Florida Paralegal Schools

Here is a list of Florida paralegal schools which offer a wide variety of degrees and diplomas in the legal field. We've also gathered information about a career as a paralegal or legal secretary, located at the bottom of the page. Click on a school to find more specific information or just scroll down the page through all the schools and their programs.

An Introduction to Paralegal Careers

The role of the paralegal has become more akin to that of the lawyer. While the lawyer is essentially responsible for all action, they may choose to delegate much of the work to the paralegal. It is common for a paralegal to complete investigative work, determine legal precedents and even prepare court cases. Also, legal documents such as deeds, wills and contracts are generally drafted by a legal secretary before being passed to the lawyer that is directly responsible. However, paralegals can not present the court case and they can not provide legal advice to any clients. They are also prohibited from setting the legal fees.

Paralegals are employed by many businesses from various industries but approximately three quarters of them work for private law firms. It is common for a paralegal to specialize in one particular area of law just as it is common for a lawyer to do the same. Some fields have excellent potential for employment, for example, business law, but also have a great deal of competition for jobs.

Employment and Earnings Statistics

There are presently a quarter of a million paralegals employed throughout the United States. More than 7 out of 10 are employed within private law firms while others are employed in private companies or government agencies. The exact type of work required will vary from one organization to the next but generally, working in a private company will mean taking on a variety of different tasks in numerous legal areas.

Average pay is $40,000 annually with a range between $30,000 and $60,000. The highest paid paralegals are those that work for the federal government, earning an impressive salary of $60,000 per year.

The Future Outlook for Paralegals

Because of the increasing blur between the role of lawyer and paralegal a lot of companies use this as an opportunity to reduce legal costs. Employing a paralegal that can essentially perform a majority of the same tasks is a lot less expensive than employing an attorney. For this reason, the demand for paralegals is almost certain to increase in the coming years.

Formal education will give you an edge when looking for employment as a paralegal. While the increase in jobs is evident so too is the increase in competition. Many people looking for a career in law, but without the financial power or time to attend law school look to begin a career as a legal secretary or paralegal.

The Best Course of Education

Education is absolutely essential for getting the paralegal position you desire. While it isn't essential to be certified or to take an ABA approved course, employers and clients will look favorably on those that do. Florida paralegal schools have a large number of diplomas and degrees that can help a paralegal get the job they want. However, some professionals progress into the work of a paralegal having gained education in a different field such as economics or business studies.

Paralegal Program Details

The Associate's Degree program is a two-year degree, while the Bachelor's Degree takes a minimum of four years to complete. Most degrees will offer job placement aid during and/or at the end of course. This gives an excellent insight into the real work of a paralegal and it is a good idea for all students to consider a program that offers this service.

In addition to being taught the legal details that you will need to know, many Florida paralegal schools offer a good foundation in the legal of use of computers to conduct research and some other important areas.

Additional Resources

You may also be interested in reading the article Paralegal Roles and Responsibilities to learn more about a career as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Have we forgotten a Florida paralegal school?

If you know of a school in Florida that offers a paralegal or legal secretary program that we don't have listed here, please let us know by emailing us at info@florida-vocational-schools.com.