Washington Paralegal Schools:

This page provides information on Washington paralegal schools which let you pursue a career as a paralegal. Information provided includes a directory of Washington paralegal colleges, along with forms to request additional information. Please see further below for a list of Washington paralegal schools.

Near Washington State
Western Business College in Vancouver
Campus in Vancouver, WA offering Accounting & Finance, Business, Computer, Legal & Paralegal, Medical & Healthcare, Office professional, and Travel & Tourism curriculums

Search all Paralegal Colleges by State.

Paralegal schools teach their students many aspects of the law and the legal systems. Paralegal schools also train their students heavily on how to use the computer as a tool to accomplish legal research, create presentations and briefs related to their research, and otherwise use the computer for legal applications. Most paralegal schools also have their students go through an internship for a law firm, attorney general’s office, public defender, corporate legal department, government agency, legal-aid organization, or branch of government.

Paralegal jobs are expected to grow more rapidly than the average through 2010. Job growth arises from corporations and law firms using paralegals to do more work to reduce their overall legal costs. Most paralegals will be employed by private law firms, but there will also be job growth in corporate legal departments, insurance companies, banks, real estate firms, title insurance companies, and government.

Washington Paralegals–or legal assistants–are in great demand, as they can perform many of the duties that attorneys have traditionally accomplished. Paralegals free attorneys for other duties, and are cost-effective for law firms and businesses.

From the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that “Employment of paralegals is expected to grow much faster than average [at least a 36% increase] — ranking among the fastest-growing occupations in the economy through the year 2006 — as law firms and other employers with legal staff increasingly hire paralegals to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this translates into an estimated 77,000 new jobs by the year 2005.

As a paralegal in Washington, your career path will change for the better:

Intellectually challenging work
Changing job responsibilities
Expanding job opportunities
Careers in law for significantly less cost than law school
Add to your current skills to improve your present job
Get a head start, for those who wish to go on to law school

Plus, as a paralegal, you’ll know more about how the law affects you in everyday situations, such as:

buying or selling a house in Washington
starting your own business in Washington
understanding your insurance coverage in Washington
understanding your lawyers’ bills well enough to negotiate them
what to do (or not to do) if you’re in a car accident
handling divorce or child support issues
discuss power of attorney with aging parents

Paralegals in Business
In addition to positions in law firms, paralegals are everywhere in business: in schools, non-profit agencies, investigation agencies, banks and other financial institutions, the health industry, computer software companies, engineering firms, franchise operations -- the list goes on.

Paralegals in the business world may help with employee contracts, shareholder agreements, stock option plans, and employee benefit plans. They may help prepare and file annual financial reports, maintain corporate records, and help secure loans. Paralegals may also review government regulations to ensure the corporation operates within the law.

Careers in the business field are waiting for you with a Paralegal Degree in Washington.

Washington Compliance Manager - Ensure that a company is in compliance with Washington and federal government regulations so it can stay in business.
Washington Contracts Administrator - Write and negotiate contracts for a company's in Washington subcontractors, employees, and business transactions.
Washington Employment Agency Recruiter - Recruit and place paralegals in jobs in law firms and businesses in Washington.
Washington Housing/Tenant Law Specialist - Fight for the housing rights of the underprivileged, stop evictions and unfair rent practices.
Washington Litigation Manager - Supervise the progress of cases currently in litigation, all the way through the trial process.
Washington Healthcare Paralegal - Use your medical or dental experience to interpret medical files and analyze medical procedures for law suits involving medical malpractice.
Washington Paralegal Investigator - Interview witnesses, perform surveillance, and search for records and assets.
Washington Real Estate Portfolio Manager - Manage real estate holdings, find tenants, and prepare and negotiate leases.
Washington Freelance Paralegal - Hire your services out to attorneys or law firms, working from your home or in their office.
Washington Closing Agent - Assist in preparing for closings and review title histories so people can buy and sell property.
Washington Advocate - Be an advocate in non-profit organizations for the disabled, homeless, elderly, abused, and other economically or socially deprived populations.
Washington Franchise Coordinator - Help restaurant, retail, and other service industry franchises expand throughout the U.S. and the world.