Steps Toward a Paralegal Career in Pennsylvania

Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:

Get Your Paralegal Education in Pennsylvania
Receive Paralegal Experience in Pennsylvania
Become a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (PaCP), If Desired
Discover Paralegal Jobs in Pennsylvania
What’s Next After Becoming a Paralegal in Pennsylvania

Paralegal Job Description in Pennsylvania

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States Department of Labor says that in May 2022, paralegals and legal assistants working in Pennsylvania earned an average mean wage of $64,730. This is a fairly high annual salary, considering that education is not mandatory (but is recommended) for paralegals in Pennsylvania. For paralegals with the right combination of education, experience, and certification, the sky’s the limit when it comes to salary. Pennsylvania paralegals earning in the 90th percentile averaged $92,560 per year. Keep reading to discover how you can become a paralegal in the Keystone State.

Step 1

Get Your Paralegal Education in Pennsylvania

There are no criteria set forth by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania regarding mandatory education for paralegals in Pennsylvania. However, if you plan to seek certification (see Step 3), you must have the proper education to qualify.

Pennsylvania Paralegal Online and Campus Schools

Featured Programs:

Receive Paralegal Experience in Pennsylvania

You will likely become exposed to the paralegal profession through a work experience internship or externship as part of your paralegal education program in Pennsylvania. If you do not, or desire more experience, consider working as a volunteer for one of the many legal aid agencies in Pennsylvania, such as:

Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.– Washington
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center– Philadelphia
Northwestern Legal Services– Erie
North Penn Legal Services, Inc.- Pittston
Neighborhood Legal Services Association– Pittsburgh
MidPenn Legal Services, Inc.- Harrisburg
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania– Norristown
Laurel Legal Services, Inc.- Greensburg

Step 3

Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (PaCP), If Desired

The Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations in Pennsylvania does offer a certification program for paralegals, the Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (PaCP) Program. This program is strictly voluntary and not necessary in order to work as a paralegal in Pennsylvania. Holding the PaCP credential sets you apart from other non-credentialed paralegals in the state and may help when you are seeking a paralegal job in Pennsylvania. You must meet the following qualifications in order to become a PaCP:

Be a legal U.S. resident
Satisfy one of the following educational criteria:
- Have a bachelor degree in paralegal studies from an ABA approved paralegal program and one year of paralegal work experience, OR
- Have a bachelor degree in any field and an associate degree or certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal program and one year of paralegal work experience, OR
- Have a bachelor degree in any field and three years of paralegal work experience, OR
- Have an associate degree in paralegal studies from a paralegal program and five years of paralegal work experience, OR
- Have a certificate from a paralegal program and five years of paralegal work experience, OR
- Hold a national certification credential such as RP, CP or CLA and two year of paralegal work experience
Have consecutive years of substantive paralegal work experience, where applicable
Submit a declaration with a licensed Pennsylvania lawyer in good standing with Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The declaration must attest to the lawyer’s knowledge of your skill level and paralegal work
Be currently employed as a paralegal

If you meet these qualifications, you must submit the proper fee ($50 for members of a Keystone Alliance Member Association or $200 for a non-member) along with a completed PaCP Application to Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations, P.O. Box 344, Pittsburgh, PA 15230. You will be notified of your certification status within 30 days.

Step 4

Discover Paralegal Jobs in Pennsylvania

Paralegals in Pennsylvania work for more than just law offices and law firms. Title companies, real estate offices, brokerage houses, governmental agencies, and corporations are just a few of the many employers of paralegals in Pennsylvania, as are:

Aetna- Blue Bell
WestingHouse Corporation – Cranberry
Stryon LLC – Berwyn
Teva Pharmaceuticals – Horsham
Campbell, Campbell, Edwards & Conroy – Berwyn
Fulton Financial Corp. – Lancaster
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, P.C. – Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager, P.C. – West Conshohocken
Sunoco Logistics – Philadelphia
Johnson, Duffie, Stewart & Weidner – Reading
Armstrong Group of Companies – Butler

FIND SCHOOLS

After Becoming a Paralegal in Pennsylvania

Great job! You are now a paralegal in Pennsylvania! Think about joining one of the many paralegal member associations across the state, like:

If you are a PaCP, remember to complete your continuing legal education (CLE) as necessary. Every two years, you must complete 12 CLE credits (2 of these in ethics courses) and maintain records of this CLE to report to the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations when you renew your certification.

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2023.