Paralegal FAQs

What is the difference between the Paralegal certificate (CAS.PARA) and the Paralegal associate degree (AAS.PARA)?

There is no difference between the Paralegal certificate (CAS.PARA) and the Paralegal associate degree (AAS.PARA) with respect to the law classes the student must take. Both programs require the same 13 law-related courses. The Paralegal certificate requires that the candidate already have completed an Associate in Arts degree or higher; an Associate in Science degree or higher; or 27 semester hours of college credit at a C or better from an approved, accredited postsecondary institution of which 18 hours must be general education courses spread across three disciplines with six of those 18 hours being comprised of ENG 101 and SPC 205 or SPC 209. The Paralegal associate degree program is for students who have not completed the prerequisite hours to enter the Paralegal certificate program. The Paralegal associate degree students must take 24 hours (8 courses) of general education classes such as English, psychology, math etc., in addition to 13 law-related courses.

All students are placed initially in the Paralegal associate degree program until they are qualified for the certificate program by Admissions and the director of the Paralegal program. When the student adds the Paralegal certificate major online at my.tridenttech.edu>TTC Express for Credit Students>Academic Profile>Student Change of Major, the requested major will be marked pending and Admissions and the program director will review the student's official transcripts from any colleges that the student has provided to Trident Technical College. These transcripts will be evaluated to determine if the student's prior college work satisfies the requirements for entry into the certificate program at Trident Technical College.

Students who wish to be considered for entry into the certificate program should have official transcripts verifying any prior college work sent to the Admissions office as soon as possible.

Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys in law offices or in governmental agencies, insurance companies, banks, etc. They help research, prepare reports and perform other assignments the attorneys may delegate to them.

The starting salary depends on experience, education, the job market and special skills of the applicant. The range may be from $24,000-$45,000 depending on the specific job duties and other factors cited above.

Yes, you can. TTC Paralegal graduates have continued their education at four-year institutions and gone on to law schools around the country. Check with your advisor for specific information related to this career track.

The ABA (American Bar Association) is the governing body which oversees the training of lawyers in the practice of law. The ABA has a division that examines paralegal programs, approving those which satisfy the extremely stringent requirements. One benefit of attending an ABA-approved paralegal program is that prospective employers in other states understand the significance of the ABA approval even if they are unfamiliar with TTC.

Classes are designed to accommodate students who want to attend full-time or part-time. Classes are offered both day and night to serve the needs of those students seeking a degree or certificate.

It depends on whether you are seeking a degree or certificate and if you are attending full or part time. For a full-time student, it usually takes four 15-hour semesters and one 9-hour Summer Semester to complete the degree program and two 15-hour semesters and one 9-hour Summer Semester to complete the certificate.

All faculty members in the Paralegal programs are licensed attorneys in South Carolina and most have been teaching in the program for a number of years.

The hours change each semester to accommodate class schedules. Contact the library at 843.574.6095 for specific times.