Trade Schools
As more legal businesses try to cut costs for their clients, paralegals will continue to be needed to complete tasks that were previously assigned to entry-level lawyers.
If you want to become a paralegal in Georgia, the first step is to pursue a degree approved by the American Bar Association.
A degree in Criminal Justice, Business, or a related field may also qualify you for work in the field.
Paralegal certificate programs are also available and designed for students who already have a degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia paralegals made $57,890 per year, on average.
To help you choose the path and the program that best meets your needs, on this page we have compiled information about the best paralegal training programs in California.
1University of Georgia
About the School
The University of Georgia provides a Paralegal Certificate program through its Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.
This program is available in online and classroom formats and includes 90 hours of training.
The program costs $1,895 plus materials.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers a variety of skills, including:
- Legal Terminology, ethics, and the Foundations of the litigation process
- The rules of evidence and the process of civil procedure
- Basic interviewing and investigation techniques
- Prepare interrogatories, requests for admissions, and requests for the production of documents
- Learn how to identify and research relevant laws
- Critique and prepare legal documents
Students receive a Certificate of Program Completion for 9.0 Education Units after successfully completing the course.
Learners spend approximately 8-12 hours per week reading and completing assignments.
Contact Information
- Address: 1197 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602-3603
- Phone: (706) 542-3537
- Website: https://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu
2Georgia Piedmont Technical College
About the School
Georgia Piedmont Technical College provides a variety of programs designed to produce a skilled and qualified workforce for DeKalb, Newton, and Rockdale counties.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at Georgia Piedmont Technical College leads to an associate degree.
The program includes topics on ethical obligations, research in state and federal law, legal correspondence preparation, family law matters, basic concepts of real property law, criminal law and procedure, civil litigation, tort law, and more.
Students must complete at least 25 percent of the legal specialty courses required to be awarded the degree or certificate.
Each student must complete a minimum of 10 percent legal specialty courses delivered through traditional classroom instruction.
Contact Information
- Address: 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021
- Phone: 404-297-9522
- Website: https://www.gptc.edu
3Emory University
Emory University aims to enrich the lives and careers of non-traditional students.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the university:
- Paralegal Certificate Webinar
- Health and Wellness Coaching Webinar
- Project Management Certificate Webinar
- Management Certificate Webinar
- Creative Writing Certificate
- And more
The Paralegal Certificate Webinar helps students begin a paralegal career in just four months.
According to the school’s website, this is Georgia’s longest-running post-baccalaureate paralegal program.
The program prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the legal profession.
The curriculum consists of Introduction to Law, Civil Litigation, Legal Research & Writing, and Contract Law.
In total, the program includes 75 classroom hours and is offered in convenient evening and weekend formats and also includes a career development module.
Students can also enhance their Paralegal Certificate by adding a specialization such as Criminal Law, E-Discovery, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property, Real Estate Law, Tors & Personal Injury Law, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 2635 Century Pkwy NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30345
- Phone: (404) 727-6000
- Website: https://ece.emory.edu
4Legal Staff School
About the School
Legal Staff School provides students with the training needed for careers as legal administrative assistants in different settings.
The legal classes available at the school are taught by real attorneys and paralegals.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the Legal Staff School:
- Case Management- legal assistants and clerks are trained to know the most effective strategies for keeping a case on track
- Communication Skills- tactics that have been developed over years of implementing best practices from firms across the country
- Document Preparation- students learn document management strategies used by law firms nationwide
Contact Information
- Phone: 770-509-2331
- Website: https://legalstaffschool.com
5Clayton State University
About the School
Clayton State University provides a Social Sciences program through its College of Arts & Sciences.
The university provides students with personalized attention, small class sizes, and affordable career preparation.
The classes are taught by an outstanding faculty in vibrant campus life.
Courses Offered
The Legal Studies program available at Clayton State University provides students with the following options:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies- a degree that emphasizes practical skills and analytical and conceptual thinking, legal research & writing, a study of the evolution of various legal theories, the substantive areas of law, and the role of law in society.
- Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies- a program for students who do not want to seek a four-year degree
- Paralegal Certificate- a program that focuses o paralegal skills, legal terminology, legal research and writing, and substantive law courses
The Certificate curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Law & Ethics
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Research & Writing
- Litigation Techniques
- Advanced Legal Research & Writing
- Legal Studies Capstone
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, GA 30260
- Phone: (678) 466-4000
- Website: https://www.clayton.edu
6Georgia Military College
About the School
Georgia Military College provides a Paralegal Studies program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the public and private sectors of the legal field.
The program is available through the Global Online Leadership College.
This associate’s degree program may transfer to a bachelor’s degree.
The estimated annual cost is $7,785.
Georgia Military College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and bachelor of applied science degrees.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Law and Ethics
- Legal Research and Writing
- Family Law
- Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Torts and Remedies
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 201 East Greene Street, Campus Box 100, Milledgeville, GA 31061
- Phone: 866-508-0365
- Website: https://online.gmc.edu
7South Florida International College
Students may also earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies by pursuing an online program.
One such program is the one 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.
Students learn how to draft basic legal documents such as complaints, responses, and contracts.
They also learn how to 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.
To be qualified for admission into the program, 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
8University of South Florida
Self-paced and live online programs are also available at the University of South Florida.
About the School
The University of South Florida provides a variety of undergraduate majors and certificate programs.
The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Paralegal Certificate through its Corporate Training and Professional Education division.
The program is designed for paralegals by paralegals, attorneys, and judges across the country.
The hands-on curriculum focuses on the real-world skills set in demand by law firms, legal divisions, attorneys, corporations, and government agencies.
Students learn about legal processes, court structure, interviewing, investigation, document preparation, file maintenance, correspondence, research, writing, and analysis.
The curriculum also covers torts, contracts, and civil procedure.
Students have individual subscriptions to Lexis and Westlaw to be trained in online legal research.
The following formats are available:
- Self Pace- an online format that allows students to learn at their own pace.
- Live Online | Virtual Classroom- classes are offered via live online sessions.
This program costs $4,995
Contact Information
- Address: 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Phone: 813-974-2011
- Website: https://www.usf.edu
9Community College of Denver
About the School
The Community College of Denver offers several paralegal programs that prepare students for a career in an exciting and expanding field.
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, in a hybrid format, or fully online
- General Paralegal- offered in the classroom, hybrid or fully online
- Licensed Legal Paraprofessional- a fully online program
The program offered at Community College of Denver provides 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 paralegal curriculum includes courses and electives on topics 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
10Liberty University
An online paralegal program is also available at Liberty University- a university located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
About the School
Liberty University is an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus.
A variety of programs are available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
The classes are taught from a Christian perspective.
The programs are offered fully online.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies program available at Liberty University provides students with the experience and practical skills that make students marketable while they pursue a Bachelor’s degree.
The program prepares students with a foundational knowledge of criminal law and procedures, writing depositions, and real estate transactions.
The curriculum also covers in-demand skills such as performing title searches.
The program includes 60 credit hours and can be completed in one and a half years on average.
Contact Information
- Address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515
- Phone: (888) 376-3157
- Website: https://www.liberty.edu
Regional Salary in Georgia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 90 | $54,980 | $26.44 | $76,320 | $36,300 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 140 | $50,500 | $24.28 | $61,880 | $34,510 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 8,950 | $65,570 | $31.53 | $97,880 | $38,060 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 410 | $54,430 | $26.17 | $76,890 | $34,620 |
| Brunswick, GA | 110 | $45,210 | $21.74 | $63,640 | $27,470 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 240 | $46,560 | $22.39 | $68,540 | $26,470 |
| Dalton, GA | 70 | $50,170 | $24.12 | $71,550 | $30,130 |
| Gainesville, GA | 180 | $51,860 | $24.93 | $74,250 | $30,980 |
| Hinesville, GA | 50 | $50,110 | $24.09 | $77,410 | $31,000 |
| Macon, GA | 340 | $51,380 | $24.7 | $73,260 | $30,880 |
| Rome, GA | 60 | $50,140 | $24.1 | $62,300 | $31,220 |
| Savannah, GA | 550 | $57,800 | $27.79 | $76,410 | $31,080 |
| Valdosta, GA | 110 | $50,270 | $24.17 | $69,590 | $34,970 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 70 | $48,980 | $23.55 | $66,620 | $27,020 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start an entry-level career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
Now that you have read our selection of the best paralegal schools in Georgia, the next step is to apply for the program that best meets your needs after completing your own research.
