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- The Top Paralegal Schools in Austin, TX
- 1 Austin Community College
- 2 University of Texas
- 3 Central Texas College
- 4 Collin College
- 5 Texas State University
- 6 Huston-Tillotson University
- 7 Bryan University
- Schools Summary Table
- Paralegal Salary in Austin, TX
- Find Paralegal Programs by State
- Find Paralegal Programs by Metro Area
Paralegals typically work alongside attorneys or other legal professionals in a variety of ways.
They may perform research, conduct interviews, and compile case reports.
If you’re interested in a law career without needing a law degree in Austin, TX, here are the best paralegal schools to check out.
The Top Paralegal Schools in Austin, TX
- Austin Community College
- University of Texas
- Central Texas College
- Collin College
- Texas State University
- Huston-Tillotson University
- Bryan University
1 Austin Community College
Austin Community College is considered one of the best schools in the area.
They offer more than 100 programs in ten areas of study, ranging from career certificates to bachelor’s degrees.
The college focuses on flexibility and real-world learning to prepare you for a new career.
Courses Offered / Program Name
Austin Community College offers two paralegal programs.
If you don’t have a degree, you can earn your Associate of Applied Science Degree as a Paralegal.
This requires 22 courses, which are 3 credit hours each, for a total of 66 credit hours.
This program includes seven general education courses, including English Composition I and Texas and Local Government.
You’ll also complete 15 courses related to legal studies.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, you can choose the Paralegal Advanced Technical Certificate program.
This program requires 12 courses, and each is 3 credit hours, for a total of 36 credit hours.
This program excludes general knowledge courses and focuses solely on legal courses.
Legal courses for both programs include Contracts, Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Civil Litigation, and Evidence.
Many courses can be completed in the evenings and on Saturday mornings, making it a great choice for working adults.
You can complete the program at your own pace, with no requirements to complete a specific number of courses per semester.
Contact Information
- Address: 1212 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701
- Phone: 512-223-3713
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Texas
The University of Texas is ranked the 7th Top Public University according to U.S. News and World Report.
The college’s mission is to achieve excellence in the areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research, and public service.
Courses / Programs Offered
The Paralegal Certificate program is an online, instructor-led program.
It’s a real-time program, which means that you will need to attend virtual classes two days a week. The program is five months long.
The program will teach you essential skills in law, torts, contracts, and civil procedures.
The program provides a combination of lectures, projects, e-learning, tests, and assignments.
Courses include:
- Essential Skills for Paralegals
- Tort Law
- Texas Civil Procedure and Evidence
- Contract Law
Contact Information
- Address: 2515 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712
- Phone: (512) 471-3434
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Central Texas College
Central Texas College offers 9 physical locations as well as a variety of online programs.
The college offers Associate’s degrees, career training, technical training, and continuing adult education programs.
Courses / Programs Offered
Central Texas College offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in paralegal studies.
The program can be completed in less than two years if the student chooses to attend year-round, attend both day and evening courses, or has already completed general education requirements.
Students may also choose the “job starter” certificate in paralegal studies.
This program takes 1 year to complete and requires 30 credit hours.
The program is a great option for aspiring law students.
All instructors are graduates of law school, and the program features scaled-down versions of many law school courses.
Courses include Introduction to Law and the Legal Profession, Business Computer Applications, Law Office Technology, Contracts, Torts and Personal Injury Law, and Criminal Law and Procedure.
Paralegal internships are offered as a capstone course, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in the legal field.
Contact Information
- Address: 6200 W. Central Texas Expressway Killeen, TX 76549-4199
- Phone: 254-526-1460
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Collin College
Collin College has been providing college education for more than 40 years.
They offer a wide variety of in-person and online programs, as well as non-degree continuing education courses.
60,000 students gain the knowledge they need to pursue their dreams each year.
Collins offers 200 programs, including several four-year bachelor’s degree programs, and many associate degree and certificate programs.
Courses / Programs Offered
Collin College offers an Associate of Applied Science – Paralegal/Legal Assistant degree, which requires 60 credit hours and includes general education requirements.
You can also choose the Paralegal General Certificate program, which requires 36 credit hours.
The program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Required courses include family law, wills and probate, and litigation.
Electives include criminal law, bankruptcy, employment law, intellectual property law, and employment law.
You’ll also participate in a Cooperative Work Experience program, which allows you to gain valuable hands-on experience.
While many courses are offered online, you are required to take at least nine credit hours through synchronous instruction, which means you’ll participate in live online or in-person classes.
Contact Information
- Address: 2200 W. University Dr. McKinney, TX 75071
- Phone: 972.548.6790
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Texas State University
Texas State University is currently an R2-level research university.
They are pursuing the Research-1 Carnegie classification, which is the highest level universities can achieve.
The university accommodates more than 40,000 students and offers more than 200 degree programs.
Texas State is a public university.
The school focuses on transforming communities and the world.
The university prides itself on admitting students from all walks of life and locations around the state and the world.
2 out of 3 degrees at Texas State are awarded to at-risk students, and they are one of four Texas universities recognized for social impact.
Courses / Programs Offered
Texas State University offers a Paralegal Certificate program for students at the graduate level.
The program has strict requirements for staff, the program, the facility, and students, making it a great choice if you’ve already earned a Bachelor’s or higher degree.
It’s also American Bar Association-approved.
The program is offered through the Department of Political Science and the Graduate College.
Students are required to be enrolled in the Master of Legal Studies program as well.
Courses overlap, so any courses taken in pursuit of the certificate of legal studies program will also apply to the master’s degree program.
The Certificate in Legal Studies program requires 24 credit hours, while the Master’s degree requires 36 credit hours.
To earn the paralegal certificate, you’ll take 18 credit hours in courses including Introduction to the Paralegal Profession and Legal Technology, Legal Research, Litigation, Legal Drafting, and Legal Theories and Analytics.
You’ll need to complete 6 credit hours in elective courses as well.
Elective courses include Real Estate, Family Law, Business Organizations, and Criminal Law.
Lastly, you’ll complete a Law Office Internship to gain real-world experience as a paralegal.
In addition to these requirements, the Master’s program also requires an Applied Research Project course and 3 more elective credit hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666
- Phone: 512.245.2143
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University is a Christian university, affiliated with The United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.
They are also affiliated with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
The school operates jointly under the auspices of the American Missionary Association of the United Church of Christ and the Board of Education of The United Methodist Church.
The college was established in 1875 and is the first university to be opened in Austin.
The current iteration was created in 1952 when Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College merged.
Courses / Programs Offered
Huston-Tillotson University has partnered with CLS Barbri to offer an online paralegal studies certificate.
There are several instruction methods to choose from.
The online program starts every 8 weeks.
You’ll interact with professors and other students via email and discussion boards.
You’ll have 7 weeks to complete Paralegal 1 and 7 weeks to complete Paralegal 2.
The self-study program offers the same content but allows you to complete the program at your own pace, with 6 months to complete the program.
However, interaction is limited to professors.
You won’t communicate with other students.
For those who have limited access to technology, you can choose the text-based format.
This allows you to access textbooks and printed materials.
You’ll email or mail coursework for grading, and have a total of 12 months to complete the program.
During the Paralegal 1 program, students will learn the history of the American legal system, legal terminology, legal ethics, jury selection techniques, how to prepare legal documents, and how to conduct legal interviews and investigations.
Paralegal 2 program objectives include legal authority, how to perform computerized legal research, legal writing style, advocacy techniques, and how to begin your job search or begin your own paralegal business.
Contact Information
- Address: 900 Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702
- Phone: (512) 505-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Bryan University
Bryan University has been offering American Bar Association-approved programs since 1940.
The school focuses on career preparation, ensuring students are ready to begin their careers after completing the program.
Courses / Programs Offered
Gain a Competitive Advantage with Skills & Certifications that Employers Want
Bryan College offers a few options for paralegals.
These include a Paralegal and Legal Assistant certificate, an associate’s degree in Paralegal and Legal Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies.
Programs include a voucher to take the Certified Paralegal exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants, or NALA.
Each program will prepare you to take this exam and excel as a paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 350 W Washington St Ste 100, Tempe, AZ 85281-1495
- Phone: 1.888.768.6861
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Austin Community College |
| #2 | University of Texas |
| #3 | Central Texas College |
| #4 | Collin College |
| #5 | Texas State University |
| #6 | Huston-Tillotson University |
| #7 | Bryan University |
Paralegal Salary in Austin, TX
Paralegals in Austin, TX typically earn between $61,772 and $126,624, with an average salary of $94,198.
How much you earn will depend on any specializations you may have, education, experience, and the type of law firm or position you choose.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$42.4K |
|
$61.8K |
|
$90.1K |
Average Salary in Austin, TX
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Austin | $63,562 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 70 | $58,980 | $28.35 | $88,840 | $36,630 |
| Amarillo, TX | 200 | $59,990 | $28.84 | $84,760 | $37,760 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 3,470 | $72,620 | $34.91 | $122,500 | $42,000 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 260 | $60,160 | $28.92 | $81,650 | $37,230 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 300 | $45,710 | $21.97 | $70,410 | $28,420 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 220 | $59,720 | $28.71 | $89,810 | $37,520 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 550 | $56,360 | $27.1 | $82,620 | $39,100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,160 | $66,580 | $32.01 | $98,710 | $46,590 |
| El Paso, TX | 640 | $50,400 | $24.23 | $71,410 | $37,690 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7,770 | $63,640 | $30.6 | $98,320 | $38,810 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 190 | $55,650 | $26.75 | $80,000 | $36,950 |
| Laredo, TX | 110 | $63,600 | $30.58 | $102,920 | $35,630 |
| Longview, TX | 100 | $59,270 | $28.49 | $80,560 | $36,300 |
| Lubbock, TX | 300 | $51,820 | $24.91 | $76,560 | $28,080 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 760 | $40,300 | $19.37 | $60,030 | $21,230 |
| Midland, TX | 100 | $68,720 | $33.04 | $102,260 | $37,890 |
| Odessa, TX | 90 | $62,940 | $30.26 | $87,700 | $39,940 |
| San Angelo, TX | 60 | $56,090 | $26.97 | $76,940 | $36,730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 2,070 | $61,290 | $29.47 | $86,320 | $39,710 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 90 | $53,330 | $25.64 | $78,190 | $29,810 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 70 | $54,060 | $25.99 | $71,710 | $35,730 |
| Tyler, TX | 270 | $49,770 | $23.93 | $71,830 | $30,820 |
| Waco, TX | 160 | $58,620 | $28.18 | $81,260 | $38,000 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 60 | $55,980 | $26.92 | $80,190 | $37,040 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Find Paralegal Programs by State
- AL Alabama
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Find Paralegal Programs by Metro Area
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
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- Philadelphia, PA
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- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC
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