Utah Paralegal Schools

About 2,760 paralegals were employed in Utah in 2018, with the majority working in the Salt Lake City area.¹ Utah paralegal schools offer a wealth of options for students looking to earn a paralegal degree and join the many paralegals in Utah who assist law firms, corporate finance departments, and government agencies.

How to Become a Paralegal in Utah

As in most states, paralegals in Utah cannot offer legal advice or represent clients in court, unlike lawyers. Utah does not mandate any particular certification, education, or experience requirements to become a paralegal in the state. However, in a competitive jobs market, those who have some formal training and/ or voluntary certification may have an edge. Paralegals in the state of Utah must work under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney, and may not give legal advice to the general public.

Utah Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook

One of the least densely populated states, Utah also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States, at 3% as of March 2019.² The average annual salary for Utah paralegals was $49,140 in 2018, with a higher average of $50,740 in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.¹ The expected rate of jobs growth is promising for future Utah paralegals; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated a 29.8% increase in paralegal employment in Utah through 2026.³ For these reasons, Utah may be an ideal place to attend a paralegal program and start a career in this lucrative field.

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Utah

Salt Lake City Community College: Salt Lake City Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in paralegal studies that is approved by the American Bar Association. This degree involves 19 credit hours of general education courses while 46 credit hours are dedicated to major courses. Paralegal studies classes include Introduction to Law, Introduction to Civil Litigation, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing (I and II), and Criminal Law and Procedure. An additional 15 credit hours are set aside for Paralegal Studies electives, which span from Employment Law to Torts as well as Mediation and Immigration Law.

Utah Valley University: Utah Valley University's Woodbury School of Business has a Bachelor of Science in legal studies, an Associate of Applied Science in legal studies, and a certificate in legal studies. The BS is a 124-credit hour course of study, while the associate's degree program takes 63 credit hours to complete and the certificate requires 25 credit hours. All legal studies students are required to complete and pass Introduction to American Law, Civil Litigation, Legal Research (I and II), Technology in Law Practice, and Business Law. All members of the Woodbury School of Business faculty who teach legal studies courses possess a JD.

Top Law Firms for Paralegal Graduates in Utah

• Strong & Hanni PC is a diverse law firm specializing in a variety of industries, including business and corporate transactions, commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and civil law. Its offices are easily accessible, located in Salt Lake City and Sandy. The firm welcomes resumes from interested paralegals looking to start a career.
• Parr Brown Gee & Loveless services corporate clients and individuals in transactional, litigation, and regulatory matters. As a leading law firm, Parr Brown works with local, national, and international clients. Uniquely, Parr Brown gives all of its associates a voice in the firm's management; paralegals are welcome to inquire about open positions.
• Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough, PC is a specialist law firm focusing on the areas of business, real estate, and litigation. Paralegals looking to start a career are encouraged to apply.

Paralegal Schools and Programs in Utah

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

Salt Lake Community College (Salt Lake City)*
Associate of Applied Science | Paralegal Studies

Southern Utah University (Cedar City, UT)
Support Program | Legal Scholars Pre-Law

Utah Valley University (Orem)*
Associate of Applied Science | Legal Studies
Associate of Science | Legal Studies
Bachelor of Science | Legal Studies
Minor | Legal Studies
Certificate of Proficiency | Legal Studies

*Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)

Additional Resources

• Utah Paralegal Association - Affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants/ Paralegals (NALA), this non-profit organization is dedicated to supporting Utah paralegals in all aspects of their jobs.

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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. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Unemployment Rates for States: https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
3. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm