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Becoming a good paralegal in West Virginia takes a bit of preparation.
Attending a college that teaches paralegal studies is one of the easiest ways to achieve this and increase your chances of becoming a good candidate.
Employers prefer educated and experienced paralegals and often allow those with the skill and training.
Article Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements to Become a Paralegal in West Virginia
Currently, the state has no mandatory licensing requirements.
Similarly, paralegals do not have to get any specific certification.
Even so, it is advisable for interested people pursuing a profession as a paralegal to get the necessary training and certification from trusted colleges to improve their careers.
5 Paralegal Schools in West Virginia
Several schools in West Virginia are perfect for paralegal studies.
Interested students should identify the schools that work best for them.
Below are a few picks you should consider.
1. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
The school has its main campus in Martinsburg and is known for offering a legal office assistant certificate.
These certificates are important as they equip students with the skills and qualifications to earn them an entry-level position in the legal field.
The units offered in this course are similar to what students learn in the initial stages of their Associate of Applied Science in paralegal studies.
This means that students have the opportunity to get into the employment world after completing the certification and can further pursue studies in the paralegal field.
Graduates from this college must work in different places, including the prosecutor and the public defender’s office.
They can also work for private law offices, districts, magistrates, and circuit courts.
The school has a hybrid system where students get to study both on campus and online.
Students need to have attained a high school diploma to be accepted.
Additionally, they have to pay $3,900 when they are residents.
Students from out of the state have to part with $7,020 as a tuition fee.
2. New River Community and Technical College (NRCTC)
This offers the legal office assistant course, which is ideal for students looking for entry levels of skills in the legal industry.
By the time students complete this course, they can comfortably work with attorneys and in other legal fields.
To qualify as a student, you must have attained a high school diploma and be able to pay $5,256 if you are from the state and $7,200 if you reside in various Virginia Counties, including Buchanan, Bland, Tazewell, Giles, Alleghany, Highland, Craig, and Bath.
Nonresidents have to pay $11,556 for the same course.
3. Mount West Community and Technical College
This prestigious college offers training for a Paralegal Associate in Applied Science degree.
In addition, the West Virginia State Bar and the advisory committee of attorneys and legal assistants offer this.
The course equips students with relevant skills and knowledge to become excellent paralegals.
They learn basic practical legal skills on ethics and other subjects that make them stand out.
In addition, such students become great at research and document preparation skills.
The students can apply to start this program with a high school diploma.
They also need to be able to pay $10,560 if they are from the state.
Other students from the counties of Kentucky and Ohio get to pay $18,288, while nonresidents have to pay $26,838 for tuition.
Besides that, students can choose to enter the practicing world or proceed to a legal degree course to become lawyers.
4. New River Community and Technical College
The course is a 64-hour credit course in legal assisting Associate of Science.
It is offered on the college’s different campuses and designed for paralegal needs.
When a student is done, they can easily practice to work or serve as a legal assistant/ competent paralegal.
One needs a high school diploma to join.
The tuition fee is $6,920 for resident students and $9,588 for students from Virginia Buchanan, Bland, Tazewell, Giles, Alleghany, Craig, Highland, and Bath.
Nonresidents have to pay a higher amount of $15,344 as tuition fees.
5. West Virginia Junior College (WVJC)
This college has been around for quite some time and is known to offer training in an associate degree in legal assisting on some of its campuses.
The course is quite instrumental as it helps students understand the basics of the law and, in turn, makes them great legal assistants/ paralegals.
A full program costs $25,250.
Paralegal Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 13650 Apple Harvest Dr, Martinsburg, WV 25403 |
| New River Community and Technical College (NRCTC) | 280 University Dr, Beaver, WV 25813 |
| Mount West Community and Technical College | 1 Mountwest Way, Huntington, WV 25701 |
| New River Community and Technical College | 280 University Dr, Beaver, WV 25813 |
| West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) | 148 Willey St, Morgantown, WV 26505 |
Salary for Paralegals in West Virginia
Becoming a paralegal in West Virginia is an excellent choice of professional.
With most legal companies in the legal field seeking to find competent assistants, anyone with the right training stands to get absorbed quickly.
The salaries or remunerations are also quite attractive.
Paralegal or legal assistants in West Virginia earn an average of $52,680annually.
This amount may vary and change depending on the firm one works at.
The level of education and experience can also affect the actual payments employers pay their paralegals.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $54,942 |
| Huntington | $53,874 |
| Parkersburg | $53,561 |
| Wheeling | $59,049 |
| Morgantown | $59,049 |
| Weirton | $58,847 |
| Fairmont | $59,049 |
| Beckley | $54,459 |
| Clarksburg | $53,078 |
| Martinsburg | $66,842 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 60 | $43,440 | $20.88 | $61,380 | $28,710 |
| Charleston, WV | 410 | $55,720 | $26.79 | $77,650 | $33,530 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 260 | $52,320 | $25.15 | $73,380 | $28,870 |
| Morgantown, WV | 140 | $63,840 | $30.69 | $130,500 | $36,430 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 200 | $67,380 | $32.4 | $93,870 | $37,690 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 40 | $45,760 | $22 | $61,710 | $28,370 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 150 | $52,160 | $25.08 | $75,160 | $30,530 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need special certification to practice as a paralegal in West Virginia?
The state requires no licensing or certification for one to practice as a paralegal.
Are paralegal jobs available in West Virginia?
The employment industry in West Virginia is quite lucrative.
All you have to do is to stand out as the best candidate in the competition.
MD: Becoming a paralegal in West Virginia is easy.
All you have to do is attend the right school and increase your chances of being employed by a legal firm or lawyer.
What are employers interested in when seeking paralegals?
Most employers want paralegals that are skilled and experienced.
Therefore, attending a school is advisable to be equipped and trained.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Paralegal
Paralegal Schools by State