Paralegal careers in Tennessee are not only exciting, but they are highly rewarding, as well.
The average yearly salary for people in this profession is about $60,000, and many paralegals even make much more than this.
Becoming a paralegal is a fantastic way to work within the field of law, without the need to train for several years required for attorney careers.
The following schools in Tennessee all offer outstanding training programs for people who would like to work within this satisfying field.
Chattanooga State Community College
Located in Chattanooga and accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Chattanooga State Community College offers a superb associate of applied science degree program in paralegal studies, approved by the American Bar Association. Those students in the Chattanooga area, who would like to attend the college, can phone them at – 423-697-4404, or they may choose to correspond with them at their mailing address at the 4501 block of Amnicola Hwy in the city of Chattanooga, TN, 37406. They can also find the application procedures within their website at – http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/.
Chattanooga State provides all paralegal students with a suggested curriculum consisting of several general education and law-specific classes. Following are the general education courses in the curriculum – Composition I and II, American Government, Humanities elective, Foreign Language elective, Math or Natural Science elective, Social and Behavioral Science, and General Psychology.
The law-specific classes in the curriculum are as follows – Word Processing I, Fundamentals of Law, Spreadsheet Software Applications, Legal Research and Writing I and II, Trial Practice and Civil Procedure, Contracts, Torts, Law Practice Management or Internship, and at least four additional Law-Specific electives.
Pellissippi State Community College
Located in Knoxville and accredited with the Commission on Colleges, Pellissippi State Community College offers a splendid associate degree program in paralegal technology, approved by the Tennessee Bar Association. Those students in the Knoxville area, who would like to visit Pellissippi, can schedule a tour of the facilities by calling them at – 865-694-6400 or by visiting their website at – http://www.pstcc.edu. They can also write to the campus at – 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Post Office Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37933.
Paralegal students will need to complete a variety of foundational and professional courses to earn their associate degrees. The following classes are the foundational courses that they will need to take – English Composition I, Mathematics, Social/Behavioral Science, Public Speaking, and one Humanities elective.
The professional courses that they must take are as follows – Principles of Accounting I, Word/Powerpoint and Excel, Legal Terminology and Transcription, Introduction to Law and Ethics, Legal Writing and Analysis, Legal Research, Property Law, Torts, Litigation Skills I and II, Contracts and Commercial Uniform Code, Internship, and at least two of the following courses – Law in Society, Estates and Trusts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Legal Clinic, and Special Topics.
Roane State Community College
Roane State Community College in Harriman offers an exemplary associate of applied science degree program in paralegal studies, which holds approval with the American Bar Association and accreditation with the Commission on Colleges. Prospective paralegals can contact Roane State at – 865-354-3000, or they can write to the main office at the 276 block of Patton Lane in Harriman, Tennessee, 37748. They can also find essential information online at – www.roanestate.edu.
Paralegal students at Roane State will need to complete the following basic education curriculum – Composition I, American Government, Fundamentals of Speech, Natural Science or Mathematics elective, Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology, and one Humanities elective.
They will also need to complete the following career-preparation curriculum – Introduction to the Legal Profession and Legal Ethics, Survey of American Law, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Torts, Criminal Law, Technology Essentials or Medical Terminology, Domestic Relations, Civil Trial and Appellate Practice, Estates and Trusts, Legal Environment for Business, Legal Internship, Real Property, and Law Office Technology.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College has an excellent associate of applied science degree program in paralegal technology, which holds approval with the American Bar Association and accreditation with the Commission on Colleges. Aspiring paralegals can obtain additional information pertaining to the school by calling – 901-333-5000 or by corresponding with them at the following mailing address – 5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, Tennessee, 38134. They can also view the paralegal curriculum online at – http://www.southwest.tn.edu/.
The paralegal program at Southwest Tennessee requires students to complete several general education classes as follows – English Composition I and II, Statistics, Humanities or Fine Arts elective, Oral Communication, and Social and Behavioral Science.
Students must also complete several program-related classes as follows – Microcomputer Office Applications, Introduction to Law, Legal Ethics and Professionalism, Legal Research, Family Law, Law Office Management, Courts and Procedures I and II, Legal Writing, Legal Internship, Computer Research and Legal Software, Torts, Evidence, and Criminal Law and Procedures.
More Outstanding Paralegal Schools in Tennessee
- Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland
- Draughons Junior College in Murfreesboro and Nashville
- Milligan College in Milligan
- National College in Madison
- South College in Knoxville
- Southeastern Career College in Nashville
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Vatterott College in Memphis
- Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin
Is Paralegal Certification Beneficial?
It is not necessary for people to obtain paralegal certification; however, people who possess certification have a much broader employment range than those who do not have this distinction. There are four organizations that offer paralegal certifications, and they are – the American Alliance of Paralegals, the National Association of Legal Secretaries, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Applicants will need to complete a written exam to obtain certification from all of these organizations except the AAP, which requires people to have five years of experience working as paralegals.
Both the NFPA and the NALA offer study materials for applicants, and the NFPA also offers a practice exam.
People, desiring certification, need to study within the key areas of paralegalism such as legal terminology, litigation, civil procedures, legal ethics, family law, criminal law and government.