Paralegal

www.gvltec.edu/paralegal

Contact:

John Bell

Academic Program Director

(864) 250-8053

John.Bell@gvltec.edu

Visit Us:

Barton Campus

506 South Pleasantburg Drive

Greenville, SC 29607

Mailing Address:

MS 1211, P.O. Box 5616

Greenville, SC 29606

About our program

The Paralegal program is one of the most highly-regarded academic paths offered at GreenvilleTechnical College.
Upstate attorneys have long relied on our graduates to help keep law offices running smoothly and efficiently.
Faculty members in the Paralegal Department teach from experience as well as their own impressive academic
credentials. Faculty members include attorneys who have practiced in a variety of specializations such as real estate,
family law, malpractice and labor relations.
The Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association, and is an institutional member of AAfPE, the
American Association for Paralegal Education.The program is also a sustaining member of the South Carolina Up
state Paralegal Association.
GreenvilleTechnical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges (SACSCOC).This assures transfer destinations and employers of the educational quality a GreenvilleTech
education represents.

Curriculum Options
Graduates earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree with a major in Paralegal.This degree can be earned by
completing the traditional 64 semester-hour track, or with a 46 semester-hour option for those who have a bachelors
degree. GTC is the only technical college in the Upstate to offer this academic program.
Graduates may choose to pursue an education beyond GreenvilleTechnical College, and those considering this are
encouraged to meet with an advisor from the destination college. If your goals include a bachelors degree or be
yond, we have transfer agreements in place for a smooth transition to four-year colleges and universities including:
Anderson University
Bellevue University
Limestone College
SC State University
Southern Wesleyan University
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Webster University

Program Award
Paralegal Associate Degree

Greenville Technical College provides equal opportunity and affirmative action in education and employment for all qualified persons regardless
of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Career Opportunities
Paralegals most often work in law firms, but there is demand for the skills of a paralegal or legal assistant in many
corporate settings including insurance companies, government agencies, and large corporate legal departments.
The job is attractive for many reasons including a comfortable, professional work environment and generous pay.
Employers prefer formal paralegal training and strong computer skills. Also essential are abilities that are more
intangible such as professionalism, good judgment, and communication skills.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for paralegals and legal assistants are expected to in
crease 17 percent between 2012 and 2022.The demand generally results from firms trying to reduce billing costs,
with paralegals increasingly entrusted with duties previously performed by attorneys. Smaller firms may choose
to hire a paralegal rather than a legal assistant, so that a greater range of responsibility can be placed with a single
employee. Large firms prefer paralegals with experience in high-demand areas of specialization, such as real estate.
More information about employment options can be found on the websites of professional organizations, including
The South Carolina Upstate Paralegal Association
The American Association for Paralegal Education
The International Paralegal Management Association
The Standing Committee on Paralegals (American Bar Association)
The American Alliance of Paralegals

What Youll Learn

Law and Ethics

Legal Writing and Bibliography
Business and Family Law
Litigation

Electives allow a student to begin developing knowledge in a particular area, with choices such as workers compen
sation and title exams, among others.The option for an internship, generally with a non-profit organization, allows a
unique educational experience and often influences a graduates chosen field of practice.

Visit www.gvltec.edu/gainful-employment for important information about the educational debt, earnings,
and graduation rates of students who attended this program.