For as long as Akaza Flores ’21 can remember, she has wanted to be a lawyer. But before she put the time, energy and money into a law degree, she wanted to be sure that it was right for her. After earning her undergraduate degree at UT San Antonio, Flores decided to first gain practical experience to get a better understanding of the profession.
“The greatest advice someone gave me was to work at a law firm before you go law school,” she said. “It lets you see if you’re a good fit.”
Although she wanted to work in a law firm, Flores lacked legal experience. While researching ways to build her skills, she discovered the UT San Antonio Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) Paralegal Certificate Program.
PaCE delivers targeted, skill-based learning opportunities such as short-term certificate programs and stackable micro-credentials designed for professionals looking to gain a competitive edge in the workplace.
Learn more about Akaza Flores and her journey as a law professional.
As workforce needs continue to evolve, employers increasingly value skill-based credentials. Forbes reported in 2025 that 86% of employers see non-degree certificates as valuable indicators of job readiness.
“Our certificate programs allow individuals to reskill and go into a different career path or to upskill and perhaps get promoted at their current place of employment and continue growing their career that way,” said Edwin Blanton, PhD, assistant vice provost for corporate initiative and business development at PaCE.
In 2025, PaCE reported that the certificate programs in the healthcare, business and legal fields had the highest enrollment numbers—some topping almost 600 participants each.
Blanton added that their team is continuously having conversations with employers in various industries to identify the gaps in their employees’ skills so that PaCE can develop programs that are uniquely suited for to a company’s specific needs.
Based on those conversations, PaCE has added new programs in recent years such as its Certified Medical Billing & Coding Specialist Training, Emergency Medical Technician Training and Advanced Family Mediation Certificate Program.
Because PaCE’s programs are custom-built based on workforce needs, there is a higher likelihood that those who graduate from the program will develop a competitive edge and have job opportunities available to them immediately, said Jeff Berry, director of marketing and enrollment at PaCE.
PaCE draws on the experience of professional leaders in their field in addition to the specialized expertise of UT San Antonio faculty.
“It’s important for us to have individuals with both industry experience and teaching experience as instructors in our courses,” Blanton said. “It’s helpful for our students so they gain insight in how things are in the industry. It’s an important key in their success.”
When Flores took her paralegal course, she saw firsthand how vital subject-matter experts were to the certificate programs.
Through the program, Flores was able to secure her first paralegal job with Nena Gutierrez, a solo practitioner, primarily focused on family law. She spent two-and-a-half years at Guiterrez’s private firm before starting law school at St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2025.
“The legal field is really hard work. It’s very rewarding work, but you need to prepare yourself in a certain way to ensure that you survive it,” Flores said. “I think the paralegal certificate program put me in the right headspace as to what my expectations should be, and what I need to do in order to properly prepare myself to enter the legal field.”
