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People who want to become paralegals can complete a degree or a certificate program at one of the best paralegal schools in Seattle, WA to achieve their career goals.
Some students complete advanced or graduate certificate programs to enhance their knowledge and skills so that they can increase their job opportunities or earn a better salary.
Students who cannot find a paralegal program that aligns with their interests and that helps them achieve their goals in Seattle, WA, often enroll in an online paralegal program.
Another reason that people in Seattle choose to enroll in an online program is that doing so allows them to continue working or taking care of other responsibilities.
The salary that paralegals earn when they work in the Seattle area is one reason why students may choose to work in this area.
Paralegals who work in Seattle have a higher average salary, compared to the average salary for paralegals in the state of Washington.
Some of the paralegal programs in Seattle have approval from the American Bar Association.
The best paralegal schools often offer programs that lead to a certification.
1 University of Washington
The Professional and Continuing Education Department at the University of Washington realizes that completing courses in the traditional face-to-face format is not always ideal for many students.
The school offers the services of enrollment coaches to assist students with enrolling in its programs that are offered in an online format.
One of those programs is the Certificate in Paralegal Studies program.
The University of Washington invites students who are interested in this program to develop their legal expertise.
Students engage in real-time interaction when they meet with their instructors and their classmates over Zoom.
Students who want to enroll in the Certificate in Paralegal Studies program need to already have a bachelor’s degree.
Anyone who does not already hold a Bachelor’s degree needs to complete the Law Office Fundamentals course before being eligible to enroll in this program.
Choose the standard program option to complete the program in 17 months.
Students who choose the accelerated pace option complete the program in 11 months.
The school indicates that the state of Washington has a projected job growth rate of 12.7 percent for paralegals through 2034.
Tuition for the program is $8,940.
Courses Offered
The courses that are offered in the Certificate in Paralegal Studies program teach the fundamentals of legal writing and research, legal theory and reasoning, and the major components of litigation. Students also learn about other support services.
They complete the courses in an online synchronous format.
The number of paralegal courses that the school offers each term may vary.
Some of the courses that are offered in the program include:
- Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis I and II
- Interviewing and Investigation Techniques
- Law Office Procedures and Technology
- Civil Procedure and Litigation I and II
- Complex Litigation
The 17-month Certificate in Paralegal Studies program starts in the spring.
The 11-month accelerated program starts in the fall.
Contact Information
- Address: UW Tower, 4333 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105
- Phone: 206-543-2310
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Highline College
Highline College started offering educational programs in 1961.
Today, it offers more than 100 degrees and certificates.
The school evolved over the years and saw the need to make sure that its programs also evolved to align with in-demand careers.
The school, which sits on the ancestral lands of many Coast Salish tribes, is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Highline College offers two paralegal programs to meet the needs of students who want to become paralegals or who want to advance their careers.
The two-year Paralegal Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program and the one-year Paralegal Plus certificate program are both approved by the American Bar Association.
The paralegal programs at Highland College are the only ones in Seattle and King County that are approved by the American Bar Association.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Associate of Applied Science program is where most students start their paralegal education.
The two-year program prepares students to work as part of a legal team.
Students learn how the U.S. legal system works, how to find laws that are relevant to cases, and how to interpret them.
They also learn to apply the laws to legal cases.
The coursework develops students’ legal writing and research skills and helps them develop the soft skills that they need when working as paralegals.
Some of the courses in the associate degree program include:
- Legal Research and Writing I and II
- Civil Procedures I and II
- Legal Investigation
- Law Office Technology
Students also complete Legal Ethics and Professionalism, 20 credits of electives, and an internship.
Students who enroll in the one-year Paralegal Plus Certificate program must already have a Bachelor’s degree.
The degree does not have to be in a legal area.
The program prepares students to demonstrate proficiency in legal writing and research skills and to use critical thinking skills to analyze and articulate the different sides of legal arguments.
Students who enroll in this program also demonstrate the ability to develop discovery plans, prepare cases for trial, and use technology that is often used in various legal environments.
Some of the courses in this online program include:
- Getting Started: Paralegal Orientation
- Legal Ethics and Professionalism
- Civil Procedures I and II
- Internship Seminar
Students complete 15 credits in electives.
They choose from options such as Contracts and Negotiations, Employment Law, Computer Search and Seizure, and Torts.
Contact Information
- Address: 2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, WA, 98198
- Phone: 206-878-3710
- Website: Visit School Website
3 South Puget Sound Community College
South Puget Sound Community College knows that not everyone has the time or the ability to complete their paralegal program in the traditional classroom setting.
The online classes allow students to have the flexibility that they need to complete their coursework.
People who are military spouses can start their paralegal program online and still complete the program online if they must move.
The school offers two paralegal programs.
The Paralegal Associate in Applied Science program and the Paralegal Plus Post-Bachelor Certificate program.
The programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the Paralegal Associate in Applied Science program complete 97 to 101 credits.
The goal of this program is to prepare students to work as entry-level paralegals, under the supervision of an attorney.
The courses in the two-year associate degree program provide students with the basic skills that they need to work in a legal setting, including basic legal research skills, legal writing skills, and legal technology knowledge and skills.
They also learn about court proceedings, analytical reasoning, and the importance of documentation.
Some courses in the program include:
- Legal Research and Writing I and II
- Law Office Procedures
- Tort Law
- Mediating Conflict
Some other courses include Business Law, Electronic Discovery, Family Law, and Criminal Law.
Students who enroll in the Paralegal Plus Post-Bachelor Certificate program complete 40 to 44 credits.
They learn about legal concepts, legal procedures, and technological skills.
Some courses in the program include:
- Law Office Procedures
- Real Estate, Property Law, and Estate Planning
- Technology in the Law Office
- Family Law
Contact Information
- Address: 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, WA, 98512
- Phone: 360-596-5200
- Website: Visit School Website
4 North Seattle College
North Seattle College opened its doors in 1970.
The school considers itself a starting point for many students who engage in learning opportunities through integrated studies and e-learning opportunities.
The school partners with other institutions that help contribute to the success of students.
One partnership is between the schools’ Continuing Education Department and the Center for Legal Studies (CLS), by BARBRI.
The Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course is taught in a 100 percent online format.
Students have 24/7 access to their courses.
The tuition is $660 per course or $3,300 for the program.
Courses Offered
Students may enroll in up to three topics at a time.
They must complete six topics within a year to receive their certificate.
Some of the courses that are offered in this program include:
- Business Law
- Bankruptcy Law
- Intellectual Property
- Estate Planning
A few of the other courses include Family Law, Real Property Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation), and Victim Advocacy.
Contact Information
- Address: 9600 College Way North, Seattle, WA, 98103
- Phone: 206-934-3600
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Seattle Central College
Seattle Central College has been educating students for more than 50 years.
It was the first two-year college in the Seattle area.
The school evolved over the years so that it remained relevant to its students.
Data from the school shows that nearly 45 percent of the students work.
More than 20 percent of the students attending the school have children.
The online programs provide flexibility for all students, including those who enroll in the Certified Paralegal program.
The school partners with Ed2Go to offer the program.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the 12-month Certified Paralegal program learn the basics of litigation skills, legal research, and how to conduct interviews.
They also learn how to draft legal documents and how to perform legal analysis.
The school gives students in this program membership and access to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal Exam Review courses.
The cost of the program is $2,495.
Some courses that students complete include:
- Introduction to Legal Analysis
- Contracts, Insurance, and Property Law
- Introduction to Law Office Administration
- Estates and Family Law
Students who complete the program are eligible to sit for the Certified Paralegal Exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Contact Information
- Address: 1701 Broadway NP304, Seattle, WA, 98122
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Washington |
| #2 | Highline College |
| #3 | South Puget Sound Community College |
| #4 | North Seattle College |
| #5 | Seattle Central College |
Paralegal Salary Information
The salary that paralegals earn depends on several things, such as their experience, their education, and where they work.
An ideal example that shows that where paralegals work affects their salary is the fact that paralegals who work in Seattle earn an average salary that is higher than the average salary for paralegals in Washington.
The average salary for paralegals who work in Washington, as of May 1, 2025, is $73,915.
The average annual salary for paralegals who work in Seattle is $75,353.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$53K |
|
$75.8K |
|
$108.4K |
Average Salary in Seattle, WA
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $83,708 |
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