by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Legal Assistant/Paralegal explores Legal Assistant/paralegal. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Research, Drafting, Investigatory, Record-Keeping And Related Administrative Functions Under The Supervision Of An Attorney Or Court. Includes Instruction In Legal Research, Drafting Legal Documents, Appraising, Pleading, Courthouse Procedures, And Legal Specializations. Read on to learn the important information every legal assistant/paralegal major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering legal assistant/paralegal programs.
Across the country, legal assistant/paralegal is a popular field of study, with 9,493 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools ranking analyzes these 473 schools to determine the best overall colleges for legal assistant/paralegal students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of legal assistant/paralegal programs later in this article.
Coursework for Legal Assistant/Paralegal develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations legal assistant/paralegal graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a legal assistant/paralegal program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a legal assistant/paralegal major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several legal assistant/paralegal degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,064 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,414 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 812 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,134 |
People currently working in careers related to legal assistant/paralegal tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 53.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in legal assistant/paralegal careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in legal assistant/paralegal opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to legal assistant/paralegal.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to legal assistant/paralegal.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | 286,021 | -4.0% |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 197,456 | -0.5% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 60,495 | 4.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of legal assistant/paralegal graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,277 |
| 4 years | $37,648 |
| 5 years | $42,965 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for legal assistant/paralegal graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers legal assistant/paralegal grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $134,350 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,735 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $67,272 |
With 473 different legal assistant/paralegal programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased legal assistant/paralegal school rankings to help you.
Those considering legal assistant/paralegal, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary | 403 |
| Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter | 380 |
| Legal Support Services, Other | 212 |
| Court Interpreter | 2 |
| Scopist | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
