Trade Schools
As law firms try to become more efficient and reduce costs for their clients, they look to hire more paralegals and legal assistants to perform tasks that were previously assigned to entry-level lawyers.
Before being ready to apply for entry-level employment in the paralegal field, the first step is to complete a post-secondary training program at a trade school or community college.
Paralegals typically need an associate degree in Paralegal Studies or a bachelor’s degree in a different field followed by a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
Colorado residents have access to a variety of training programs, available both on-campus and online.
To help you choose the one that best meets your learning style and career aspirations, on this page, we have compiled information about the top paralegal training programs in Colorado.
1Colorado Mountain College
About the School
Colorado Mountain College provides a Paralegal Degree program that prepares students with the skills needed to perform a variety of tasks in a legal office, such as doing basic research, drafting legal documents, conducting client and witness interviews, and more.
After completing the associate program, students have the option to continue their education at Colorado Mountain College and earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership and Management or transfer to Colorado Mesa University and earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Administration/Public Safety.
Colorado Mountain College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The online Associate in Applied Science curriculum includes the following program requirements:
- Introduction to Law
- Torts
- Family Law
- Contracts
- Property Law
- Legal Ethics
- Civil Litigation
- Business Organization Law
- Legal Research & Writing
- And more
Learners start by understanding different areas of the law, definitions, contracts, and research principles.
The program also emphasizes communication skills, an important asset in a paralegal’s career.
Students have to earn between 63-64 credits for this degree and are required to complete between 945-975 contact hours.
To obtain a Certificate, students must earn 36 credit hours and complete 540 contact hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 802 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
- Phone: 970-945-8691
- Website: https://coloradomtn.edu
2Community College of Denver
About the School
Community College of Denver provides several paralegal programs that prepare students for a career in this exciting and expanding field.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The following paralegal programs are available at the Community College of Denver:
- Paralegal Transfer- a program available in the classroom, hybrid, or fully online
- Paralegal- a program offered in the classroom, a hybrid or fully online format
- General Paralegal- this program is offered in the classroom, in a hybrid format, or fully online
- Licensed Legal Paraprofessional- a fully online program
The programs offered at Community College of Denver provide students with the ability to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science, emphasis in Paralegal, and start working immediately or transfer to a four-year college or university.
The curriculum includes courses and electives such as:
- Constitutional Law
- Legal Writing
- Torts
- Family Law
- Contracts
- Property Law
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: King Center, Room 594, 855 Lawrence Way, Denver, CO 80204
- Phone: 303.556.2487
- Website: https://www.ccd.edu
3Arapahoe Community College
About the School
Arapahoe Community College provides a Paralegal program that may lead to an Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate.
The college offers 13 programs with specialized accreditation.
Courses offered
The Paralegal Program available at Arapahoe Community College has been approved by the American Bar Association.
This program aims to train students to become ethic-minded paralegals and legal professionals.
Future paralegals prepare for work under the supervision of attorneys in law firms, government agencies, and various business settings.
Students learn how to:
- Apply critical thinking and analysis skills to legal situations
- Show basic legal knowledge
- Develop written research assignments
- Apply technical skills and software
- Display entry-level career preparedness skills in a real-world job setting
- Display knowledge of professional ethics
Contact Information
- Address: 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
- Phone: 303.797.4222
- Website: https://www.arapahoe.edu
4CLS by BARBRI
About the School
Formerly known as The Center for Legal Studies, CLS by BARBRI provides continuing legal education.
The curriculum is delivered to students in online, live lecture and text-only formats.
Courses Offered
The following paralegal-related courses are available at the school:
- Paralegal Certificate Course
- Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course
- Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- Personal Injury for Paralegals
- eDiscovery for Paralegals
Costs vary depending on the course.
The Paralegal Certificate Course costs $1,895.
This is a flagship introductory course and functions as a first step toward a paralegal career.
The most popular format can be completed in two seven-week instructor-led sessions.
The school’s interactive platform offers 24/7 online course access with video and printed tutorials available.
Contact Information
- Address: 12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1340, Dallas, TX 75251
- Phone: 800-522-7737
- Website: https://www.legalstudies.com
5Grand Canyon University
About the School
Grand Canyon University offers students the opportunity to earn a degree in Criminal Justice, Government, or Public Administration.
The University has earned regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university located in Arizona.
The online degree programs available at the university offer students the flexibility they need in order to keep a job while preparing for a new career from the comfort of their homes.
Courses Offered
The following Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice, Government, and Public Administration programs are available at Grand Canyon University:
- BA in Government: Legal Studies
- BA in Government: State and Local Public Policy
- BS in Forensic Science
- BS in Justice Studies
- And more
Master’s Degree programs in Law Enforcement and Legal Studies are also available at the university.
Contact Information
- Address: 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017
- Phone: 602-639-7500
- Website: https://www.gcu.edu
6Community College of Aurora
About the School
Community College of Aurora offers classes at convenient times and locations to meet students’ demanding schedules.
A wide range of programs are available to prepare students to seamlessly transfer to a bachelor’s degree program or go straight into the workforce.
Founded in 1983, the Community College of Aurora has vibrant campuses located in Aurora and Denver.
The Community College of Aurora is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
A Paralegal Associate in Applied Science program is available at the college, among many other pathways.
This program provides students with an understanding of legal principles, legal analysis, and ethical considerations with practical applications.
Paralegal students are required to take 10 credit hours of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction.
Students must take 15 hours of paralegal instruction at the Community College of Aurora in order to receive a degree or certificate from this institution.
In order to meet ABA requirements, only some Paralegal courses are applicable to this degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 16000 E. CentreTech Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80011
- Phone: 303-360-4700
- Website: https://ccaurora.edu
7Front Range Community College
About the School
Front Range Community College provides students with the skills needed to give their careers a boost, start their studies before transferring elsewhere, or complete a bachelor’s degree program.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at the college leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree.
The college also provides two certificate options.
The school’s instructors bring real-world experiences into the classroom.
Students can choose electives in family law, administrative law, evidence, criminal law, probate and estates, employment law, and intellectual property law.
The Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal/Legal Assistant program includes 60 credits designed to be completed in four semesters.
The following Certificate Options are available:
- Paralegal/Legal Assistant- a 30-credit program
- Foundations of Paralegal/Legal Assistant- a 21-credit program
Contact Information
- Address: 2190 Miller Drive, Longmont, CO 80501
- Phone: 303-678-3722
- Website: https://www.frontrange.edu
8Pikes Peak State College
About the School
Pikes Peak State College provides programs designed to teach students a skill and help them earn a degree or certificate.
Three campuses and additional learning centers are located throughout Colorado Springs.
Courses are also available online.
Day and evening classes are provided to adjust to any lifestyle.
More than 150 degrees and certificate programs are included in the college’s catalog.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Program available at Pikes Peak State College prepares students with the skills to support licensed professionals in preparing for trial.
Among many other skills, students learn how to draft documents and conduct legal research.
The program covers tasks, such as:
- Develop an understanding of the various types of law
- Learn to conduct legal research
- Draft initial legal documents and pleadings
- Assist in preparing trial notebooks
The curriculum also includes courses on:
- Introduction to Law
- Family Law
- Legal Ethics
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5675 S. Academy Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- Phone: 719-502-2000
- Website: https://www.pikespeak.edu
9South Florida International College
About the School
Another online Paralegal program is offered by the South Florida International College.
South Florida International College offers a series of programs designed to train competent professionals in different career paths.
Courses Offered
Among many other paths, the college provides an associate degree program in Paralegal Studies that is available in English and Spanish.
After completing this program, students have the required education and training to become a paralegal.
Among other skills, students learn how to draft basic legal documents such as complaints, responses, and contracts, interview clients, conduct independent research on legal issues, draft legal memoranda, and perform a variety of other tasks in a legal office.
The program is available in two formats: online and hybrid.
Applicants need:
- High school Diploma, GED, or equivalent
- Official transcripts
- Statement of student’s professional goals
- TOEFL scores for foreign students who are registering for programs taught in English.
Contact Information
- Address: 9000 NW 25th St, Doral, FL 33172
- Phone: 855 457 7738
- Website: https://sficollege.com
10The University of Arizona
About the School
The University of Arizona helps students prepare with the skills they need to achieve their career goals.
Courses Offered
The following professional development courses are available at the university:
- Advanced Paralegal Certificate
- Business Analytics Certificate
- Data Analytics Boot Camp
- Employment Law
- Grant Writing Certificate
- Legal Secretary Training Course
- Paralegal Certificate
- And more
The Paralegal Certificate program is a non-credit professional development certificate designed to prepare students to start careers as Paralegals.
Students must be at least 18 years of age and they need a high school diploma to qualify for admission into the program.
The course is available in three different formats:
- Online- students complete two seven-week online classes
- Live lecture- this format is similar to the online format but can be completed in eight weeks
- Self-study- students enrolled in this format can register and start at any time and have six months to complete the program
This program costs $1,895 plus books and materials.
The Advanced Paralegal Certificate program provides students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of law and paralegal studies by taking classes in specialized subjects of contemporary law.
Contact Information
- Address: Tucson, AZ 85721
- Phone: (520) 626-5091
- Website: https://ce.arizona.edu
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 620 | $62,930 | $30.26 | $92,520 | $49,680 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 520 | $59,480 | $28.6 | $77,340 | $39,710 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 3,440 | $76,740 | $36.9 | $107,680 | $47,340 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 230 | $66,310 | $31.88 | $84,280 | $48,480 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 140 | $54,980 | $26.43 | $67,080 | $37,370 |
| Greeley, CO | 90 | $64,690 | $31.1 | $83,960 | $41,010 |
| Pueblo, CO | 80 | $49,630 | $23.86 | $68,180 | $36,810 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession can be a great option.
Now that you have read our list of the top paralegal schools in Colorado, the next step is to continue the research, decide if this career is a right fit for you, and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
