Are you a detail-oriented, responsible person who gets satisfaction from completing precise research? Would you like to train for an in-demand job with high responsibility that also pays well? Are you fascinated by law but aren’t sure yet whether you want to go to law school?

If you’ve been considering becoming a paralegal and have compared other training programs, you’ll find that El Centro College's program is not only widely respected in the legal community of northeast Texas, but is also an incredible bargain for its high quality and modest tuition.

El Centro College’s urban setting, with its ethnically diverse student body, provides an excellent location for Paralegal students to have convenient access to the Records Building, George Allen Civil Courthouse, Frank Crowley Criminal Courthouse and Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse, as well as proximity to a large number of law firms located downtown.

Becoming a paralegal (formerly called a legal assistant) qualifies you to handle many routine assignments for attorneys and is an excellent way to determine if you have a serious interest in law as well as build an excellent foundation for law school. Advancement opportunities are numerous and vary depending on your level of continued education, and include managerial and other law-related positions with law firms or corporate legal departments.

The two-year associate degree program consists of seven core courses and 14 Paralegal courses. There is no maximum number of students accepted into the program annually. A student may begin Paralegal Studies in any semester in which the course Introduction to Paralegal Studies (LGLA1313) is offered.

Paralegal Associate Degree

The Paralegal Associate in Applied Sciences degree is designed to prepare students to function as paralegals to attorneys. The program does not qualify graduates to take a state Bar exam, represent clients in court or give legal advice.

Other Degree and Certificate Options

The Dallas County Community College District offers nearly 350 career and technical degrees and certificates, plus 36 academic degrees. For more information, see a chart of our degree plans by location.

College Accreditation and Program Approval

All seven DCCCD colleges are accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and are members of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities (formerly the college section of the Texas State Teachers Association) and the League for Innovation in the Community College.

The Paralegal Studies program at El Centro College is one of only 10 paralegal programs in the state of Texas approved by the American Bar Association — and the only such ABA-approved program located in north central Texas.

Voluntary Certification

Although most employers do not require certification, earning a voluntary certificate from a professional society may offer advantages in the job market.