by our College Data Analytics TeamLegal Assistant/Paralegal was the 123rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 10,611 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 6.3% increase in paralegal degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 9,938.
This year's Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools ranking compares 125 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom paralegal rankings further below.
When studying Paralegal, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and talking to others to convey information effectively.
legal assistant/paralegal degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific paralegal careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of paralegal degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in legal assistant/paralegal to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the legal assistant/paralegal degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to paralegal, with approximately 31.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for paralegal workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 38.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.0% |
| High School Diploma | 21.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.3% |
57.5% of paralegal workers have at least a associate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in legal assistant/paralegal careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the paralegal career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your paralegal degree? Legal Assistant/Paralegal careers are expected to grow 11.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to legal assistant/paralegal.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 327,400 | 14.6% |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | 72,000 | 4.3% |
| Legal Support Workers | 52,800 | 3.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for paralegal graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for legal assistant/paralegal graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers paralegal grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers | $71,420 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $54,500 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $51,380 |
With over 981 different paralegal degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased paralegal school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Legal Support Services area of study, Legal Assistant/Paralegal has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary | 384 |
| Court Reporting and Captioning | 314 |
| Other Legal Support Services | 233 |
