Paralegal Jobs in Dallas and in Texas

• Number of Texas Paralegals: 16,730

• Median Paralegal Salary: $46,080**

• Length of Paralegal Study: 1 to 4 years

• Almost 75 percent of paralegals work for law firms

• Largest Law Firms in Texas: Fulbright & Jaworski; Baker Botts*

Although Texas doesn’t have formal paralegal requirements, many employers prefer—or require—a paralegal certificate or degree.

Here are the most common education tracks for Texas paralegals:

• A paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal school (online paralegal degrees are another option)

• An associate of arts in paralegal studies

• A bachelor's or advanced degree in another subject, and on-the-job experience working in a law firm

Paralegal salaries in Texas are competitive regardless of where you work.:

Currently, Texas does not have certification requirements for its paralegals; however, many employers prefer—or even require—certification. You can get national paralegal certification through the following organizations:

• National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
• American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI)

To maintain national certification, you must complete a certain number of hours of continuing legal education within a specified number of years. Continuing education can include training taken at paralegal schools in Texas, professional organizations or through bar associations.

Among the career resources and job banks for Texas paralegals are the following organizations:

• Houston Paralegal Association
• Dallas Area Paralegal Association
• Alamo Area Paralegal Association
• North Texas Paralegal Association
• West Texas Paralegal Association
• State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division

And don't forget to visit your school's career center to look for internships and paralegal jobs in your city. They can also help you write your résumé and cover letters.
_{Sources:
**www.bls.gov/ (2011)
*National Law Journal}