Being the most populous state of US, and having a number of law firms operating in all the major cities, California has a large requirement for qualified paralegals. To meet this demand, there are over 60 schools, colleges and universities offering paralegal programs in California.

Featured Programs and Schools

Paralegals – What They Do

Paralegals work as support staff for lawyers, assisting them in preparation and research for trials. They only work within law firms and are not allowed to present cases in courts or offer legal advice.

Paralegal programs in California are offered as certificates, associates degrees or bachelor’s degrees. Certificate programs range from 7 to 10 months in duration and include courses in legal research, legal writing, laws, and ethics.

Associates degree and bachelor’s degree program range from 2 to 4 years in duration. Apart from courses in law and legal, curriculum for these degree programs also includes other courses in mathematics, social sciences, english etc.

California Paralegal Schools

Paralegal programs in California are accredited by relevant organizations. There are over 25 accredited schools offering paralegal programs in California. Some of these schools are listed below:

  • California State University East Bay, Hayward
  • California State University, LA
  • University of California
  • Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley
  • College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita
  • DeAnza College, Cupertino
  • Fremont College, Cerritos

Students who wish to pursue a career as a paralegal in California must obtain Paralegal certification California. Certificate is available in this area of study at both undergraduate and graduate level. These programs may take 6 months to 1 year to complete. Students in these certificate programs learn about Introduction to Law, Court Rules, Law Office Etiquette, Legal Technology, Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation and Legal Terminology. To get into these programs, students need to have a high school diploma while some certificate programs require students to have an associate’s degree. Students who get paralegal certification can find employment with corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate or insurance firms.

Career Outlook for Paralegals in California

According to the latest data provided by O*Net Online, paralegals and legal assistants in California will experience a stellar job growth of 14% between 2018 and 2028. This growth rate is higher than the national growth rate of 12%.

Career Outlook for Paralegals in California

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

As you can see from the above graph, California has the second highest level of employment in the US for paralegals and legal assistants in the US in 2020.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual income of paralegals and legal assistants in California in 2020 was $66,250, the second highest figure among all US states. Below is the list of the top paying US states for paralegals and legal assistants in 2020.

Salary of Paralegal and Legal Assistants in California

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

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