Paralegals work alongside attorneys.
They can perform many duties, including interviewing clients, creating legal briefs, and doing legal research.
Paralegals are an important part of legal teams.
If you are interested in the legal system but don’t want to get a law degree, you should consider becoming a paralegal in West Virginia.
1 Bridge Valley Community & Technical College
About School
Bridge Valley Community and Technical College is a community college focused on innovation and career preparedness.
The school promotes student success, aims to prepare a skilled workforce, and creates the leaders of tomorrow by providing a quality education.
Programs/Courses Offered
This course requires 60 credit hours.
Specific courses include Introduction to the Paralegal Profession, General Psychology, Civil Litigation, Critical Thinking and Leadership, and Business Law.
You’ll learn how to conduct legal research through technology and physical resources.
You’ll create legal documents that meet professional standards.
You’ll learn to use the correct legal terminology, and understand the different types of law.
You’ll learn about the responsibilities of paralegals and their limitations.
You’ll also understand the ethics of the role.
Before completing the program, you’ll take the Paralegal Core Competency Exam or PCCE.
Passing the exam allows you to become a registered paralegal through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Contact Information
- Address: 2001 Union Carbide Drive, South Charleston, WV 25303
- Phone: (304) 205-6600
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
About School
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a public school that offers an affordable education devoted to supporting student’s academic advancement and career development.
They also provide career development and workforce training.
The school provides practical or hands-on education along with theoretical concepts.
Programs/Courses Offered
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies.
This program emphasizes legal terminology, legal research and writing skills, and technology that is used by paralegals.
After completing the program, you’ll be prepared to work as a paralegal, legal secretary, or legal assistant.
The program requires 60 credit hours and usually takes 2 years to complete.
You can take the courses on campus. online, or a combination of the two.
You’ll learn to use critical thinking, decision-making, and research skills within the legal field.
You’ll understand and be able to describe law sources and the powers of federal courts.
You’ll learn how to create legal documents and correspondence, and develop the professional and technical skills you’ll need to perform the duties of a paralegal.
You’ll also learn about the ethics of the legal system, and how to act ethically as a paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 13650 Apple Harvest Dr, Martinsburg, WV 25403
- Phone: 304.260.4380 ext. 2000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 American Public University System
About School
American Public University System is an online college designed for adults.
The college focuses on educating military and public service professionals.
Their online programs prepare students to succeed in a variety of roles in a global society and marketplace.
American Public University is the top provider of higher education for the U.S. military and veterans.
They offer a total of 263 degree and certificate programs, and the school has had a total of 123,000 graduates.
Programs/Courses Offered
American Public University offers a variety of paralegal programs.
The shortest program is the paralegal certificate program.
This course requires 24 credit hours and usually takes 1 year to complete.
Courses include Litigation, Real Estate Law, Legal Research and Writing, Legal Ethics, and Administrative Law and Policy.
The courses in this program may be applied toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in legal studies.
The Associate of Science in Legal Studies gives you a solid understanding of being a paralegal and general education courses.
The degree requires 60 credit hours and usually takes two years to complete.
You’ll take the courses included in the certificate program, along with 30 credit hours of general education courses.
These include Arts and Humanities, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. You’ll also choose a few elective courses.
You can also get a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies.
This program requires 120 credit hours and takes at least 4 years to complete.
This gives you the best knowledge of the legal field and the paralegal profession.
You will specialize in a concentration, in addition to completing the courses included in the other paralegal programs.
Concentrations include Legal, Criminal Law Support, Legal Data Analysis, and Legal Office Administration.
You can continue your education to become a lawyer once you get your bachelor’s in legal studies or begin a career as a paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 11 West Congress Street Charles Town, WV 25414
- Phone: 703-330-5398
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Mountwest Community & Technical College
About School
Mountwest Community & Technical College offers 50 certificate and Associate degree programs.
Some programs are Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degrees.
These are designed for students who want to go on to get a Bachelor’s degree after graduation.
Certificate and Associate of Applied Science degrees, on the other hand, are designed for students who want to begin their careers after graduating.
The school is community-centered and focused on meeting the needs of students. They also offer non-credit courses which can help you further your career.
Programs/Courses Offered
Mountwest Community and Technical College offer an Associate of Applied Science Paralegal degree.
This degree is 61 credit hours and takes 2 years to complete.
You’ll learn about legal terminology, and how to communicate with other legal professionals, peers, and clients.
You’ll learn how to perform legal research and create legal briefs and documents.
You’ll also understand what behavior is ethical and appropriate for paralegals.
Courses include General Law, Legal Ethics, Law Office Technology, Civil Litigation, and Criminal Litigation.
You’ll also choose several law electives.
If you want to get started quickly, you can get a paralegal certificate.
This program requires 30 credit hours and takes one year to complete.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Mountwest Way, Huntington, WV 25701
- Phone: 304-710-3140
- Website: Visit School Website
5 West Virginia University
About School
West Virginia University believes that everyone is entitled to an education.
The school offers a variety of scholarships and financing options.
In fact, 90% of freshmen students have a scholarship.
The school also allows students to apply without their SAT or ACT test scores.
These students are accepted based on their GPA, which allows them to get the admission process started sooner.
Programs/Courses Offered
West Virginia University offers a paralegal certificate course.
You’ll learn how to conduct legal interviews and research, create legal documents, and perform analysis, and use logic.
You’ll also learn soft skills that help you to be an effective employee.
The course ends with a capstone project that gives you valuable experience.
You’ll create a litigation file that includes an analysis brief, an investigative report, a client interview checklist, legal research, and an interoffice law memorandum.
You’ll also create a resume, which will help you when you begin your job search.
The college has a partnership with the National Association of Legal Assistants or NALA.
When you complete the program, you’ll get membership to NALA, and access to the Certified Paralegal Exam Review Course.
This prepares you to take the Certified Paralegal exam to become a certified paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 201 Woodburn Hall, PO Box 6286, Morgantown, WV 26506-6286
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Pierpont Community and Technical College
About School
Pierpont Community and Technical College is a small not-for-profit community college with a strong focus on students.
Many students are the first in their families to attend college.
They also have a large proportion of adults who are attending college to begin a new career.
Pierpont offers flexible class schedules and student support to ensure the success of learners.
They also tailor courses to the needs of individual students, rather than the one-size-fits-all approach that’s common in larger schools.
Programs/Courses Offered
Pierpont offers an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.
However, they offer two unique paralegal concentrations.
Both concentrations require 60 credit hours, including 15 hours of general education and 45 hours of paralegal studies.
The program typically takes 2 years to complete.
The program is offered completely online.
Tuition is approximately $14,000 for West Virginia residents.
You can choose the general paralegal concentration, which prepares you to work as a paralegal in a law office or similar settings.
The other concentration is land work.
This can lead to a career as a right-of-way negotiator, lease negotiator, permit specialist, due diligence specialist, independent land professional, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 500 Galliher Dr., Fairmont, WV 26554
- Phone: 304-367-4907
- Website: Visit School Website
7 New River Community and Technical College
About School
New River Community and Technical College provides a quality education that is accessible and affordable.
This includes Associate degree programs and workforce programs designed to meet the needs of the region and community.
The values of the college are community, integrity, justice, service, and scholarship.
Programs/Courses Offered
New River Community and Technical College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Legal Assisting.
This program is designed to prepare you to be a paralegal or legal assistant after graduation.
The program is based on the guidelines of the American Bar Association and the American Association for Paralegal Education.
Classes are typically offered in the evenings, so working adults can attend.
The program is available at the Greenbrier Valley Campus, Mercer County Campus, Nicholas County Campus, and the Raleigh County Campus.
The program requires 60 credit hours and can be completed in 2 years.
Courses include Composition, Legal Assisting, Legal Terminology, Criminal Law, Real Estate Law, and Legal Research.
You’ll need to have basic computer and typing skills before entering the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 5251 College Drive. Dublin, VA 24084
- Phone: 866.349.3739
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
The average salary for a paralegal in West Virginia is $60,396.
The average salary ranges from $53,577 to $68,32.
Your salary will depend on your education, experience, certification, and whether you specialize in a particular type of law.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$53K |
|
$60K |
|
$68K |
Average Salary in West Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $61,095 |
| Huntington | $59,907 |
| Parkersburg | $59,559 |
| Wheeling | $65,662 |
| Morgantown | $65,662 |
| Weirton | $65,386 |
| Fairmont | $65,662 |
| Beckley | $60,558 |
| Clarksburg | $59,022 |
| Martinsburg | $74,328 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 60 | $43,440 | $20.88 | $61,380 | $28,710 |
| Charleston, WV | 410 | $55,720 | $26.79 | $77,650 | $33,530 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 260 | $52,320 | $25.15 | $73,380 | $28,870 |
| Morgantown, WV | 140 | $63,840 | $30.69 | $130,500 | $36,430 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 200 | $67,380 | $32.4 | $93,870 | $37,690 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 40 | $45,760 | $22 | $61,710 | $28,370 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 150 | $52,160 | $25.08 | $75,160 | $30,530 |
* 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
As a working paralegal in West Virginia, I recommend checking out programs that offer internships or partnerships with local law firms. The experience you get while in school is just as important as the coursework, and these programs seem to have great connections.
I’ve been working in administration and thinking about switching to a paralegal role. This post gives me a good starting point, and I’m excited to look into these programs that seem to offer both flexibility and great job placement.
This is exactly what I was looking for! I’ve been considering a career as a paralegal, and it’s great to see that West Virginia has strong programs. Now I just need to decide which one fits my needs best.
I graduated from one of the schools on this list, and I can really vouch for the quality of the program! The professors were knowledgeable, and the internship opportunities gave me a foot in the door at a local law firm. I’m glad that there is a list like this now that can help aspiring paralegals.
My daughter is looking into paralegal programs, and this list gives us a lot of great options to explore. It’s good to know that there are reputable schools in West Virginia with affordable tuition rates! I’m so excited for her because it’s always been my dream.