Pennsylvania Paralegal Schools

Pennsylvania is one of the most populous states in the US. As of 2018, about 12,440 paralegals and legal assistants were employed in Pennsylvania.¹ Not surprisingly, there are many choices for prospective students who are considering Pennsylvania paralegal schools for their course of study. These institutions are receiving increased attention as the career field expands to handle a rapidly growing need for qualified paralegals across every legal sector, including corporate law, family law, criminal law and tax law. For these reasons, aspiring paralegals should look into attending a paralegal program in Pennsylvania to earn the education and experience needed to start careers in this competitive field.

How to Become a Paralegal in Pennsylvania

There are no requirements set by law to become a paralegal in Pennsylvania, but earning an education in paralegal studies will certainly make a potential paralegal more marketable. Since there are so many schools in the state that offer paralegal and legal studies programs, it makes sense for prospective paralegals to pursue an education in the field before applying for jobs. Earning voluntary national certification through programs like those offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) can also be a competitive career move.

Another option for paralegals in the state of Pennsylvania is to become certified through the Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal Program, which is a voluntary certification regulated by the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations (KAPA). Many law firms in the state of Pennsylvania look favorably on applicants who are Pennsylvania Certified Paralegals (PaCPs) since they have completed the standardized training, education, and work experience required by the program.

Paralegal Quote: "Know yourself, your boundaries and have a clear strategic plan in place before you begin a job search. Otherwise, you'll accept positions that are not suited for your character (core values), skill set and/or goals. Understanding clearly who you are (the good, the bad and the ugly) is extremely important when determining your next move." -Tausha P. Major, Vice-President of the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals

Pennsylvania Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook

Paralegals in Pennsylvania earned an average salary of $52,780 as of 2018.¹ Through 2026, predictions are that paralegal jobs in Pennsylvania will grow 14.6% with 1,290 annual openings including replacements, which is comparable to the national average projection for jobs growth of 15%.^2,3 The Pennsylvania paralegal market crosses over 30 metro areas, including large markets like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and smaller markets where private offices are common, like Bethlehem and Scranton.

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Pennsylvania

Community College of Philadelphia: One of the many professional degrees offered by the Community College of Philadelphia is an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies. This program is approved by the American Bar Association and requires a minimum of 60 credit hours. The curriculum at the Community College of Philadelphia centers on technology use in the paralegal profession with classes like Legal Technology. An advantage for paralegal students at this institution is the school law library, which exceeds American Bar Association standards.

Pennsylvania College of Technology: The School of Business and Computer Technologies at the Pennsylvania College of Technology has three American Bar Association-approved Paralegal Studies programs: a Bachelor of Science in Legal Assistant-Paralegal Studies, an Associate of Applied Science in Legal Assistant-Paralegal, and a post-degree Certificate in Nurse-Health Care Paralegal (LX). The BSS is a 128-credit hour program, while the AAS and certificate are 62 credit hours and 21 credit hours respectively. Introduction to Paralegal Studies is a core course for all students, but certificate students have a curriculum that is concentrated on civil law and risk management-related courses.

Lehigh Carbon Community College: Lehigh Carbon Community College maintains an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program that requires 63 to 65 credit hours to complete. The program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and prepares graduates for professional paralegal work in private law firms, public practices, government agencies, and other legal environments. Courses in the technical curriculum include Legal Writing, Law Office Management, Legal Research and Writing, and Civil Litigation and Procedures. Students also take general curriculum courses in the liberal arts and sciences to earn a well-rounded education. Credits earned in the AAS program can be transferred to Kutztown University and applied towards a four-year bachelor's degree. Lehigh Carbon Community College also offers a 39-credit paralegal certificate program that is approved by the ABA. The certificate program is open to those who have at least 30 college credit hours.

Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Pennsylvania

• Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, MacDonald, Illig, Jones, and Britton LLP is one of Pennsylvania's largest law firms. The firm believes it can make contributions not only in legal practice but also in civic and charitable works and encourages its staff to adopt the same viewpoint. MacDonald Illig looks for high-quality candidates for all areas of its practice, including paralegals, and invites interested applicants to submit a resume.
• Located in Center Valley within the Lehigh Valley, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, PC is a full-service law firm representing clients of all types and sizes. The firm encourages its employees to discuss cases in the pursuit of finding solutions for clients and is always accepting inquiries.
• Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC is one of the largest law firms in New England and has two offices in Pennsylvania. This firm places special value on the contributions of paralegals to its practice.

Paralegal Schools and Programs in Pennsylvania

An asterisk indicates that one or more of the school's programs have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Bucks County Community College (Newtown)*
Associate Degree | Paralegal Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal Studies

California University of Pennsylvania (California)
Bachelor of Arts | Jurisprudence

Central Penn College (Summerdale)*
Associate of Science | Paralegal
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies

Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Oil City)*
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Courts and Community Services
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies
Advanced Certificate | Paralegal Studies
Advanced Certificate | Paralegal Studies: Oil and Gas
Certificate | Legal Office Supervisor

Community College of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
Associate of Science | Paralegal
Certificate | Paralegal

Community College of Philadelphia (Philadelphia)*
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Delaware County Community College (Media)*
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Drexel University (Philadelphia)
Master of Legal Studies

Duquesne University (Pittsburgh)*
Certificate | Paralegal: General Practice
Certificate | Paralegal: Civil Litigation
Certificate | Paralegal: Corporate Law
Certificate | Paralegal: Estates
Certificate | Paralegal: Litigation Technology

Gannon University (Erie)*
Bachelor of Arts | Legal Studies
Associate of Arts | Legal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Harrisburg Area Community College (Harrisburg)*
Associate of Arts | Paralegal Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Lehigh Carbon Community College (Schnecksville)*
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies
Certificate | Paralegal Studies

Luzerne County Community College (Nanticoke)
Associate in Applied Science | Legal Assisting (Paralegal)

Manor College (Jenkintown)*
Associate of Science | Legal Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Legal Studies
Certificate | Legal Nurse Consultant

Mount Aloysius College (Cresson)
Associate's Degree | Legal Studies

Northampton Community College (Bethlehem)*
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Peirce College (Philadelphia)*
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies in Business
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies in Business (online)
Associate of Science | Paralegal Studies (online)
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal Studies (online)

Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport)*
Bachelor of Science | Legal Assistant/Paralegal Studies
Associate of Applied Science | Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Minor | Legal Studies
Certificate | Nurse/Health Care Paralegal Studies

Pennsylvania State University (Behrend)
Certificate | Legal Studies

Point Park University (Pittsburgh)
Bachelor of Arts | Legal Studies

Temple University (Philadelphia)
Bachelor's | Legal Studies
Minor | Legal Studies

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Minor | Legal Studies
Master of Studies in Law

Westmoreland Community College (Youngwood)
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal

Villanova University (Villanova)*
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | Paralegal Studies

*Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)

Additional Resources

• Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations - The Keystone Alliance is a non-profit organization that supports paralegals in the Pennsylvania by helping them find jobs, gain education, and connect with other members.
• Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association - CPPA is a professional organization supporting paralegals and paralegal students in central Pennsylvania, offering continuing education and networking opportunities to its members.

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References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
2. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm