How to Get Started
To get started in the Paralegal Studies program, complete the admissions process at El Centro College.
When you're ready to enroll, ask to speak to a Paralegal Studies advisement counselor so he or she can help you determine which courses you should take. If you're planning to earn an associate degree in Paralegal Studies, please note that you must complete at least five Paralegal courses at El Centro College, though other courses may be completed at other DCCCD colleges.
Tuition and Expenses
Dallas County residents pay $123 per three-hour class — that’s $41 per credit hour, or less than $500 for a full semester load of 12 credit hours.
Compare that to what you’d pay elsewhere! See DCCCD tuition rates for tuition according to your place of residency.
Textbooks are other expenses to be considered; please check the course requirements and check book pricing at the college bookstore.
Courses Offered (Curriculum)
Our catalog provides detailed information about the courses we offer and the courses required for the Paralegal Associate in Applied Sciences Degree.
Related Programs
DCCCD offers other programs that might interest you, including Conflict Management, Criminal Justice and Business Office Support Systems.
Developing Skills for Success
Students have access to the following facilities and advantages at El Centro:
- Practicing attorneys and paralegals as instructors
- An on-campus law library and three computer-assisted legal research systems
- Mock trials and career seminars held by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Southern Methodist University Law School, Dallas Young Lawyers Association and others
- Classrooms in downtown Dallas, near the legal community, many with Web-enhanced components
- Some introductory courses offered at Richland and North Lake colleges as El Centro College home-host classes
- Class times that fit your work and family schedule
- Day and evening classes
- Full- or part-time study options
- Electronic support services to access supplemental readings, grades and course syllabi (eCampus and Blackboard)
- Online Core courses, although all non-core Paralegal Studies courses must be taken in on-site classes to meet the higher education standards of the American Bar Association
- Our Paralegal Student Association, student organization of the year for two years running
- Cooperative work experience (co-op) working at least 15 hours a week doing paralegal activities at an assigned site
|
Faculty Profiles
Our Paralegal Studies faculty members not only have relevant degrees but also have real-world experience in the legal profession, which makes them able to relate to the challenges you face at work. Our instructors work closely with you one-on-one, encouraging you and helping you to succeed in school and on the job.
See profiles of some of our Paralegal faculty.
Transferring to or from DCCCD
Paralegal Studies courses are designed for direct entry into the workforce. However, if you are interested in transferring your Paralegal coursework to earn a degree at a four-year institution, please visit the Transfer Services Web site for guidance on the transfer process.
The program offers several transfer agreements, also called articulation agreements, which consist of contracts between educational institutions under which a four-year university agrees to accept certain credits from a two-year community/junior college toward specified degrees.
The Paralegal program currently has articulation agreements in place with:
Many students come into our Paralegal Studies program with a bachelor’s degree and want to know how much of their coursework will transfer. Please check with a Paralegal Studies academic advisor at El Centro College to get specific information on transferability from the institution that awarded your degree.
Most bachelor’s degrees will satisfy the requirements for the seven core courses necessary to earn a Paralegal Studies associate degree, leaving only the 14 specific paralegal courses to complete.
Links to Related Information
See links to information about paralegal-related organizations, industry news and more.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Paralegal program that aren’t answered on our Web site, please feel free to contact us.