 145 programs, including the Certificate in Paralegal Studies program.
Courses Offered
Grand Valley State University was recently named one of the most affordable colleges in the U.S.
The recognition is one reason that students may choose to complete the Certificate in Paralegal Studies program at the school.
The comprehensive program is unique in that most certificate programs require that students already hold a bachelor’s degree.
The program at Grand Valley State University allows students to be degree-seeking students if they do not already have a bachelor’s degree.
They will receive their Certificate in Paralegal Studies at the same time that they are awarded their bachelor’s degree.
Courses in the program include Law in Our Lives, Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Property and Probate Law, and Legal Research.
Students choose their elective courses from options such as Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties, Employment and Labor Law, and Women and the Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 401 Fulton Street West, 289C Richard M. DeVos Center, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504
- Phone: 616-331-7130
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Macomb Community College
About the School
Macomb Community College prepares students to work in the in-demand field of paralegal studies by offering an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program.
Courses Offered
The paralegal program at Macomb Community College is approved by the American Bar Association.
Students gain important skills and vital knowledge that allows them to have a rewarding career as a paralegal.
Learn to prepare legal forms and documents.
Gain the knowledge to conduct and summarize investigations.
Learn substantive law as it applies to family law, administrative law, wills and estates, court procedures, and other areas.
Work as an important member of a legal team after graduation or continue your paralegal studies.
Courses in the 68-credit program include Legal Procedure, Electronic Evidence and Discovery, Estate Administration and Elder Law in Michigan, and Mechanics of Real Estate Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038
- Phone: 586-445-7999
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Madonna University
About the School
Madonna University believes that its programs change lives, including its Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program.
The paralegal studies program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1984.
Courses Offered
Students complete their 42 semester hours of paralegal studies courses at Madonna University in an online or on-campus format.
Develop legal writing and legal research skills.
Gain litigation skills and the skills to perform interviews with clients and witnesses.
Complete courses such as Law Office Management, Law Office Technology, Litigation, and Legal Research on the Internet.
Students choose elective courses such as Contractual and Commercial Relations, Torts – An Overview of Negligence, and Case Preparation and Trial.
The school also offers a Paralegal Studies: Associate of Science program, and a 30-semester-hour Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of Achievement program.
Contact Information
- Address: 36600 Schoolcraft Rd., Livonia, MI, 48150
- Phone: 734-432-5300
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
The median salary for a paralegal working in Michigan is $66,519, as of September 2023.
Salary.com indicates that the salary range for Michigan paralegals is between $59,009 and $75,255.
The reason that salaries for paralegals vary is because of things like the type of setting where the paralegal works.
A paralegal who works in a small law firm is likely to earn less money than a paralegal who works for a large corporation or a large law firm.
The location where paralegals work may affect their salary.
A paralegal who works in Ann Arbor earns a median salary of $69,210, while a paralegal who works in Elk Rapids earns a median salary of $63,207.
A paralegal who has no experience will earn less than a paralegal who has several years of experience.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$59K |
|
$66K |
|
$75K |
Average Salary in Michigan
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $67,815 |
| Grand Rapids | $65,045 |
| Warren | $67,815 |
| Flint | $62,519 |
| Sterling Heights | $67,600 |
| Lansing | $64,924 |
| Ann Arbor | $69,210 |
| Livonia | $67,600 |
| Dearborn | $67,815 |
| Westland | $67,871 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 270 | $68,950 | $33.15 | $97,340 | $40,750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,040 | $66,370 | $31.91 | $90,430 | $44,260 |
| Flint, MI | 240 | $55,780 | $26.82 | $78,580 | $38,490 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 860 | $68,230 | $32.8 | $85,750 | $45,570 |
| Jackson, MI | 60 | $58,900 | $28.32 | $79,860 | $38,750 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 220 | $57,520 | $27.65 | $78,170 | $38,880 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 400 | $60,780 | $29.22 | $81,140 | $40,000 |
| Midland, MI | 70 | $76,600 | $36.83 | $110,480 | $47,340 |
| Monroe, MI | 40 | $59,660 | $28.68 | $84,330 | $38,810 |
| Muskegon, MI | 70 | $54,700 | $26.3 | $73,160 | $39,500 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 50 | $57,240 | $27.52 | $73,830 | $44,120 |
| Saginaw, MI | 100 | $56,000 | $26.92 | $75,920 | $38,610 |
* 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
Michigan’s paralegal programs set the gold standard for aspiring legal professionals! With a focus on practical skills and academic rigor, graduates are well-prepared to thrive in the dynamic world of law. Kudos to these top-notch programs!!
I completed one of the programs on this list, and it really set me up for success. The hands-on experience through internships made a big difference when I started applying for jobs in Michigan’s legal market.
I’ve been looking into paralegal programs in Michigan, and this list is really helpful! It’s great to see a variety of options, especially programs that offer flexibility with online or part-time classes.