Find the annual mean wages for paralegals and legal assistants in popular cities by clicking on the markers in the map below. All salary data is taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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source: bls.gov
Paralegal Education Information
While South Carolina is a state that was intensely impacted by the recent economic crisis—in truth, the state as a whole has never had a particularly strong economy—the paralegal field is a vibrant field there as well as it is throughout the country. The state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but many are finding good work as paralegals in many capacities. Many people are working with law firms both small and large, or are working within the corporate sector. Others find work in legal services. Some are able to open their own operations, or work as independent contractors.
There are nine schools in South Carolina that have paralegal or legal studies programs that have been approved by the American Bar Association (www.ABANet.org). This does not mean that there are not other qualified schools within the state; the Bar has just not approved them at this time. Several of these schools are technical colleges such as Greenville Tech (in Greenville), Horry-Georgetown Technical College (in Myrtle Beach), and Central Carolina Tech (in Sumter).
South University, in Columbia, also offers program. South University has several campuses located throughout South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Virginia—throughout the south, essentially. You can view all their programs, campuses, and policies at their website. You can also do a portion of the coursework required for the paralegal studies program online.
For the most part, a degree in paralegal studies will be an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science. The program will take between sixty and ninety hours. You may also be able to get a certificate in paralegal studies, which usually takes about half the time as an associate’s degree.
