Blinn College Paralegal Program invites prospective students to learn about variety of legal careers
Program graduates are qualified for careers in law firms, courts, government, insurance, and administrative agencies
September 11, 2017
Blinn College invites students considering a legal career to learn more about its Paralegal Program at an upcoming information session.
The Paralegal Program will hold an information session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Bryan Campus Student Center Room F-244 (map). Program Coordinator Robert Stanberry will lead the session, describing the program, its certificate and degree offerings, and offering prospective students the opportunity to ask questions.
Paralegals, or legal assistants, serve as attorneys’ top assistants in the delivery of legal services, performing duties that include attending trials, assisting in testimony preparation, locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting client interviews, and conducting investigations and research. Their role is expanding as companies look to hire employees with a broad understanding of legal matters. Job opportunities abound in private law firms, courts, government, insurance companies, administrative agencies, and corporations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for paralegals is expected to increase 8 percent between 2014 and 2024, creating more than 21,200 new jobs in the field. Paralegals earn a median pay of $49,500 per
“I have firsthand experience working with and hiring paralegals educated and certified in the Paralegal Program of Blinn College and found them all to be well-trained and equipped to handle the challenges and workload typically found in law firms in the Brazos Valley and throughout the state,” said Jeff Paradowski, personal injury lawyer.
With traditional classroom and online tracks available, Blinn equips students for a variety of law careers with an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree or a Legal Office Certificate. Courses are taught by a faculty comprised entirely of lawyers and judges whose classes are structured to promote quality student-faculty interaction. Students completing the AAS degree are eligible to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) certification exam, and majors in the program join the Legal Assistant Student Organization.
“The Blinn Paralegal Program strives to connect local professionals with students currently enrolled in the program,” Stanberry said. “We want to give our students every perspective possible so they can be successful.”
In addition to preparing students for careers, Blinn’s Paralegal Program provides a strong foundation of legal knowledge for students who choose to continue their education via law school.
Registration is currently available for Blinn’s eight- and 12-week classes. Courses still available in the Blinn Paralegal Program this Fall include LGLA 2303: Torts and Personal Injury Law (12-week), LGLA 1305: Legal Writing (8-week), and LGLA 1345: Civil Litigation (8-week).
For more information about the program, visit www.blinn.edu/paralegal.
