Oakland Community College’s (OCC) Paralegal program has once again claimed the top spot in the education category by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly annual reader ranking survey – marking the third consecutive year of recognition.  

The survey highlights a range of businesses and organizations that support Michigan’s legal community, with rankings based on readers’ votes. According to Michigan Lawyers Weekly, OCC’s recognition reflects the program’s strong reputation and consistent excellence, and the trust and confidence that Michigan’s legal community places in the program.  

Qualified paralegal professionals play a critical role in the legal field, conducting research, aiding in discovery, and analyzing evidence to prepare for litigation in various court systems at the local, state, and federal levels.  

What sets OCC apart?  

“Every instructor in our program is a licensed, practicing attorney, and our program has been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) since 1996,” explained Sara Bowman, OCC Paralegal program director and former paralegal with nearly 30 years of experience. “Our instructors know first-hand what is required, and our students learn exactly what attorneys need from their paralegal staff, making them indispensable to the attorneys they support.”  

OCC Paralegal instructor Rob Long, who ran his personal law firm for 15 years before joining OCC in 2008, says the program goes beyond the basics. 

“I left my law practice to do what I really enjoy,” he said. “In our program, we focus on elevating our students’ practical skills in a law office in addition to teaching the mechanics of being a paralegal. We constantly innovate to meet the demands in the field, like teaching students how to use AI as a tool to improve efficiency.” 

Bowman adds some students ask why they should get a paralegal education when some individuals work as paralegals without formal education. “If they ever leave that firm to find new work, they may be overlooked for those who have formal ABA legal training,” she explained.  

Student success: graduate perspective 

Meagan Greene graduated from OCC’s Paralegal program in May. “I believe OCC gave me the tools I will need to succeed as a paralegal,” she said. “Our instructors taught us how to do research and write legal briefs, which is a specific skill set and varies from one firm to another. Professor Long was great at helping allay students’ worries about AI taking our jobs and to use the power of AI as a tool in our research.” 

Greene is grateful for the support students receive from program director Sara Bowman who carefully vets job openings before sending them to recent graduates. “We’re so lucky to have Sara as our program director and benefit much from her long experience as a paralegal,” she added. 

Learn more about OCC’s Paralegal program.  

About OCC     

Celebrating 60 years, Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965. OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s  America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.       

###    

Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu