Paralegal
There is nothing routine about a paralegal career. On any given day, you could be conducting legal research, drafting pleadings and motions, drawing up contracts, attending depositions, preparing for hearings – the list goes on. Paralegals are in high demand for professionals with comprehensive legal skill sets.
Join Our Program
At Midland College (MC), the Associate of Applied Science for Paralegal is designed to give you job-ready skills, hone your expertise and let you stand out from the competition. Your career success will be built on a foundation in ethics, critical thinking, and solid general legal knowledge – setting the stage for an exciting future.
Specific areas of training include legal research and writing, case screening and evaluation, civil litigation, probate administration, office management, accounting, servicing and filing of legal documents, and preparation of legal forms.
At MC, students in the paralegal program have the option of either an Associate of
Applied Science degree, consisting of 60 semester credit hours that can be completed
in two years, or a Beginning Legal Technician Certificate, consisting of 18 semester
credit hours that can be completed within one year. Either way, you will study subjects
like Business Law, Wills & Estates, Family Law, Civil Litigation, Oil & Gas, Interviewing
& Investigation and Legal Research & Writing.
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Program Details
Select Links Below for Details
Marketable Skills
With the Associate of Applied Science for Paralegal, the student will be able to demonstrate the following marketable skills:
- Reading Comprehension – Reading work-related information
- Active Listening – Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- Speaking – Talking to others
- Writing – Writing things for co-workers or customers
- Critical Thinking – Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Career Opportunities
As with most areas, Paralegal careers begin with entry-level positions that lead to career advancement as your experience and expertise grow. Your services will be vital in civil litigation firms, family law offices, the district attorney’s office, criminal defense firms or land offices. There are a number of in-demand career possibilities including:
- Legal Research Assistants
- Business Developments
- Court Coordinators
- Mediators
- Legal Secretaries
- Brokerage Clerks
- Billing, Cost and Rate Clerks - District and County Clerk’s Office
- Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks
- Eligibility Interviewers for Government Programs
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
- Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Municipal Clerks
- Tax Preparers
Demand
According to the American Bar Association, there are more than 1.1 million attorneys currently practicing law in the United States and about 40,000 new graduates emerging from the nation’s law schools every year. Whether they work in small practices, large firms, corporations, government or other entities, virtually every lawyer relies on the help of paralegals. At Midland College, you can become one of these highly valued professionals.
As a paralegal graduate, you will qualify to work under the supervision of a lawyer. Your career options are not limited to a law office, but also include corporate legal departments, law schools, public and private agencies, and local, state, and the federal government.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 15% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills have the best job prospects.
Permian Basin Paralegal Association’s Andree Rosen Scholarship
$500 offered each Fall and Spring semester to one student maintaining a 3.0 GPA who
is currently enrolled in the Paralegal program.
Midland Legal Secretaries Scholarship
$300 per semester for any second year Legal Assistant AAS degree seeker with a GPA of 3.0 or better who carries 9+ credit hours.
Contact Program Chair for details, and create an AcademicWorks account to be considered.
To be considered for a scholarship, please follow the link below:
Visit the course catalog for the most complete and up-to-date information.
Student Success Stories
When students think about a career in law, their first images are usually lawyers
and judges dramatically fighting for justice, objecting loudly in court and delivering
verdicts that put the guilty behind bars. But the legal profession is not limited
to attorneys and judges. Paralegals are a vital and significant group, and at MC there
are different options to get a legal technician certification and/or paralegal associate
degree. Students can choose from an all online track or evening class options.
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Amber AlisonAmber Allison's journey at Midland College culminated in December when she graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal. She already completed her paralegal certification in spring 2020. For Allison completing her education has been challenging; however, she is all about overcoming challenges. |
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Tiffany Stott“I am now a world away from where I was seven years ago!” Tiffany Stott exclaimed. “I never thought I’d be able to go back to school. This is a dream come true; I constantly have to pinch myself!” Tiffany graduates in May, with Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal from Midland College. |
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Thank you for choosing Midland College! If you are here to collect a few credits, take courses to transfer, or here to start a new career, we welcome you.