Students in Tarrant County College’s Paralegal Studies program don’t just read about the law in textbooks; they spend their time drafting legal pleadings, preparing wills and working hundreds of hours in fast-paced law offices across North Texas.
This rigorous, hands-on training prepares them to enter the workforce directly after graduation.
Since 1981, the program has been a vital part of the college. Its launch came at a historic turning point: the State Bar of Texas had just become the first state bar in the nation to create an official division devoted to legal assistants, now called paralegals. Around the same time, TCC conducted a community needs assessment. The results highlighted a local shortage of these trained professionals.
To fill that gap, the college built the Paralegal Studies program, which aligns with its core mission to provide quality workforce education that turns students into career-ready graduates.
A prestigious, nationally recognized edge
Today, the program offers both an Associate of Applied Science degree and an advanced certificate option for students who hold a bachelor’s degree.
A major differentiator for the program is its official approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). This distinction requires the college to regularly submit curriculum details, student success metrics, faculty credentials and more for review.
In Texas, paralegal certification is voluntary. However, graduating from an ABA-approved program highly prepares students for the national exam. Earning this recognized credential gives alumni career portability if they ever relocate out of state. Professor and Paralegal Studies program coordinator Karen Silverberg said TCC graduates have an 85% to 90% exam pass rate, outperforming the national average of around 60%.
Learning through hands-on experience
Bringing this practical learning to life requires an elite faculty. Every professor and adjunct professor in the program is a former or currently practicing attorney who brings actual cases, pleadings and court processes directly into the classroom.
One assignment Silverberg highlighted involves students writing their own legitimate will, or writing one for a friend if they already have one. After revisions and attorney review, a notary is brought to class so students can formally execute the documents alongside their peers as witnesses.
“No one leaves my program without a will,” Silverberg said.
Flexible internships and deep regional partnerships
The program has a required work-based learning component. Because many TCC students balance their education with existing careers, the program's required internship hours are structured into two paths:
- The single-semester track: requires a 1-hour weekly class, alongside a minimum of 250 hours at a job site
- The two-semester track: requires 150 hours per semester (300 hours total) at a job site, with the 1-hour weekly class taken the first semester
“We have some [firms] that take an intern every semester,” Silverberg said.
Other offices reach out on an as-needed basis when openings arise. Students are also free to find their own placements, which are then integrated into the college's database, expanding the pipeline of future opportunities for students.
"We've placed students with the Texas Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, law firms all over the metroplex [and] major corporations," Silverberg said.
Proven impact and full-circle success
Silverberg said many interns receive permanent job offers. Local employers report that TCC students hit the ground running on day one.
Specifically, attorneys praise TCC interns for their willingness to ask clarifying questions upfront. This ensures critical assignments do not face delays under tight court deadlines.
According to anonymous end-of-course surveys, the students feel the same confidence.
“[Students report that] they do not feel like they were behind the eight ball, suddenly trying to do something they had never heard about before,” Silverberg said.
The program has produced nearly 2,000 graduates since it launched. Some utilize the legal training to enhance existing careers, such as property managers learning to draft their own documents.
Others climb to prestigious legal careers. One former student became President of the Paralegal Association. Another graduate became a family court coordinator and practicing attorney at the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, eventually launching a campaign for district court judge.
In an ultimate display of the program's reputation, many alumni who have become lawyers return to TCC to hire the program's interns.
For those considering entering the field, Silverberg noted that success comes down to a passion for precision.
“If you’re detail-oriented, you love the law and you love to make the [court] process work, this is a job for you,” Silverberg said.
Those interested in learning more about Tarrant County College’s Paralegal Studies program can click here.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
