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how to become a paralegal in texas
Texas Paralegal Career and Salary Guide
Our Texas paralegal career guide is your starting point for becoming a paralegal or legal assistant. Our guide will answer some of the most common questions about how to become a paralegal in Texas. Texas has no state-wide requirements for becoming a paralegal. However, becoming a certified paralegal in Texas through a degree program or certificate program can increase job opportunities. Generally, the entry-level requirement for paralegals in Texas is the completion of an associate degree or certificate in paralegal studies. Our guide will answer your questions about how to become a paralegal in Texas with certification opportunities, job and salary outlook, and career resources. Start your journey to a paralegal career using the easy-to-navigate directory below.
How to Become a Paralegal in Texas
Texas has no mandatory certification requirements for paralegals. This means that there are many paths you can follow to start your career. Most paralegals in Texas possess a combination of education, experience (which may include internships), and on-the-job training. Others may begin working as document preparers or legal secretaries and be promoted to a paralegal position.
1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.
Texas has several schools that offer paralegal certification programs. Currently, there are 10 Texas paralegal programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).1
2. Gain experience.
Real-world experience and on-the-job training, often offered through paralegal degree programs, contributes to hiring potential. Some paralegals begin their careers as legal document preparers or legal secretaries, working their way up the career ladder.
3. Seek certification, if desired.
Texas does not mandate certification for paralegals but obtaining voluntary certification can give candidates greater job opportunities.
Paralegal Certification in Texas
Texas defines a paralegal as someone who is qualified through education, work experience, or a combination of both, and serves under the direct supervision and direction of a licensed attorney. Texas, like most states, has no statewide requirements for paralegal certification. Upon graduation from one of the paralegal schools in Texas, prospective paralegals are also encouraged to seek voluntary national certification through organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association); the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA); and the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI). Though national certification is voluntary, paralegals certified through these organizations have met a professional standard of excellence. Prospective paralegals and legal assistants are also encouraged to consult with the Texas paralegal associations listed below. For more information on how to become a paralegal, including further information on national certification, see our Paralegal411 guide How to Become a Paralegal.
Texas Certification
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) offers voluntary paralegal certification in seven practice areas. Exams for certification are administered once a year and are expected to take a full day. In addition to the exam, the TBLS requires a minimum of 30 hours of course credit in a specialized practice area. There are fewer than 400 TBLS certified paralegals in Texas, so obtaining this elite certification can set paralegals apart from their peers.
Texas Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook
There are many opportunities to find paralegal jobs in Texas at firms, in corporations, and in government agencies. Houston hosts the highest density of large law firms in Texas and is home to such firms as Baker Botts LLP, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. Prestigious and well-respected in the Lone Star State, Baker Botts specializes in technology, complex litigation, white-collar defense, and appellate advocacy. In Dallas, Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm that sustains a high demand for attorney and paralegal labor, especially in global business. Haynes and Boone emphasizes a positive firm culture based on internal teamwork and relies heavily upon paralegal support across a range of legal topics. In San Antonio, De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Armendariz (DMCA) LLP is a stable, fast-growing immigration and nationality law firm that employs career-focused individuals to assist their attorneys as paralegals and legal assistants.
Major corporations based in Texas include AT&T, American Airlines, Dell, Michaels Stores, Inc., and Waste Management, Inc., all of which demand a great deal of paralegal support in their legal departments. Recently certified paralegals in Texas may also seek employment in a variety of regional, state, and local government agencies. LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (Texas or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities and also companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Texas with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:
- Baker Botts
- Bank of America
- Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
- Fragomen
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- US Army
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- USAA
Texas Paralegal Salary Information
Projected Job Growth
25.6%
Paralegals in Texas from 2018-20282
There are an estimated 25,540 paralegal and legal assistants employed in the state of Texas, which is the third highest employment level for the profession in the US.3 A 12% increase in employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected nationwide from 2018 to 2028, compared with a projected 25.6% increase in employment for paralegals and legal assistants in Texas during the same period.2 As the role of paralegals becomes more substantive and diverse, law firms of all sizes are expected to expand the number of support staff, creating new opportunities for qualified paralegals. Overall, the outlook for paralegal jobs in Texas is favorable considering nationwide trends in paralegal job creation and expansion and the presence of well-known law firms and corporations across the state. Job prospects are likely to be strongest in metropolitan areas where large numbers of paralegals are currently employed such as Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area has the eighth highest employment level in the profession of metro areas across the country.3
The BLS reported that paralegals in Texas earned a mean annual wage of $57,020 as of May 2020, which is slightly higher than the national average paralegal wage of $56,610.3 A paralegal’s wages may vary from firm to firm, according to the paralegal’s experience level, certifications, and the area in which he or she is employed. The average cost of living in a given area can also have a substantial influence on average salaries.
Estimates are based on national data, not school-specific information; data accessed in October 2021.
Texas Paralegal Salary by Metro Area
Metro Area | Number Employed4 | Average Annual Salary4 |
---|---|---|
Austin-Round Rock | 3,410 | $61,090 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 7,690 | $66,940 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | N.Av.5,920 | $53,520 |
San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,980 | $55,590 |
Paralegal Career in Texas
Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:
- Receive Your Paralegal Education in Texas
- Accomplish Paralegal Work Experience in Texas
- Get Certification by Texas Board of Legal Specialization, If Desired
- Delve Into Paralegal Job Experience in Texas
- Now That You Have Become a Paralegal in Texas
Paralegal Job Description in Texas
Per information supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas has the fourth highest employment level of paralegals and legal assistants of any state in the nation. In May 2012, there were 19,340 paralegals and legal assistants working in Texas, making an annual mean wage of $50,630. If you would like to learn how to become a paralegal in Texas, read on.
Step 1
Receive Your Paralegal Education in Texas
Education is not required in Texas to become a Paralegal. You might find it difficult to qualify for a job without the skills or work experience needed. Paralegal and legal study programs are a great way to fine tune your skills for this career.
Texas Paralegal Online and Campus SchoolsSponsored
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Rasmussen University – Online Paralegal Associate Degree and Post-Degree Certificate Programs
Although education is not required of paralegals in order to legally work in Texas, the State Bar of Texas has outlined criteria that it feels attorneys should look for in prospective paralegals they are considering hiring. These include education, experience and certification. We will examine education first. The State Bar of Texas recommends that attorneys hire paralegals with one of the following educational qualifications:
- Graduate of an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved paralegal studies program
- Graduate of a non-ABA-approved paralegal studies program at an accredited institution
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject plus one year of attorney-supervised paralegal work and 15 hours of continuing legal education each year
ABA-approved paralegal programs in Texas include:
- Texas State University – San Marcos
- Master of Arts in Legal Studies
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Legal Studies
- Texas A&M University – Commerce
- Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
- San Jacinto College- North—Houston
- Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Lone Star College-North Harris—Houston
- Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies
- Lee College – Baytown
- Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies
- Lamar State College-Port Arthur
- Associate of Applied Science in Legal Assisting
- Kaplan College-Dallas
- Associate of Applied Science in General Practice Paralegal Studies
- General Practice Paralegal Studies Certificate
- El Centro College- Dallas
- Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Amarillo College-Amarillo
- Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
Accomplish Paralegal Work Experience in Texas
Another criterion that the State Bar of Texas says attorneys should look for in paralegals they hope to hire is experience, both with and without education. For example, in Step 1 above, candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field need one year of paralegal work experience. In the absence of education beyond a high school diploma, it is recommended that attorneys hire paralegals who have completed at least four years of paralegal work under an attorney’s supervision. Where do you get this type of experience? Legal aid associations in Texas often hire students who need work experience. These organizations include:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.-Weslaco
- Lone Star Legal Aid-Houston
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas –Fort Worth
Become Certified by the TBS, If Desired
Still another criterion that the State Bar of Texas tells attorneys to look for in prospective paralegals is certification, either at the national level or through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBS). National certification may be through either the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) or the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). The TBS offers annual certification examinations for paralegals who have completed at least 30 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) in a specific specialty area, and have five years of paralegal experience, three in the specialty area in which you seek certification. Areas in which TBS certification for paralegals is available include:
- Real estate law
- Personal injury trial law
- Family law
- Estate planning and probate law
- Criminal law
- Civil trial law
- Bankruptcy law
If you qualify, you must pass the appropriate Paralegal Exam for your chosen specialty. Once you pass the exam, you are Board Certified and given a Certificate of Special Competence within your specialty area of law.
Delve Into Paralegal Jobs in Texas
Paralegal jobs are found within law offices, corporations, nonprofit agencies, government organizations and more across Texas. Recent examples of employers hiring paralegals in Texas include:
- Erskine & Blackburn, LLP – Austin
- Polsinelli PC – Dallas
- JPS Health Network – Fort Worth
- Clear Channel Communications-San Antonio
- Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP – Houston
- Tesoro Companies – San Antonio
- Deloitte – Arlington
- Pye Legal Group – Houston
- The Carlson Law Firm – San Antonio
- Clark & Clark – Austin
- Boeing-Dallas
You Have Become a Paralegal in Texas
Congratulations on becoming a paralegal in Texas! If you are TBS certified, remember to complete the necessary CLE to maintain certification every five years. Also, consider joining a voluntary, optional membership organization for paralegals in Texas. It can help provide you with relevant CLE opportunities, as well as networking and other resources:
- State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division
- Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association
- Dallas Area Paralegal Association
- Capital Area Paralegal Association
- Alamo Area Paralegal Association