Tucked into a small area between Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. is the busy state of Maryland. The bustling city of Baltimore and the state’s proximity to the nation’s capital make Maryland a dynamic environment for paralegals. Several Fortune 500 companies, including Lockheed Martin and Marriott International, are based in this state.
As of May 2020, there were 6,780 paralegal jobs in Maryland. The average salary for Maryland’s paralegals was $56,710, or $27.27 per hour during this time. The top earners in the field (top 10%) made upwards of $80,320, which represents the profession’s top 10%.
Current and aspiring paralegals who increase their knowledge with higher education are often in better positions to seek jobs in specialty areas where they can find the most job satisfaction.
Maryland Paralegal Certification
There is no mandatory licensing or certification for paralegals in the state of Maryland.
Where to Earn Your Paralegal Certificate or Degree in Maryland
Paralegal Certificates
Anne Arundel Community College
Located in Arnold, one-half hour from the nation’s capital, Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is a public, two-year institution. AACC’s paralegal studies program aims to produce graduates who are critical thinkers, effective communicators and competent and ethical legal professionals. This school’s certificate in paralegal studies is a 31-credit hour program with four specialized options: litigation, business, general practice and nurse paralegal. Courses are offered on campus, online and in a hybrid format, and if they choose, students can complete the general practice option in just two semesters of full-time study through the accelerated certificate cohort course of study. Experienced judges and attorneys serve as instructors and students have access to a number of legal resources including the the J. Lynne Wood Law Library and Truxal Library on campus, the Maryland State Law Library, the Maryland Archives and the Maryland General Assembly.
- Estimated Program Cost: $3,069 for Arundel County residents; $5,890 for residents of other Maryland counties; $10,447 for out-of-state and international students (based on fall 2013 per-credit tuition)
- Requirements: Associate or bachelor’s degree; the nursing paralegal option requires a nursing degree
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus, online or hybrid
Sample required courses:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Business Law 1 & 2
- Criminal Evidence & Procedure
- Advanced Legal Research & Writing
- Legal Ethics
Harford Community College
Harford Community College‘s 350-acre campus is located in Bel Air, a little over 30 miles northeast of Baltimore. Its paralegal studies certificate requires 35 to 37 credit hours. Students are trained to assist attorneys through courses that cover topics such as legal writing and research, substantive law and the use of technology in the legal workplace. They also complete an internship or a cooperative education course that gives them practical experience.
- Estimated Program Cost: $3,220 for residents of Harford County; $6,265 for Maryland residents outside Harford County; $9,310 for out-of-state and international students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)
- Requirements: Associate or bachelor’s degree
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Sample required courses:
- Introduction to law
- Technology in the Legal Profession
- Contract Law
- Law Practice and Professional Conduct
- Legal Writing
Paralegal Associate Degrees
College of Southern Maryland
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) offers an Associate of Science in legal studies designed to prepare students to work in entry-level positions or to articulate to a four-year institution. Students select one of three elective groups: legal assistant, public administration and policy or law and American Civilization. This 60-credit program is part of an articulation partnership with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC).
- Estimated Program Cost: $6,660 for Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s County residents; $11,520 for Maryland residents of other counties; $14,880 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
- ABA Approved: No
- Format: On Campus
Sample required courses:
- Composition & Rhetoric
- Introduction to Law
- Introduction to Logic
- Business Law
- Law, Government and Employment
Community College of Baltimore County
Community College of Baltimore County‘s (CCBC) paralegal studies Associate in Applied Science program gives students knowledge regarding each branch of government, the roles of attorneys and paralegals within the legal system, the court system and specialty fields of law, as well as research and writing skills. This course of study is designed for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year institution, and CCBC has articulation agreements with Stevenson University, the University of Maryland University College and the University of Baltimore to help students make this transition smoothly.
- Estimated Program Cost: $6,758 for in-county residents; $12,896 for out-of-county state residents; $19,344 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)
- Prerequisites: The program is open to anyone who can benefit from the education offered
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus with limited classes available online
Sample required courses:
- Introduction to Law
- Legal Research & Writing for Paralegals
- Practice & Procedure
- Law Office Practices/Legal Ethics
- Tort Law for Paralegals
Paralegal Bachelor’s Degrees
Stevenson University
With campuses in Greenspring and Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a private, four-year institution that focuses on career preparation within the context of a liberal arts education. Its Bachelor of Science in paralegal studies emphasizes critical thinking, communication and practical paralegal skills. Students learn and make use of the latest technology while being immersed in a array of courses covering many specialties of the law, and have opportunities to gain real-world experience through internships and clinics. Both day and evening classes are offered, and the program may be completed in an accelerated format by qualifying adult students.
- Estimated Program Cost: $100,840 (based on 2013-2014 per-yer tuition cost for full-time students)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; explore statistics regarding the average admitted student for more information
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Sample required courses:
- Introduction to Legal Studies
- Contract Law
- Civil Litigation and Pleading
- Criminal Law
- Business Law & Legal Responsibilities I & II
- Legal Research & Writing
Kaplan University – Hagerstown Campus and Rockville Campus
Kaplan University offers an online Bachelor of Science in paralegal studies that helps students develop practical skills such as drafting legal documents, legal research, interviewing and the use of legal technology. This program covers substantive areas of the law such as contracts, torts and civil litigation. Students who complete this program are eligible to take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®) administered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, as well as the Certified Legal Assistant Certified Paralegal examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
- Estimated Program Cost: $66,780 (based on 2013 per-credit tuition)
- Requirements: High school diploma, GED or home study certificate
- ABA Approved: No
- Format: Online
Sample required courses:
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Research
- Legal Ethics
- Tort Law
- Advanced Legal Writing
Paralegal Master’s Degrees
Kaplan University – Hagerstown Campus and Rockville Campus
Kaplan University understands the that impact the law has on businesses today and its Master of Science in legal studies keeps this realization in mind. Offered online in Maryland through the Hagerstown and Rockvile campuses, this program gives students a foundation of legal knowledge and teaches them to apply legal principles and concepts in the analysis of social, political and economic issues through a case study format that strengthens their problem-solving skills. In addition, students can select one of several intensive study tracks. Instructors have professional experience and classes are small to allow each student to receive personalized attention.
- Estimated Program Cost: $20,240 (based on 2013 Applied Research Track tuition)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree
- ABA Approved: No
- Format: Online
Sample required courses:
- Jurisprudence and Legal History
- Applied Research
- Academic & Professional Writing for Graduate Students
- Legal Methods & Process
Additional Paralegal Educational Programs
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, Maryland
Degree Offered: Associate of Applied Science
Chesapeake College
Wye Mills, Maryland
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science, certificate
Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland
Degree Offered: certificate
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Maryland
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science, certificate
Kaplan University – Hagerstown Campus and Rockville Campus
Hagerstown, Maryland; online
Degrees Offered: Associate of Science, post-baccalaureate certificate
Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown, Maryland
Degrees Offered: Associate of Arts, certificate
Montgomery College (Germantown Campus and Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus)
Germantown, Maryland; Takoma Park, Maryland
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science, certificate
Prince George’s Community College
Largo, Maryland
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science, certificate
Professional Organizations
- The Maryland Association of Paralegals (MAP) seeks to advance the quality and standards of the legal profession. Members can benefit from networking events, a quarterly newsletter, opportunities for continuing education, access to a job bank, scholarships and membership in NFPA.
- The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) is primarily an organization for attorneys, but it offers associate membership to paralegals.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and job market trends for paralegals reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2022.