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Paralegals perform important support work in law practices and other legal settings under the direct supervision of a lawyer.
Chapter 20 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar sets the definition of a paralegal in the state.
It also sets the requirements to become a registered paralegal in the state of Florida.
Chapter 20-2.1 defines a paralegal as someone who has education, training, or work experience, who works under the supervision and direction of an employing or supervising attorney.
The chapter also explains that paralegals perform substantive legal work, for which an employing or supervising attorney is responsible.
A Florida Registered Paralegal meets both the requirements to work as a paralegal and the requirements for registration to work as a registered paralegal.
The state requires that registered paralegals meet strict work and educational requirements.
One of the options is for applicants to have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from an approved paralegal program, plus a minimum of two years of paralegal experience.
They may have a Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an approved paralegal program and a minimum of one year of work experience as a paralegal.
Certified paralegals may qualify to become a Florida Registered Paralegal by successfully completing the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) or the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal Exam that is offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
People who want to start their career as a paralegal, those who want to change careers, or those who want to advance their career opportunities can enroll in one of the best paralegal programs in Tampa, FL.
Enrolling in one of these programs gives students the knowledge and the skills that they need to work as entry-level paralegals or to continue their paralegal studies.
1 Hillsborough Community College
Hillsborough Community College was founded in 1968.
The school has grown considerably over the years.
It is now the fifth-largest community college in the Florida State College System.
The school serves more than 45,000 students.
It offers more than 200 program options.
One of the options is the Paralegal Studies Associate of Science program.
Students who graduate from the Paralegal Studies Associate of Science program qualify to either start working as a paralegal or to continue their studies at a school that offers Bachelor’s degree programs in paralegal studies.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies Associate of Science program at Hillsborough Community College consists of 64 credit hours.
Many of the courses in the program are offered online, in addition to the on-campus format.
The school also offers a Paralegal Studies Advanced Technical Certificate program.
Students complete 21 credits in that program.
Some courses that students complete when they enroll in the Associate of Science program include:
- Tort Law
- Writing and Research I and II
- Litigation Procedures I and II
- Criminal Litigation
- Elder Law
- Law Office Management
The certificate program is for students who already have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
The degree does not have to be a paralegal studies degree.
Some of the courses that students complete when they enroll in the Paralegal Studies Advanced Training Certificate include:
- Introduction to the Paralegal Profession
- Bankruptcy Law
- Business Organizations
- Administration of Wills/Trusts/Probate
- Law Office Computer Applications
Contact Information
- Address: 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619
- Phone: 813-253-7000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of South Florida
The University of South Florida was founded in 1956.
Today, the school has several campuses across the Tampa Bay area.
There are more than 68 countries represented at the school.
The school is proud of its history, including when the first students were welcomed to the school in 1960.
It was Florida’s first university to be located in a major metropolitan area.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits the University of South Florida.
Students who want to become paralegals are welcome at the school.
The Paralegal Certificate program was developed by paralegals for paralegals who want to work in this career.
Courses Offered
One of the features of the Paralegal Certificate program at the University of South Florida is that students can complete the program in as little as six months.
It is a self-paced program.
Students complete the program courses in a 100 percent online format.
Students who are just starting their education to become paralegals and current paralegals who want to gain further knowledge and credentials are likely to benefit from this program.
Some of the topics that are covered in the program’s curriculum include:
- Document Preparation
- Interviewing Witnesses
- Torts
- Contracts
- Civil Procedure
The curriculum also covers other topics, including legal investigation, file maintenance, court structure, legal research, and legal writing and analysis.
Contact Information
- Address: 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL, 33620
- Phone: 813-974-0950
- Website: Visit School Website
3 University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida states that it is the state’s most innovative university.
It also indicates that it is the university of the future.
The school has long understood that the traditional on-campus setting is not an ideal environment for many students.
It has more than 25 years of innovative distance learning experience.
Students who choose to complete their program in an online format still get the same high-quality education that students get when they attend their classes on campus.
One program that the school offers, through the University of Central Florida Continuing Education Department, is the Online Certified Paralegal program.
The school offers the program through its partnership with Ed2Go.
Courses Offered
The Certified Paralegal (CP) program that is offered by the University of Central Florida prepares students to work as paralegals in various legal environments.
Courses that are in the program include those that help students gain the knowledge, skills, and expertise to work as entry-level paralegals.
The fact that it is a certified paralegal program is likely to increase job opportunities once the students graduate and sit for the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.
Students also take courses that help them to develop the soft skills that are needed to work as a Tampa, FL paralegal.
Some of the courses in this program include:
- The Paralegal in the Legal System
- Introduction to Legal Analysis
- Legal Interviewing
- Tort Law, Product Liability, and Consumer Law
- Estates and Family Law
Some of the other courses that students complete are Legal Writing, Litigation Case Management, Attorney and Paralegal Ethics, Criminal Law, and On-the-Job Realities and Soft Skills.
Students also complete a capstone project.
The tuition for this program is $2,495.
It includes all the learning materials that students need for the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 12351 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL, 32826
- Phone: 855-520-6806
- Website: Visit School Website
4 South Florida International College
South Florida International College recognizes the importance of educating and training its students to become professionals with responsibility, values, and ethics.
The school was recently founded and opened its doors to its first students in 2022.
Students can take programs that are offered by the school in a hybrid format.
This means that students complete some courses in a face-to-face format and that they take other courses online.
The school also offers students the option of completing any of their courses or any of the programs in an online format.
The Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies program at South Florida International College is an option for Tampa, FL residents or those who want to work as paralegals in the Tampa, FL area to complete a paralegal program without having to drive to a traditional campus to take their classes.
The 100 percent online option allows students the opportunity to continue working or to fulfill their other obligations.
Courses Offered
The courses that are offered in the Associate of Paralegal Studies program at South Florida International College prepare students to work as entry-level paralegals or to increase their current paralegal knowledge and skills to advance their career.
Each of the courses that are in the program is three credits.
Students complete a total of 900 clock hours.
Some of the courses in this program include:
- Torts and Personal Injury
- Real Estate Principles
- Trial Preparation
- Trial Practice and Appeals
- Criminal Law and Litigation
Contact Information
- Address: 9000 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL, 33172
- Phone: 855-457-7738
- Website: Visit School Website
5 University of West Florida
The University of West Florida offers its Online Paralegal Certificate through its Continuing Education Department.
The school recognizes that there is a demand for paralegals who have technical skills, in addition to the basic skills and knowledge that paralegals gain when they enroll in a paralegal program.
The school partnered with the Center for Legal Studies, a BARBRI Company, to provide students with a comprehensive paralegal program that students can access at any time.
The Center for Legal Studies indicates that among students who were surveyed, 95 percent of the respondents found this program to be more flexible than other programs.
Courses Offered
The Online Paralegal Certificate program curriculum covers many topics that prepare students to become knowledgeable paralegals who have the skills to succeed in their careers.
Some topics in the program include:
- Introduction to Paralegalism
- Legal Research
- Rules of Civil Procedure
- Legal Investigation
- Ethics, Torts, and Contracts
Contact Information
- Address: 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 77, Suite 157, Pensacola, FL, 32514
- Phone: 850-473-7468
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hillsborough Community College |
| #2 | University of South Florida |
| #3 | University of Central Florida |
| #4 | South Florida International College |
| #5 | University of West Florida |
Paralegal Salary in Tampa, FL
The salary that paralegals earn often varies based on their experience, their education, and the geographical location where they work as paralegals.
The average annual salary for paralegals who work in Florida, as of May 1, 2025, is $64,501.
Salary.com indicates that paralegals who work in the Tampa, FL area earn an average salary of $64,610, as of May 1, 2025.
Paralegals who work in Tampa often earn an average salary that is more than the average salary for paralegals in other areas.
The average salary for paralegals in Altoona, FL is $62,408, while it is $63, 798 in Fort Myers, FL.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$45K |
|
$64K |
|
$91.2K |
Average Salary in Tampa, FL
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | $68,078 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 850 | $60,390 | $29.04 | $78,990 | $38,890 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 290 | $54,850 | $26.37 | $76,980 | $33,490 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 480 | $55,060 | $26.47 | $73,500 | $37,370 |
| Gainesville, FL | 340 | $49,860 | $23.97 | $72,800 | $29,780 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 60 | $48,690 | $23.41 | $65,560 | $28,500 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,990 | $59,960 | $28.83 | $82,830 | $38,590 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 500 | $54,760 | $26.33 | $73,430 | $37,210 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 12,420 | $66,140 | $31.8 | $93,750 | $40,240 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 420 | $61,610 | $29.62 | $83,290 | $45,630 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 940 | $58,660 | $28.2 | $77,960 | $39,080 |
| Ocala, FL | 300 | $53,630 | $25.79 | $65,010 | $37,300 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 5,640 | $57,270 | $27.53 | $77,500 | $38,040 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 630 | $59,440 | $28.58 | $78,310 | $38,010 |
| Panama City, FL | 190 | $50,910 | $24.48 | $66,220 | $32,200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 900 | $51,500 | $24.76 | $73,690 | $35,010 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 510 | $60,510 | $29.09 | $88,130 | $36,980 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 120 | $54,330 | $26.12 | $72,680 | $33,430 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 150 | $58,170 | $27.97 | $77,980 | $38,410 |
| Sebring, FL | 40 | $51,990 | $24.99 | $62,350 | $35,660 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 830 | $53,060 | $25.51 | $75,300 | $34,280 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 6,260 | $65,440 | $31.46 | $88,050 | $41,770 |
| The Villages, FL | 50 | $53,310 | $25.63 | $78,040 | $34,420 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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