The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that there will be a considerable increase in the number of paralegal jobs in the country over the next several years.
The fact that many corporations are adding paralegals to their staff accounts for part of the increase.
The need for paralegals will increase in other settings, including law firms, government agencies, and a variety of businesses.
People who want to become a paralegal and gain employment in South Carolina are not required to have licensure or paralegal certification.
The South Carolina Bar explains that the South Carolina Supreme Court implemented a program for the “voluntary certification of paralegals in South Carolina.”
Students who want to become a paralegal often choose to complete one of the Best Paralegal Programs in South Carolina.
1 University of South Carolina
About the School
The University of South Carolina offers more than 350 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs.
The school offers its Paralegal Studies Certificate program as one of its Continuing Education Professional Education and Certificate Programs.
Courses Offered
The University of South Carolina Paralegal Studies Certificate program is offered in a 100 percent online program.
Students learn the knowledge that they need to work as a paralegal and the skills that they need to have for a successful paralegal career.
The six-month comprehensive format of the program provides students with the confidence that they need as a paralegal.
Admission to the program requires that students already hold a four-year undergraduate degree, or that they have a minimum of four years of professional work experience.
Topics covered in the Paralegal Studies Certificate program include conducting legal research, performing legal analysis, and interviewing clients.
Students also learn about drafting legal documents, locating and interviewing witnesses, and ethics for paralegals.
Some of the courses in the program include Introduction to Law, Tort Law and Personal Injury, Contract Law, Family Law, and Civil Litigation.
Contact Information
- Address: 514 Main St., Columbia, S.C., 29208
- Phone: 803-777-0169
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Horry Georgetown Technical College
About the School
Horry Georgetown Technical College offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs at three campus locations.
The Associate in Applied Science Paralegal program offered by the school is approved by the American Bar Association.
Courses Offered
Horry Georgetown Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The school offers its Associate in Applied Science program at the Grand Strand campus, which is in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Students who enroll in the two-year paralegal program complete 66 credit hours of study.
Some courses in the program include Legal Writing, Civil Litigation, Real Estate Law, Business Applications in the Law Office, and Workers Compensation. Students also complete an internship.
Contact Information
- Address: 2050 Highway 501 East, Conway, S.C., 29526
- Phone: 843-347-3186
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Midlands Technical College
About the School
Midlands Technical College considers itself to be a forward-thinking and proactive institution.
The school believes in hands-on experiences for students, including those who enroll in the Paralegal Studies Certificate program.
Courses Offered
The Midlands Technical College Paralegal Studies Certificate program is a 24-credit hour program that consists of eight courses.
It is approved by the American Bar Association.
Students who enroll in the program need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
Students learn through coursework, hands-on experiences, and practical real-life experiences.
They learn legal technology and gain an understanding of legal concepts.
The program also provides students with an understanding of the structure of the courts.
Some topics covered are drafting legal correspondence and documents, conducting legal research and analysis, and interviewing clients.
Courses in the certificate program include Introduction to Law and Ethics, Business Law, Torts, Legal Bibliography, and Law Office Management.
Contact Information
- Address: 151 Powell Rd., Columbia, SC, 29203
- Phone: 803-738-8324
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Trident Technical College - Degree
About the School
Trident Technical College takes pride in being a smaller college that offers personalized attention and hands-on learning experiences for students.
The school offers an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program.
Courses Offered
The Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program at Trident Technical College is approved by the American Bar Association.
It is also an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE).
Enroll in the paralegal studies degree program and enjoy getting a quality, affordable paralegal education.
Students in the two-year Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal program complete 63 credit hours.
The program prepares students to assume the duties of a paralegal after graduation, including drafting briefs and other documents, engaging in legal research and writing, analyzing procedural problems, and recommending solutions for those problems.
Some paralegal program courses include Title Examination Procedures, Law Office Management, Claims Investigation, Introduction to Law and Ethics, and Wills, Trusts, and Probate.
Students take the courses Property Law, Legal Bibliography, Criminal Law, and Paralegal Certification Preparation.
There is also a Law Practice Workshop requirement.
Contact Information
- Address: 66 Columbus St., Charleston, SC, 29403
- Phone: 843-899-8000
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Trident Technical College – Certificate
About the School
Trident Technical College understands that many students want to have options in their paralegal studies.
The Certificate in Applied Science – Paralegal Certificate offers the ideal option for students who already have some college credit.
Courses Offered
The Certificate in Applied Science – Paralegal Certificate program at Trident Technical College provides students with a basic foundation for working as a paralegal.
The program, which is approved by the American Bar Association, consists of 39 credit hours of study.
Students are required to complete at least nine credit hours of legal specialty courses in a synchronous format.
Gain strong communication skills, the skills to conduct legal research, and the skills that are necessary to interview clients.
Develop effective legal writing skills and the knowledge to draft legal documents. Learn ethical considerations for paralegals.
Courses that are included in the program include Introduction to Law and Ethics, Business Law, Legal Writing, Civil Litigation, and Property Law.
Students who are enrolled in the paralegal certificate program also complete a Law Practice Workshop course.
Contact Information
- Address: 7000 Rivers Ave., Charleston, SC, 29406
- Phone: 843-574-6894
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Technical College of the Lowcountry
About the School
The Technical College of the Lowcountry serves more than 5,000 students every year, including full-time students, part-time students, and non-traditional students.
One program offered to students is the Paralegal: Associate in Applied Science program, which is approved by the American Bar Association.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal: Associate in Applied Science program at Technical College of the Lowcountry is a 67-credit program.
The program provides students with a comprehensive paralegal education that focuses on the skills and knowledge that are required of paralegals.
Students who enroll in the program learn how to research and apply substantive and procedural law, how to prepare a variety of legal documents, and how to analyze procedural issues and recommend appropriate courses of action.
They learn how to interview clients and witnesses, and how to apply ethical principles.
Students take courses such as Criminal Law, Introduction to Law and Ethics, Civil Litigation, Litigation Applications, and Law Office Management.
Some other courses include Family Law, Property Law, Business Law, and Legal Bibliography.
The two-year program also includes a capstone project and an internship.
Contact Information
- Address: 921 Ribaut Rd., Beaufort, South Carolina, 29902
- Phone: 843-525-8207
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Florence Darlington Technical College
About the School
The Florence-Darlington Technical College has a vision to transform diverse lives through excellence and innovation in education.
The programs offered at the college provide a student-centered experience, including the Associate in Applied Science Paralegal program.
Courses Offered
The Florence-Darlington Technical College Associate in Applied Science Paralegal program prepares students to work as paralegals in a variety of settings, including law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments.
The program provides students with knowledge of the responsibilities of paralegals and the skills that paralegals need to have for a successful career in South Carolina.
Courses offered in the program include Legal Bibliography, Introduction to Law and Ethics, Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Family Law, and Property Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 2715 W. Lucas St., Florence, South Carolina, 29501
- Phone: 843-661-8324
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
The median salary for a paralegal in South Carolina in August 2023 was $63,138.
The salary for paralegals who work in South Carolina may vary because of several factors.
One reason that the salary of a paralegal varies is the type of setting where they work.
A person who is a paralegal at a large law firm or in the legal department of a large corporation is likely to earn a larger salary than a paralegal who works for a small private law office.
Another reason that the salary of a paralegal who works in South Carolina varies is because of experience.
The paralegal who has several years of experience likely earns a higher salary than someone who just landed their first paralegal job.
The city where paralegals work often affects their median salary.
One example is that the median salary of a paralegal who works in Charleston is $63,508, as of August 2023.
Compare that median salary to the salary of a paralegal who works in Allendale, South Carolina who earns a median salary of $62,114.
A paralegal who works in Jackson, South Carolina earns a median salary of $62,458, while a paralegal who works in Sumter, South Carolina earns a median salary of $59,800.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$56K |
|
$63K |
|
$71K |
Average Salary in South Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbia | $62,150 |
| Charleston | $63,693 |
| North Charleston | $63,693 |
| Greenville | $63,375 |
| Rock Hill | $66,018 |
| Mount Pleasant | $63,693 |
| Spartanburg | $63,040 |
| Sumter | $59,974 |
| Hilton Head Island | $62,616 |
| Florence | $60,457 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1,550 | $51,190 | $24.61 | $68,540 | $37,230 |
| Columbia, SC | 1,770 | $55,170 | $26.52 | $73,460 | $38,270 |
| Florence, SC | 200 | $48,820 | $23.47 | $72,320 | $35,050 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 1,330 | $50,470 | $24.27 | $65,780 | $35,690 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 330 | $50,220 | $24.14 | $69,100 | $34,230 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 600 | $46,860 | $22.53 | $61,510 | $34,180 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 240 | $50,890 | $24.47 | $70,770 | $35,740 |
| Sumter, SC | 80 | $43,510 | $20.92 | $58,950 | $28,880 |
* 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
I’ve heard fantastic things about a couple of these programs from colleagues. This list confirms I’m on the right track with my education and career goals.
It’s impressive to see the diversity of programs available in South Carolina for aspiring paralegals.
When evaluating paralegal programs, it’s essential to consider factors such as accreditation, program reputation, faculty qualifications, internship opportunities, and student support services. Additionally, reaching out to current students or alumni and researching program outcomes can provide valuable insights into the quality of education offered by each institution. Good luck aspiring paralegals!