Associate Degree in Paralegal
Contribute to the success of legal teams in law firms, legal departments, government agencies, corporations, and more with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Paralegal degree from Northampton Community College. In just two years, you’ll develop practical and ethical frameworks for assisting with complex legal cases and protecting legal clients.
This Bethlehem campus-based program prepares you for the workplace or to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.
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Credits: 64
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Campus: Bethlehem
Become an effective member of legal teams with practical skills, knowledge, and values for working with legal topics, ethical frameworks, and standards of legal practice. In the paralegal associate degree, you study legal research, law office procedures, litigation practice, legal writing, and more. Through classroom learning and hands-on practice, you’ll prepare to resolve ethical dilemmas while maintaining client confidentiality.
Program Information
NCC’s paralegal program is a high-quality investment for your career. Our tuition and fees are among the lowest in the state, and we’ll consider your application for our $46 million-per-year scholarship program—the largest of any community college in Pennsylvania. You may also be eligible for additional financial aid opportunities like grants and loans to make your education even more affordable.
Faculty: In the two years it takes to get a paralegal associate’s degree, you will learn from experienced attorneys who will guide you through the ins and outs of preparing legal documents, conducting legal research, and using legal software programs.
Hands-on Internship: NCC’s Pennsylvania-based paralegal degree also involves an internship placement with a local legal office, meaning you’ll gain first-hand practice in the role of legal assistant or paralegal—an experience that will stand out on your resume and help you launch your career.
Quality Guaranteed: NCC’s paralegal degree’s approval by the American Bar Association began in August 2003 and voluntarily ended on January 1, 2023. This withdrawal does not affect the content, academic rigor, or quality of the Paralegal program.
You may be eligible to transfer up to nine (9) credits of legal specialty courses (PARL). The program coordinator will evaluate your credits to determine if they meet paralegal educational industry standards. For legal specialty courses, you cannot transfer credits for prior learning, examination, portfolio, or work experience. Please consult NCC’s Transfer Policy for all other transfer credits.
Career Opportunities for Our Paralegal Majors
What can you do with a paralegal associate’s degree? You’ll work under the supervision of an attorney—paralegals may not practice law or provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
In roles with law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies, you can work as a paralegal, legal assistant, settlement clerk, litigation specialist, and more. This in-demand profession has a growth rate of 14%, and the median salary for paralegals is over $56,000 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
With an associate degree in Paralegal from NCC, you may also further your education at a 4-year university and continue your study in law-related majors such as social work, legal studies, and criminal justice.
Future Career Paths
- Paralegal
- Trust Coordinator
- Settlement Clerk
- Legal Assistant
- Title Searcher
- Litigation Specialist
- Human Resources Representative
- Compliance Officer
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Jumpstart Your Career in Law with a Paralegal Associate Degree
Join legal teams through NCC’s Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal program. Learn from expert attorneys and in real-world legal settings, then excel in your future workplace or bachelor’s degree program.
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