Paralegal Studies

Explore on This Page

• Job Titles & Career Info
• Our Program
• Degrees & Certificates
• Accreditation
• How Much Time & Money to Finish?
• Earn More Choices & More Money
• Start on Your Pathway!

Job Titles & Career Info

Our Program

Why Choose Paralegal Studies

• Be a valued members of a legal team 
• Help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, real estate closings & client meetings
• Have the opportunity to participate in the legal process as an assistant to an attorney without being directly responsible to the client for the legal work

Prepare for What You Will Do at Work

• Prepare legal documents, such as legal correspondence, legal briefs, contracts, or wills
• Maintain & organize legal documents
• Research & investigate facts to support legal proceedings
• Organize exhibits or perform similar tasks to prepare for & assist with trials
• Prepare documents for real estate closings

Marketable Skills You Will Learn

• Critical thinking
• Reasoning
• Communication
• Personal & social responsibility
• Teamwork
• Computer literacy

Before You Enroll, Think About:

• You need to be ready and able to work effectively in a high pressure office environment to ensure that matters are handled in a timely manner:
  • Keep up with deadlines
  • Keep track of the specifics of individual cases
• You need to be meticulous and detail oriented and have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• As a paralegal, you will work closely with clients and need to be prepared to work with individuals who are in crisis.
• Our program does not qualify you to take a Bar Exam, represent clients in court, or give legal advice. 

Program Goals & Objectives

Goals

To prepare you to become paralegals by providing:

• Practical knowledge of the law
• Practical knowledge of the legal profession
• Practical knowledge of the paralegal’s role in the legal profession

Objectives

Upon completion of the program, you will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the organization & structure of the American Legal System
• Perform legal & factual research using both traditional sources & computerized information resources
• Draft legal documents
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze, research & report on a variety of legal issues and situations
• Demonstrate understanding of the rules of professional conduct governing lawyers & paralegals

Need a boost to get ready for college?

Talk to your advisor about Developmental Studies if your TSI scores say you need some help in math or reading and writing.

Degrees & Certificates

Degree

• Paralegal Studies, AAS

Advanced Technical Certificate

• Paralegal Studies

Accreditation

Our Paralegal Studies program (both Associate of Applied Science Degree and Advanced Technical Certificate) is approved by the American Bar Association.

Tarrant County College is also an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

How Much Time & Money to Finish?

2024–2025 Academic Year

Notes:

• Tuition is based on in-state, in-county rates.
• Totals do not include textbooks and other materials.

Continuing Education Programs

Time commitments and fees vary depending on the course.

Earn More Choices & More Money

Transfer to a college or university to continue your studies. See our Paralegal Transfer Policy for details about transferring legal specialty and general education courses.

Earning a bachelor’s degree opens the door to promotion opportunities. For example, you will be ready to work toward:

• Bachelor of Applied Science programs
• Bachelor of Arts programs in government with paralegal options
• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science programs in Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies

Next steps

• Talk to your advisor about planning for transfer
• Explore transfer schools

Start on Your Pathway!