Paralegal Schools in Georgia
The following guide to paralegal schools in Georgia contains key information about the paralegal schools and degree and certificate programs offered in the state that may support your career as a paralegal or legal assistant. The information on this page can help you choose the right program for your personal interests and career goals. As an alternative to an on-campus paralegal program, you may also wish to consider an online paralegal program, which offers more flexibility than a traditional degree. Visit our guide to paralegal careers in Georgia to find out about opportunities for paralegal graduates in the state.
Quick Facts
- There are 16 colleges and universities that offer paralegal/legal assistant degree programs in Georgia.1
- 10 schools offer a certificate program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 12 schools offer an associate’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 3 schools offer a bachelor’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 1 school offers a master’s degree for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 1 school ranked in Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs.2
- 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools in 2022.3
- 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs in 2022.4
- 5 ABA-approved paralegal degree programs are in Georgia.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with paralegal/legal assistant degree programs.
Table of Contents
- Comparison of Paralegal Programs
- Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs in Georgia
- Select Schools in Georgia with Paralegal Degrees
- Student Reviews
Comparison of Paralegal Programs
The table below will help you compare not-for-profit paralegal and legal studies programs in Georgia based on various factors. The table includes paralegal program-specific information such as the programs offered and whether there are any online options. It also includes general school information to help you compare the colleges and universities that host these programs, including overall acceptance rate, graduation rate for first-time bachelor’s degree seekers, median debt for graduates, and net tuition per year for full-time undergraduate study. We have also included information on approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). While ABA approval is not required in order to work as a paralegal, it is a mark of program quality that is preferred by many employers.
| School | ABA Approved? | Paralegal Degree(s) | Acceptance Rate6 | Grad Rate1 | Online Options? | Median Debt7 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Technical College (Athens) | Yes | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 44% | — | N.Av. | $5,782 |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 39% | Yes | $7,253 | N.Av. |
| Augusta Technical College (Augusta) | — | Certificate-Paralegal Fundamentals; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 37% | — | $3,668 | $9,672 |
| Central Georgia Technical College (Macon) | — | Certificate-Legal Assistant; AAT-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 35% | — | $3,668 | $2,050 |
| Clayton State University (Morrow) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AS-Paralegal Studies; BS-Legal Studies | 51% | 30% | — | $17,284 | $10,037 |
| Coastal Pines Technical College (Waycross) | — | Certificate-Paralegal Fundamentals; Diploma-Paralegal Studies AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 40% | — | N.Av. | $2,066 |
| Columbus Technical College (Columbus) | — | Diploma-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 27% | — | $3,960 | $4,722 |
| Emory University (Atlanta) | — | Certificate-Paralegal | 16% | 90% | — | $18,222 | $25,942 |
| Georgia Military College (Milledgeville) | — | AA-Paralegal Studies; AS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 28% | Yes | $4,750 | $7,544 |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Clarkston) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 51% | — | $8,166 | $6,127 |
| Savannah Technical College (Savannah) | — | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 42% | — | $3,500 | $4,482 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (McDonough) | — | Certificate-Paralegal Fundamentals; Certificate-Paralegal Studies; Diploma-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 43% | Yes | $3,500 | $5,887 |
| Southern Regional Technical College (Thomasville) | — | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 32% | Yes | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| University of Georgia (Athens) | — | Certificate-Legal Studies; Master in the Study of Law (MSL) | 45% | 87% | — | $17,108 | $15,961 |
| University of North Georgia (Dahlonega) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; BAS-Paralegal Studies | 81% | 38% | — | $8,251 | $10,730 |
| Valdosta State University (Valdosta) | — | BA-Political Science: Pre-Law | 57% | 40% | — | $15,750 | $13,502 |
- — indicates none.
- N.Av. indicates no data available.
Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs
Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs
- Valdosta State (#10)
US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools 2022
- University of Georgia (#27 tie)
- Emory University (#29 tie)
US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs 2022
- Emory University (#46 tie)
- University of Georgia (#68 tie)
Select Schools in Georgia with Paralegal Degrees
Traditional Programs
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta Technical College offers an ABA-approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies degree. The six-semester program offers day and evening course options for working students. ATC’s Paralegal Studies program is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE). Students take a wide range of courses, including Civil Litigation; Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure; Family Law; Real Estate Law; and Contract Law. Coursework emphasizes foundational legal theory as well as the real-life skills needed to conduct research and prepare documents for legal departments. All students are required to complete an internship as part of the curriculum, which provides hands-on experience and connections in the field of law. Graduates have gone on to continue studying law in a bachelor’s degree program or to find work in positions in government, private industry, nonprofits, or law firms. For students with a bachelor’s degree, ATC offers a Paralegal Studies Professional Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) that can be completed in two semesters.
Central Georgia Technical College
The Associate of Applied Technology (AAT) in Paralegal Studies at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) emphasizes the academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills necessary for prospective paralegal professionals. The course content is broad-based and comprehensive in nature, including topics like ethical obligations, legal research skills, family law, and fundamentals in property law. Consisting of 69 credit hours, the curriculum includes 18 general education credits and 51 credits of paralegal coursework such as Tort Law, Real Estate Law, and Law Office Management. Admission to the AAT program requires that an applicant be at least 16 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Students may enter the program during any semester at either the Macon or Warner Robins campus. CGTC also offers an Advanced Legal Assistant Technical Certificate for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.
Clayton State University
Clayton State University (CSU) offers a Paralegal Certificate, an Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Legal Studies, all of which are ABA-approved and emphasize the practical and theoretical skills necessary to paralegal practice. Practical paralegal skills, such as document analysis; legal research and writing; and procedural training are integrated with substantive law courses throughout the curriculum. The BS and AS programs include general education courses that are omitted in the more focused post-baccalaureate certificate program. Regardless of the program, students must complete a set number of classes under the paralegal designation to fulfill the residency requirements at CSU. Students seeking the BS must also complete at least seven upper-division courses in residence. All three programs should prepare those seeking a career as a paralegal or legal assistant or for further study.
Emory University
The Paralegal Certificate Program at Emory University is part of the Emory Continuing Education (ECE) program. Admitted students are college graduates with a bachelor’s degree seeking to acquire the in-depth legal knowledge required to enter the legal profession. The post-baccalaureate certificate program consists of over 100 classroom hours taught by licensed attorneys. The program integrates online study with in-person coursework, allowing students to submit assignments, access study tools, and develop job search skills through online tools. Required courses in the Certificate curriculum include Civil Litigation; Legal Research and Writing; and Contract Law. Students must also choose two elective courses from options such as Law Office Technology; Family Law; and Wills, Trusts, & Estates. To complete the program, students must complete seven courses with a 75% or higher and at least 80% attendance in each course. Students will receive support such as career development assistance and networking opportunities with local employers.
Hybrid and Online Programs
Georgia Military College
Students can earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies at Georgia Military College (GMC). Both associate’s degrees can be completed entirely online or through a flexible schedule at one of the multiple campus locations. In addition to a core general education curriculum, students of both programs must take a total of 25 credit hours in the paralegal concentration. The curriculum includes foundational courses that teach legal theory and practical legal skills such as Legal Research and Writing; Civil Litigation; and Introduction to Law and Ethics. Students learn how to research and write about law as well as general critical thinking, communication, and organization skills. The associate’s degree programs also emphasize the technical skills needed to assist practicing attorneys. An associate’s degree in paralegal studies provides graduates with the necessary background for entry-level positions in public or private offices or as a foundation for further education in law.
Southern Regional Technical College
Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies designed to help prepare students for careers as paralegals by helping to develop a combination of technical, professional, and academic skills. Students may begin the program at the start of every semester, either online or at SRTC’s Thomasville campus. The 72-semester curriculum requires five semesters to complete and includes instruction in topics such as state and federal law; property law, contracts, and legal ethics. Students will supplement legal courses with learning practical skills in classes such as Introduction to Computer Literacy and Law Office Management. An internship option is available that will allow students to develop paralegal skills in a working professional environment. Graduates of the AAS in Paralegal Studies will qualify to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) certification exam. Admission into the program requires a high school diploma or equivalent as well as sufficient scores on one of the SAT, ACT, or Accuplacer standardized exams.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia (UGA) offers an online paralegal certificate program through a partnership between its Center for Continuing Education and Center for Legal Studies. Through a practice-oriented curriculum, students of the online certificate program will be trained in interviewing, investigation, and research techniques, as well as preparing legal documents and cases. The course is 90 hours, comprises nine continuing education units (CEUs), and must be completed within 14 weeks. Students can interact directly with the instructor and classmates online. UGA also offers an Advanced Paralegal Certificate online for students who wish to study more specialized topics in the legal field, and an on-campus Master in the Study of Law (MSL).
Student Reviews
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Athens Technical College
800 US-29
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 355-5000
https://www.athenstech.edu/
Student Review: “The paralegal program at Athens Technical College is a great program. The teachers are all lawyers, judges, or were in the past so they have real-life knowledge in the field. There is an awesome student paralegal association that helps build community support. They have a good size law library and access to online legal aids as well to help students with projects. You are taught how to do legal research online and in print books. The projects are demanding but very effective and relate very well to the real world. You will write depositions, briefs, and other legal papers that you would actually do in real life. You will take a case from the very start to the very finish and do all of the paperwork and be able to have a great portfolio to show future employers. In your family law class, you will take on a complicated divorce and learn how to do all the divorce paperwork and child support payment worksheets. In real estate law, you will learn how to research plots. In corporate law, you will learn how to do all the paperwork on starting a business and turning an LLC into a corporation. Every major field of legal is covered, and you get great experience in all fields. You end with an internship in an actual law office, which can either turn into a job or can give you a great letter of recommendation while looking for a job.” -Student at Athens Technical College
Atlanta Technical College
1560 Metropolitan Pkwy SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
(404) 225-4461
https://atlantatech.edu/
Student Review: “When I started the Paralegal Studies program, I was not too thrilled about working for a law firm. However, my father was a lawyer and convinced me that I would be a successful paralegal. The teachers at the Atlanta Technical College were highly educated and passionate about the courses they taught. If there were a few ways that I could improve the course, I would like there to be more hands-on activities, more one-on-one tutoring, and more group assignments. In addition, I would also have liked there to be more guest speakers and real-life paralegals to come speak to the class about their experiences in the working world.” -Student at Atlanta Technical College
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs: https://www.paralegal411.org/degrees/bachelors/online/#top
3. US News & World Report Best Law Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Legal Writing Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/legal-writing-rankings
5. American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/
6. Niche: https://www.niche.com/
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/