Trade Schools
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by Montana paralegals and legal assistants was $58,190.
If you want to start a career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
Before being ready to apply for employment in this field you will need an associate degree or a certificate.
Montana schools provide plenty of learning opportunities for those who want to start employment in the paralegal profession.
Programs are available both in person and online, to accommodate the needs of busy adults who have to keep a full-time job while preparing for a new career.
To help you choose the program and the format that best meets your needs, on this page, we have compiled information about the best training options available.
1Fort Peck Community College
About the School
Fort Peck Community College provides a variety of programs that lead to Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and one-year Certificates.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the college provides a Lay Advocate/Paralegal Certificate program.
This program is designed to equip students with the skills needed to prepare them to practice as lay advocates in Tribal Courts.
Graduates are also prepared for entry-level employment as a paralegal.
Students learn a variety of skills, including how to:
- Identify legal issues and remedies
- Thoroughly research legal issues using primary and secondary legal research tools
- Gain a foundational knowledge of civil and criminal law sufficient for entry-level employment as a paralegal
- Prepare legal Memoranda and briefs using logical analysis and proper citation forms
Contact Information
- Address: 605 Indian Ave, Poplar, MT 59255
- Phone: (406) 768-6300
- Website: https://www.fpcc.edu
2University of Montana
About the School
The University of Montana offers a wide range of courses, degrees, minors, and majors to help students fulfill their academic and professional goals.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1, with an average class size of 30 students.
Courses Offered
Among many other career pathways, the university provides a Paralegal Studies program that prepares students for challenging and diverse careers in law practices and other law-related settings.
Students learn:
- How to analyze legal issues
- How to draft legal documents
- Interviewing clients
- Conducting legal research and preparing cases for trial
- And more
Students also learn about legal and general office software applications and the knowledge needed to find employment in this profession.
Contact Information
- Address: 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812
- Phone: 406-243-0211
- Website: https://www.umt.edu
3University of Providence
About the School
The University of Providence offers 30 programs and concentrations.
The university provides a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
A variety of majors, minors, certificate programs, and concentrations are available both on-campus or online to create an educational experience designed to help students obtain their professional goals.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Legal Studies Degree program that is approved by the American Bar Association.
An online format is available that is accessible and provides students with the flexibility to keep a job while preparing for a new career.
Students get ready for paralegal positions or law school.
The Legal Studies curriculum includes courses such as:
- Commercial Law
- Introduction to Legal Analysis
- Legal Research and Writing
- Litigation and Trial Practice
- Legal and Paralegal Capstone
The following specialty elective courses are also available:
- Domestic and Family Law
- Property Law
- Estate Law
- Debtor-Creditor Law
- Legal Research Institute
Other approved electives include Commercial Law, Criminal Evidence and Procedure, Personal Injury Law, Negotiation & Mediation, Evidence and Remedies, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1301 20th Street South, Great Falls, Montana 59405
- Phone: 800-856-9544
- Website: https://www.uprovidence.edu
4Montana State University Billings
About the School
Montana State University Billings provides a variety of academic programs.
The estimated cost of tuition and fees for a full year at City College at Montana State University Billings is $4,110 for programs that include 12 or more credits.
Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
Montana State University Billings provides a Paralegal Certificate Course.
This is a non-credit course that teaches students a variety of skills, including:
- Drafting of legal documents, including memoranda, motions, and briefs
- Performing legal research and writing
- Interviewing clients and witnesses
- Preparing a trial notebook
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1500 University Drive, Billings, Montana 59101-0245
- Phone: 406-657-2011
- Website: https://www.msubillings.edu
5Helena College University of Montana
About the School
Helena College-University of Montana provides the tools needed to assist learners in achieving educational and career goals.
The college provides programs in a variety of areas of study, including Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Math, Industry & Trades, Education, Law & Public Safety, and more.
The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
Helena College-University of Montana provides a Certificate of Applied Science in Legal Administrative Support.
This program includes 32 credits.
The curriculum includes courses on topics such as:
- Contemporary Math
- Legal Ethics
- Intro to Paralegal
- Intro to Legal Research
- Intro to Psychology
- Contracts
- Legal Research/Writing
- Principles of Real Estate
- Criminal Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1115 North Roberts St, Helena Montana, 59601
- Phone: (406) 447-6900
- Website: https://helenacollege.edu
6CLS by BARBRI
About the School
Paralegal training programs are also available online at schools located in other states.
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.
The courses provided at CLS by BARBRI are designed for adult students and taught at a college level.
Applicants need a high school diploma or GED, and they must be 18 years of age before enrollment.
Courses Offered
The following paralegal 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 cost starts at $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.
Six sessions per year are offered, starting every eight weeks.
Students have 14 weeks to complete the online program: seven weeks for Paralegal I and seven weeks for Paralegal II.
Contact Information
- Address: 12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1340, Dallas, TX 75251
- Phone: 800-522-7737
- Website: https://www.legalstudies.com
7Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global provides programs designed to help working adults earn a degree.
The online university offers programs designed to fit into the students’ busy lives.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, Purdue University Global provides the following legal studies programs:
- Master of Science in Legal Studies
- Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
- Legal Secretary Certificate
- Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- And more
The Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate can be completed in 11 months.
The certificate requires 36-37 credits.
The program costs $371 per credit.
Students learn from a faculty of legal practitioners with real-world expertise in legal services, law, and policy.
The curriculum covers topics such as:
- Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Ethics
- Law Office Management
- Legal Research and Writing
- And more
The Online Legal Secretary Certificate can be completed in eight months, on average, and requires 31 credits.
Students attend between 15-18 hours of classes per week.
Contact Information
- Address: 2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100, West Lafayette, IN 47906
- Phone: 866-522-7747
- Website: https://www.purdueglobal.edu
8Liberty University
About the School
Online paralegal training programs are also available at Liberty University, an accredited Christian college.
A variety of programs are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels and are taught from a Christian perspective.
The programs are offered fully online.
Liberty University students can complete the coursework while keeping a job and remaining active in their community.
Students can transfer up to 75% of the degree total.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies program available at Liberty University provides students with the experience and practical skills that can be marketed 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, as well as 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
9The University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech
The University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech provides training programs for students who are beginning college, for those who want to transfer to a four-year program, and for students who want to go straight to the workforce.
The university provides 80 accredited programs with classes available in the daytime, evening, and online.
Courses Offered
A Paralegal Technology program is available at the university and is designed to provide an understanding of the law concepts and the practical skills needed when assisting attorneys with different tasks in a law firm, including research, investigation, document preparation, and writing.
The following programs of study are available for students who want to start a career in the paralegal field:
- Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Technology
- Technical Certificate in Paralegal Technology
- Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Technology
The Paralegal instruction covers topics such as principles and practical experience in word processing, legal writing, ethical legal practice, professional responsibility, and organizing legal ideas and factual materials.
The Associate of Applied Science program includes classes such as:
- Microcomputer Applications
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Legal Terminology
- Introduction to Law
- Legal Research and Writing
- Constitutional Law
- Civil Litigation
- Commercial Law
- Wills, Trust, and Probate
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3000 West Scenic Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118
- Phone: (501) 812-2200
- Website: https://uaptc.edu
10Campus
A community-based institution located in Sacramento, California, Campus offers respected vocational training in a wide range of topics.
The college’s catalog includes programs in healthcare, law, information technology, business, cosmetology, and barbering.
The school was formerly known as MTI College.
The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Courses Offered
An Online Paralegal Degree Program is available at Campus.
This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed when planning to start a successful paralegal career.
This Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Graduates are ready for employment as paralegals in both the private and public sectors.
By graduation day, they will be ready to perform substantive and procedural behind-the-scenes legal work in legal departments and law firms.
Those who have previously completed an associate or baccalaureate degree or have completed 54 approved quarter units in general education from an accredited institution begin their Online Paralegal Degree Program in year two.
The college also provides a Legal Administrative Assistant program available online.
This program leads to a diploma and prepares students to work in a wide range of law practices, from civil to criminal law.
Contact Information
- Address: 5221 Madison Avenue Sacramento, CA 95841
- Phone: (916) 339-1500
- Website: https://mticollege.edu
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 180 | $60,170 | $28.93 | $77,650 | $48,260 |
| Great Falls, MT | 60 | $54,180 | $26.05 | $78,000 | $34,990 |
| Missoula, MT | 310 | $59,400 | $28.56 | $80,510 | $46,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Montana provides plenty of training options for those who want to start a career in the paralegal profession.
Now that you have read our selection of the top training programs available for Montana residents, it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your needs.
