Paralegal
Paralegal is a Tier 1 High Demand/High Wage job. Complete the certificate and start working immediately!
Interested in earning more or setting your sites on law school? Complete the AAS degree or continue on by transferring to a 4 year institution.
Paralegal refers to an individual “qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible” (Source).
Paralegals are instrumental in client management, navigating the ever-changing field of law with a keen eye for detail and a growth mindset.
You will help draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements and trust instruments. Paralegals also often help prepare tax returns and plan estates. All in all, becoming a paralegal will allow you to advance in a great career field and CCD can help you get started with our A.A.S. degree.
Choose from online, in-person, or hybrid schedules for both the certificate and the A.A.S degree. This program is the only paralegal program in the state to offer prior learning credit. If you are a currently working in a law related field and want to apply for college credit in the paralegal program we offer you the opportunity to translate your work experience into college credit. Fast tracking you to a certificate or degree.
Our courses are heavily focused in work based learning that are taught by lawyers, judges, magistrates and senior paralegals. Each degree includes an internship course that considers your needs. We have opportunities across the state of Colorado which include remote, in person, paid, unpaid, government, non profit, corporate and law firm opportunities in a variety of areas of law.
My time at CCD laid the foundation for my legal career. I planned to get my degree in paralegal studies and work in Denver. The encouragement and education I received led to scholarships at CU Denver and UMKC Bloch school of law. I have had the privilege to work for the public defender’s office, the department of energy, and consult for cannabis companies across five states and two countries. It all started when I enrolled in the paralegal studies program at CCD.
I started my college career at CCD in the fall of 2017 in the Paralegal transfer program. I have seamlessly transferred to UC Denver after completing my requirements at CCD. It was an incredible experience, I will always value the knowledge I received at CCD as well as the connections I made with fellow students and staff of CCD!
Academic support is provided through CCD's Excel Zone, which helps students succeed by offering a variety of learning opportunities. We are located on campus on the 4th floor of the Confluence building.
CCD Online offers fully online certificates and degrees, and individual online courses to help match your busy schedule. This program offers 100 percent of the paralegal certificate online or through a hybrid program. The degree is offered 55 percent either online or through a hybrid program.
Your first step is to see if online learning is right for you. Online and hybrid environments offer much more flexibility but require more self-direction and self-discipline. Certain work habits, learning styles and skills contribute to a successful online or hybrid learning experience.
Online Experience Questions?
303.352.6785 | TLC@ccd.edu
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Learn More!
Don't forget to apply for the CWBA Paralegal Scholarship or the Paralegal Book Scholarship.
A Two-Year Degree from CCD Can Lead to a Four-Year Degree from the University of Colorado Denver
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in paralegal transfer degree is an agreement between CCD and the University of Colorado Denver. Once you complete these degree requirements, you will have completed your lower-division general education requirements and will be eligible to transfer to the University of Colorado Denver as a junior in sociology or political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or as a criminal justice or public affairs major in the School of Public Affairs. View the course map for required courses.
As part of the degree plan, you will complete an internship, which will provide you with the opportunity to supplement your coursework with practical work experience. You will work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at a business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor.
Industry Partners
Consider bringing on a paralegal intern from Community College of Denver! You can build our legal community and help prepare future paralegals for the workforce.
Credit for Prior Learning
The Paralegal program can offer legal secretaries, legal administrative assistants, and law clerks the ability to earn college credit for prior work experience--fast-tracking them to a Paralegal Certificate and AAS Transfer degree. Employers can help retain employees by helping them climb their career ladder with professional development and training.
The Community College of Denver offers Prior Learning Credit that can apply to the following courses:
PAR 115: Introduction to Law
PAR 201: Civil Litigation
PAR 202: Evidence
PAR 205: Criminal Law
PAR 211: Legal Research
PAR 212: Legal Writing
PAR 280: Internship
Find out more about CCD's prior learning options or contact Karey James, Program Chair. Download the program flyer for more information.
What Can I Do with My Major?
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills should have the best job prospects.
Most paralegals work for law firms, corporate legal departments and government offices. They may work in different areas of the law, including litigation, personal injury, civil rights, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. As law becomes more complex, paralegals respond by becoming more specialized.
Associated job titles include: Legal Secretary I & II, Paralegal, Criminal Investigator, Legal Assistant, Analysis of Licensure & Certification, Program Coordinator, and Case Manager.
In the next few years, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that many law firms and employers with legal staff will hire more paralegals to keep costs down and the availability of efficient legal services up.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
Entry-level salaries for paralegals in Denver are between $30,000 and $40,000 per year. Experienced paralegals and those with an associate or bachelor’s degree earn more — often between $40,000 and $60,000 per year.
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was 60,970 in May 2023.
The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
| Total of 2019 Graduates | Total Students Employed in their Field of Study | Total Students Who Have Transferred to 4-year Degree or Other Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 15 | 6 |
The paralegal certificate seamlessly transfer to the Associate of Applied Science degree. Complete a certificate and start working while you study and finish your associate degree.
*CCD's Paralegal Program prepares you to be a paralegal in the state of Colorado. There is not a state licensure requirement or American Bar Association (ABA) program accreditation requirement to become a paralegal in Colorado. For more information about being a paralegal in Colorado please visit our partners at the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (RMPA).
