Trade Schools
If you live in Texas and want to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
Paralegals and legal assistants are usually responsible for a variety of tasks in a legal office, including:
- Maintaining and organizing files
- Conducting legal research
- Drafting documents
- Investigating and gathering facts of a case
- Getting affidavits and other formal statements that can be used as evidence in court
- Helping lawyers during trials
- And more
Before being ready for employment as a paralegal you will need an associate’s degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in a different field followed by a certificate in paralegal studies.
On this page, we will compile information about the best paralegal schools in the state of Texas and the programs they offer.
1Alvin Community College
About the School
Alvin Community College has a main campus in Alvin, Texas, and is located approximately 30 miles outside of Houston.
The college provides more than 80 degrees and certificates.
Alvin Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Resident, in-district tuition is $259 per credit hour.
Courses Offered
The college offers a Paralegal, Associate in Applied Science, and a Paralegal Certificate.
This program prepares students for careers in law firms, corporations, banks, insurance companies, federal, state, and local governments, or legal aid organizations.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Legal Research and Writing
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Interviewing and Investigating
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Contract Law
- Wills, Trusts, & Probate Admin
- Employment Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3110 Mustang Road, Alvin Texas 77511
- Phone: (281) 756-3500
- Website: https://alvincollege.edu
2Angelina College
About the School
Angelina College offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs.
The college has nine off-campus centers.
The Paralegal-Legal Assistant program offered by Angelina College prepares students for employment as paralegals, legal assistants, or legal administrative assistants.
The program is available in full-time and part-time formats.
Students need 60 credits for an Associate of Applied Science degree.
The total cost is $104 per credit hour for in-district students and $158 for out-of-district in-state students.
Angelina College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees and certificates.
Contact Information
- Address: 3500 South First Street, Lufkin, TX 75901
- Phone: (936) 639-1301
- Website: https://www.angelina.edu
3Austin Community College
About the School
Austin Community College offers more than 100 programs that cover ten areas of study.
Students may earn career certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or university transfer credentials.
Austin Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal program available at Austin Community College teaches students a variety of paralegal skills, including how to research, draft, and document legal matters.
Courses are also offered on nights and weekends to prepare students for work as a paralegal.
Students who have a bachelor’s or graduate-level degree may earn an advanced technical certificate.
The following legal specialty courses must be completed in a classroom setting or by synchoronous instruction:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Legal Research
- Civil Litigation
- Advanced Legal Document Preparation
- Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6101 Highland Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78752
- Phone: 512-223-7000
- Website: https://www.austincc.edu
4Blinn College- Brenham Campus
About the School
Blinn College- Brenham Campus offers academic transfer, workforce training, and continuing education classes.
A variety of online courses are available.
The college has five campuses: Brenham, Bryan, Rellis, Schulenburg, and Sealy.
The minimum charge at the college is per three credit hours.
In-district tuition for three credit hours is $420.
Out-of-district students pay $597 for three credits.
High school dual credit and non-credit students pay different rates.
The Blinn College District is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees.
Courses Offered
The college offers Paralegal and Legal Studies programs that are available in daytime or evening formats.
The program is available as a combination of online and traditional courses or in a fully online format.
Students enrolled in this program take courses such as:
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Research
- Criminal Law
- Contracts
- Legal Writing
- Family Law
- Mediation
- Torts and Personal Injury
- And more
Graduates prepare for employment in private law firms, courts, corporations and businesses, insurance companies, governmental offices, and a variety of other similar settings.
Contact Information
- Address: 902 College Avenue | Brenham, TX 77833
- Phone: 979-830-4000
- Website: https://www.blinn.edu
5Central Texas College
About the School
Central Texas College offers on-campus, blended, real-time virtual, online, and online self-paced classes.
CTC is a public, open-admission community college that offers degrees and certificate programs.
Programs are available in a variety of academic, professional, and career and technical fields.
Students may also transition from a two-year to a four-year degree through the college’s many articulation agreements.
Central Texas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees and certificates of completion.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, Central Texas College provides a Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.
The two-year, 60-credit hour program leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree.
A one-year “job starter” certificate is also available at the college.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Legal Research and Writing
- Intro to Law & Legal Professions
- Law Office Technology
- Civil Litigation
- Contracts
- Family Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 1800, Killeen, TX 76540-1800
- Phone: 800-223-4760
- Website: https://www.ctcd.edu
6Collin College
About the School
Collin College offers credit and non-credit training options.
The total per credit hour charge is $62 for Collin County Residents and $117 for other Texas residents.
Collin County Community College District is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant program available at Collin College is approved by the American Bar Association.
The following program options are available:
- Associate in Applied Science- Paralegal/Legal Assistant
- Certificate Level 2- Paralegal General
The Paralegal curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Conventions
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Torts and Personal Injury Law
- Contracts
- And many other topics
The Paralegal Certificate is awarded to students who complete 36 credit hours.
Students need to complete 60 credit hours for an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 3452 Spur 399 – McKinney, Texas 75069
- Phone: 972.548.6790
- Website: https://www.collin.edu
7Dallas College
About the School
Dallas College provides a variety of programs that prepare students for university transfer or fast-track them into a rewarding career.
Among many other paths, the college provides a Law and Public Service program.
Dallas College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at Dallas College is approved by the American Bar Association and designed to prepare students for work as paralegals.
The Paralegal Associate in Applied Science program takes four semesters to complete.
Tuition for this program is $4,740.
Students learn from instructors who are practicing attorneys and paralegals.
Learners also have access to an on-campus law library and two digital legal research systems.
The program is available at the El Centro campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215
- Phone: 214-378-1500
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu
8Del Mar College
Del Mar College offers programs in sciences, fine arts, business, occupational, and technical areas.
More than 100 degree and certificate options are available within eight pathways.
The college has five locations: Heritage Campus, Windward Campus, Oso Creek Campus, Northwest Center, and a Center for Economic Development.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies program available at Del Mar College is approved by the American Bar Association and offers the following options:
- Associate of Applied Science
- Advanced Technical Certificate
The Associate of Applied Science program can be completed in four semesters and requires 60 total semester hours.
Students take courses such as:
- Law Office Technology
- Human Relations
- Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions
- Legal Research and Writing
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Advanced Legal Document Preparation
- And more
Students need 30 total semester hours for an Advanced Technical Certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 Baldwin Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
- Phone: (361) 698-1200
- Website: https://www.delmar.edu
9El Paso Community College
About the School
El Paso Community College offers more than 130 programs students can choose from.
The largest facility in the college district is Valle Verde- which serves more than 14,000 credit students each semester.
The college also has a campus in Mission Del Paso, a Northwest Campus, a Rio Grande Campus, the Transmountain Campus, and an Administrative Services Center.
El Paso Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal program available at El Paso Community College offers the following degree options:
- Associate of Applied Science
- Certificate of Completion
The Advanced Technical Certificate of Completion in Paralegal is available to students who have completed an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or have previously completed at least 27 semester credit hours, including 18 hours of general education.
Students who complete this program may apply to the National Association of Legal Assistance for certification.
The curriculum covers topics such as:
- Legal Research
- Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Research and Writing
- Real Property
- Advanced Civil Litigation
- And more
Students need 33 credit hours for this Certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 919 Hunter, El Paso, TX 79915
- Phone: (915) 831-3722
- Website: https://www.epcc.edu
10Houston Community College
About the School
Houston Community College offers a variety of flexible learning options, including online and weekend classes.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and select baccalaureate degrees.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Technology program available at Houston Community College prepares students who can perform research, drafting, investigation, recordkeeping, and related administrative functions under the supervision of an attorney, court, or business.
The following award types are available for students enrolled in this program: Certificate Level I and Associate of Applied Science.
Students learn how to:
- Analyze the current law on Paralegal Licensing and Certification
- Interpret a legal issue dealing with Texas State Court Law and prepare/reach a Legal Conclusion
- Prepare a general answer and a simple legal petition using the Texas style of form
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3100 Main Street, Houston TX 77002
- Phone: 713.718.2000
- Website: https://www.hccs.edu
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 70 | $58,980 | $28.35 | $88,840 | $36,630 |
| Amarillo, TX | 200 | $59,990 | $28.84 | $84,760 | $37,760 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 3,470 | $72,620 | $34.91 | $122,500 | $42,000 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 260 | $60,160 | $28.92 | $81,650 | $37,230 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 300 | $45,710 | $21.97 | $70,410 | $28,420 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 220 | $59,720 | $28.71 | $89,810 | $37,520 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 550 | $56,360 | $27.1 | $82,620 | $39,100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,160 | $66,580 | $32.01 | $98,710 | $46,590 |
| El Paso, TX | 640 | $50,400 | $24.23 | $71,410 | $37,690 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7,770 | $63,640 | $30.6 | $98,320 | $38,810 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 190 | $55,650 | $26.75 | $80,000 | $36,950 |
| Laredo, TX | 110 | $63,600 | $30.58 | $102,920 | $35,630 |
| Longview, TX | 100 | $59,270 | $28.49 | $80,560 | $36,300 |
| Lubbock, TX | 300 | $51,820 | $24.91 | $76,560 | $28,080 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 760 | $40,300 | $19.37 | $60,030 | $21,230 |
| Midland, TX | 100 | $68,720 | $33.04 | $102,260 | $37,890 |
| Odessa, TX | 90 | $62,940 | $30.26 | $87,700 | $39,940 |
| San Angelo, TX | 60 | $56,090 | $26.97 | $76,940 | $36,730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 2,070 | $61,290 | $29.47 | $86,320 | $39,710 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 90 | $53,330 | $25.64 | $78,190 | $29,810 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 70 | $54,060 | $25.99 | $71,710 | $35,730 |
| Tyler, TX | 270 | $49,770 | $23.93 | $71,830 | $30,820 |
| Waco, TX | 160 | $58,620 | $28.18 | $81,260 | $38,000 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 60 | $55,980 | $26.92 | $80,190 | $37,040 |
* 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 may be a great option.
Now that you have read our list of the top paralegal schools in Texas, 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, budget, lifestyle, and career aspirations.
