Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Paralegals And Legal Assistants
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Pasadena City College, Riverside Community College, Coastline Community College, and De Anza.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider MTI College, University of La Verne, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal Berkeley.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Scripps College, Humphreys, SBBC-Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara Business College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider ICDC, University of Antelope Valley, San Diego City College, and University of La Verne.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Coastline Community College, Merritt College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Santa Ana College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, and University of San Diego.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, and Saint Marys College of California.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, and Cal Berkeley.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Claremont McKenna, Cal Berkeley, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Scripps College, and Saint Marys College of California.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Los Angeles Valley College • Van Nuys, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2004)
• 5/4/2011
"I feel like I was well prepared and the program got me into the job market fast."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended it to others as an inexpensive way to get solid job training that can lead to a good paying job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I've found that in my field, the school is known for preparing students well. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Instructors had a great deal of real world experience. Students left school with not only the knowledge gained from book learning, but also with a good idea of what working in a law office was actually like. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was challenging and the work load was heavy because it was an intensive program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned things like document handling software and docketing programs strictly on a "learning by doing" experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | It was an intensive program designed to get you out of school and working fast. You had to attend school for the required number of months. Because of the fast pace you couldn't really afford to miss any time or switch things around. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Good instructors, excellent library. |
| Social Life | 5 | It is commuter school and I am a mid-life returnee, so I didn't really do any socializing of any kind. I did attend some student faculty musical performances. They were excellent. |
| Placement Services | 7 | As I said in the other question, they helped me get my first job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They helped me find my first job, but I haven't been active in the alumni network since. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Global Studies (completion in 2011)
• 5/6/2011
"UCLA is a great school. My major does not lend itself directly to a career, but with the skills you learn you should be able to find appropriate work somewhere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you pay in-state tuition, being a legal assistant is a legitimate use for a bachelor's degree. If you pay out-of-state tuition, like I did, you better become a lawyer to make the price of your education worthwhile! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The major is relatively new. But it is application-based and is known for being difficult. It also is criticized for the thesis aspect. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Obvious it isn't designed for people to specifically be a legal assistant. But the writing requirements, as well as the amount of research required, gave me good preparation for being a legal assistant. |
| Instruction | 7 | I went to a research university, so it was not always great for immediate career relevancy. However, it really helped my abstract thinking and writing skills which are valuable as a legal assistant. |
| How Difficult | 9 | This was a very rigorous major. I had to complete a 50 page thesis, and all the classes were writing and research intensive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As a research school, UCLA is very much oriented to book learning. If I had not wanted to gain job experience on my own, I would have said completely book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Signing up for classes is EXTREMELY competitive. But the classes themselves are available at a variety of times. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | UCLA has great research libraries and facilities. As long as you have a UCLA login ID you can access online resources from anywhere. |
| Social Life | 8 | Being in a big city, there is certainly no lack of social experiences at UCLA. The immediate area is small but nice, and on campus there are a lot of groups to join. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The alumni network is great for career opportunities, and the school hosts many career nights each year. However, many majors themselves do not lead straight to a career. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | UCLA is a very tight knit community. The Alumni network is very strong and helpful. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying History (completion in 2011)
• 7/2/2011
"I love my school. However, with all the budget cuts, classes got cut, students have to stay for extra quarters if not for an extra year to finish up courses. My school does not do a very good job of helping students get a job after they graduate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend my school to others, but not at this moment with the budget cuts. The dorms are under construction. Courses are cut. Tuition keeps rising. It's not worth it. It might be once we get out of this recession. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | We have an amazing group of professors who are at the top of their fields teaching at my school. I believe we have an amazing reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My major's program has top notch professors from the field. I believe we are better off than certain ivy league schools in this field, which is amazing coming from a public school with budget cuts. |
| Instruction | 8 | I have learned a lot of overall skills that have helped me in the professional world. My professors cared about whether each student was engaged with the material. However, the major has not helped me with finding a career. |
| How Difficult | 6 | My major was not graded on a curve like most classes at my school. Teachers and students help each other out instead of trying to compete with each other. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think it really depended on the major. There's not much opportunity in my major to do hands on work. For the science courses which required labs, those classes were very much hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | We have evening options, summer classes, online courses ,and even extension courses for certificates, etc. However, we do not have weekend courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | All professors have office hours and are available for appointments should students have conflicts with such hours. All of the above services are easily accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | My social experience at school has been great. My school has amazing school spirit considering that our basketball and football teams have not been performing their best in these last few years. |
| Placement Services | 2 | My school wouldn't even help look over and proofread my resume now that I have graduated. Budget cuts have cut the staff working towards helping students with career choices and preparation. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | We have to pay extra after graduation to get alumni support or to even access the network to look for career opportunities. Alumni don't really interact or come back to support the school. |
El Camino College • Torrance, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2008)
• 7/11/2011
"I was very satisfied. They were accredited and helped me get an internship. I learned what I needed to learn for the paralegal field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on the person. I would recommend working at a law office before they take the program to see if that environment is what they like. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | El Camino is one of very few programs in Southern California that is accredited. They are sought after for employment. |
| Program Quality | 8 | El Camino College was great, they had a variety of classes and I did learn a lot of legal terminology and how to do briefs, synopsis, and fill out family law forms. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt it was very good instruction. All the professors were current lawyers and seemed to like the legal field. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was harder than the general education requirements. There was a lot of studying and multi-page briefs that required reasoning. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix, but there was more book learning. I think that is important for paralegal work anyways. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | When I went there, they would cancel classes if they were not full. Some of them you could not take until the following year, so it took me three years to complete a two year program. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There was enough law books and resource materials in the library. I wish there was more access to legal computer programs (Abacus, Best Case, Legal Solutions, Lexis) |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not really involve myself in a lot of activities. I went mostly at night. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I received my internship through the career services, so I think that it is a good service. I wish they had more jobs, though. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not really received any information on our alumni network, although I know there is one. I would like to be involved with one, but they do not reach out to people. |
Armstrong College • Berkeley, CA
Studying Legal Secretary (completion in 1967)
• 7/7/2011
"I felt that I was taught a lot about the business aspect of working. It made me feel at ease going out into the world looking for a job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to others. However, I do not know if it still exists. |
| Program Reputation | I do not know the school's current reputation. It was several years ago that I graduated. | |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school directed me on what courses to take to achieve my goals. They were always there to answer questions. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were very helpful. They assisted in preparing a resume upon graduation. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some of the subjects were easy to follow and understand. Others were more difficult and required more effort to understand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes were very book oriented. A few classes were hands on-oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The class schedule flexibility was okay. There were problems with classes being scheduled for the same time. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | This was a business college. They did not have a library available. |
| Social Life | 3 | The school did not have athletics. There were no parties. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school looked at our qualifications. They helped us prepare a resume. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I did not follow the alumni network when I graduated. I moved to another city. |
California State University, Northridge • Northridge, CA
Studying Liberal Studies (completion in 1994)
• 7/6/2011
"As I said earlier, I truly enjoy learning, and CSUN offers a wide range of classes that could keep me interested for years. If I could afford it, I would collect degrees as a hobby - Art History, Linguistics, etc. Unfortunately, I have to work at a job I don't particularly enjoy in order to provide for my children."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to anyone who wants a college degree, but I would not recommend pursuing my career. Sitting in a cubicle all day is not fun. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think it's okay. I've never known with any certainty one way or the other. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I had no idea what I wanted to do when I went to college, so I studied liberal arts. I enjoy learning and reading, and it was a great school for both. Looking back on it, I wish I had studied art instead. |
| Instruction | 7 | Like in any school, there were some outstanding teachers and some really bad ones. The course offerings were good, providing enough variety to keep most people interested. I don't know that it was necessarily relevant to the work I do now. Most of my coworkers in my early career had taken certificate programs at secretarial colleges which were completed in 4-6 months, yet they were as well (or ill) prepared for the job as I was. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Learning has generally come pretty easily for me, but I rated it more toward the difficult side because since I had to pay my own way, I also had to work. Trying to maintain a full class load and working part time ultimately proved too challenging and I had to resort to going to school part time as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Other than science labs, writing (freshman comp) and a couple of drawing classes I took, there really wasn't much of an opportunity for hands on learning. Everything came from a book. Even speech class required the use of a book to explain how to put together/what the purposes is of the various kinds of speeches. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Although I don't believe weekend classes were offered, there was a good selection of evening and extremely early morning classes (6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.), and intersession classes. These are intensive classes offered during the 3 weeks between semesters in January. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The libraries (there were 2) were outstanding. I used tutoring services in math, and even tried the patience of the head of the math department by making almost daily visits to him so he could explain the day's lecture to me one more time. |
| Social Life | 5 | Since I had to work, I didn't really participate in school spirit activities. I had no time. Oh - except for the time they screened all three of the original Star Wars movies one night. I made sure I was free for that. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Again, not applicable. I have always found work on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | You should have as an option "not applicable." I have never used it and have no idea if it is good or bad. |
MTI College • Sacramento, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2007)
• 7/29/2011
"Definitely satisfied with the ability to get a job after finishing. I have learned more actually working in the field than I did in school, but overall not a bad school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended it to a few people. It is relatively a fast program, easy to access, and the best of its kind for Paralegal studies in the area. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | In Sacramento it is the only WASC accredited Paralegal school. Much easier than the paralegal program at local community colleges which are extremely time consuming (lack of classes). |
| Program Quality | 7 | I learned plenty of basics. Very expensive. I have now transferred to a four year university and a lot of the credits did not transfer over. |
| Instruction | 8 | Not enough hands on learning. You learn a lot more once you are in the field. Did not show us how to file things electronically, look up case dockets/online court information, etc. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Busy but not overwhelming. The "general education" courses were too easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mostly book oriented. Some hands on in classes with computer labs. Few "field trips." | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Second year had to only be night classes. There were not many online options when I went there although I've heard that has changed. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Accessibility of (most) professors was great. Small class sizes also a plus. Parking was terrible and the computer/library resources weren't too great. |
| Social Life | 1 | Almost no organized school events. No sports. No parties. No school spirit, or even a mascot. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I got my first job from the school. They did call me for a job after I had already let them know I got one, though. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I am not even aware of an alumni network. They do provide lifetime job placement services, however. |
University Of California, Riverside • Riverside, CA
Studying Public Policy (completion in 2008)
• 8/5/2011
"I made several life-long friends through this school. I have also met a few professors who have supported me in my continued studies in public policy."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | There is a legal studies major that can aid those seeking to be paralegals. More specifically, one can get certified as a paralegal at the UCR extension center through its courses. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It's a relatively new program, so they are still trying to work out the kinks. As such, it does not have much of a reputation yet. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I very much enjoy learning about and discussing public policy topics, especially environmental economics and health care policy, and this major gave me the opportunity to delve into these topics. The major was new in my school and I was one of the first to graduate with it, so it was still developing as an institution of the school. My only complaint was the lack of preparation I had for a job in this field due to the lack of guidance and the newness of the program. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most classes were taught by professors, and not by adjuncts. I had the sense that many felt invested into their students' academic success. |
| How Difficult | 7 | For the quantitatively inclined, the program was not very difficult. I wish there were more courses in quantitative analysis in the curriculum. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was very book-heavy in learning. There were not many projects I was a part of, except for my required internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I never considered class scheduling outside of regular times, so I cannot say either way. However, I'm sure the UCR extension provided some flexibility in scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Libraries were a bright spot of the school, with most books I ever needed available. I also enjoyed the accessibility of my professors whenever I needed them. |
| Social Life | 5 | School pride was not prevalent and not many events were held. Athletics were also a low selling point. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Only one career services center served the entire campus and its services were limited as such. The career fairs were decent, but were unable to attract many big name employers. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The school is not considered in the top of the list in the UC system and it is felt in the lack of student pride. Alumni have not been easy to reach. |
Claremont McKenna College • Claremont, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2005)
• 8/31/2011
"I feel very blessed and privileged to have attended a private university with high quality programs like mine. I would love to be able to earn my Master's Degree there, but I no longer live in California."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Some of the professors in the Political Science dept. have served in presidential administrations and are best selling authors. This is the best private college in California. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Claremont McKenna is known for its quality Political Science program. The professors are authors and political scientists. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Claremont McKenna College is the best college for those pursuing a degree in Political Science. This private university offers exceptional instructors and is a very highly rated university. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors at Claremont McKenna are political scientists. The instruction is top rated. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The standards are extremely high at Claremont McKenna. I was vigorously challenged throughout my academic career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say that more direct instruction was used than collaborative learning. There was some "group work" but it was mainly lectures. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was always able to get the classes I needed. My class schedule and work schedule never conflicted. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My university was one of the leading schools in library services and offered a top notch computer lab. The advisors were competent and helped me plan for my future. |
| Social Life | 10 | My school offered many clubs and activities. There was always a calendar of activities that kept me busy. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I had many instructors who became career mentors. I found the counseling services to be the best. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive an alumni newsletter from time to time. I think that they might be able to offer more activities than they do. |
Riverside City College • Riverside, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2011)
• 9/6/2011
"Riverside City College has been a great way to save money while attending a very large two year college. I enjoy walking on the giant campus and attending classes as well."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this to anyone in my area who is attempting to obtain an Associates degree or Network IT certification. I have taken the Cisco program there which taught me computer networking. Riverside City College has been a great way for me to save money until I transfer to a four year college. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My school has a reputation for being affordable for the first two years of college. However, I did notice in the majority of my classes there was at least a 30% drop rate amongst the students. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Riverside City College provides a full range of courses which will ensure that I can obtain my AA in Business Administration within this year. The staff (teachers) is caring and very qualified. |
| Instruction | 8 | The majority of my teachers at this college have been very considerate and are willing to help. The courses are offered at a variety of times throughout the day which is convenient. |
| How Difficult | 5 | These courses are passable in my opinion. The hardest part to me is the time consumption of the study and text-work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the work at RIverside City College is based out of the book, especially in the online classes. The material in the online courses offered by Riverside Community City references the class text frequently. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The classes offered at Riverside City College are very flexible. They are normally offered throughout the day during different hours. Many classes are also offered online so that on-campus presence is not required, which is convenient. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Riverside City College has a large amount of student resources. They have a 2 story library that accommodates several of a student's needs at a time. There is a large cafeteria and tutoring services are offered at the campus. There is lots of parking available as well. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school has a variety of clubs, sports teams, and other extra-curricular activities that encompass a variety of social activities. The online classes also have a chat link where students in the same class can chat online and socialize in group conversations. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Riverside City College has a good career training and pathway to work success program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't heard a lot of information of this. The Cisco network program I took at this school has a great Cisco Academy Alumni which is a part of RCC's curriculum. |
University Of California, San Diego • San Diego, CA
Studying Paralegal (completion in 1999)
• 10/7/2011
"I have a very marketable skill. That combined with the reputation of the school makes me very satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If someone were interested in becoming a Paralegal I would definitely recommend my school. The education is excellent and the reputation is great. I should point out that this is a certificate program, but I do hold a bachelor's, which is a prerequisite for the paralegal program. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Anyone in the legal community in this area knows of the reputation of this school. It's very easy to get a job with the education they provide. |
| Program Quality | 7 | UCSD is a wonderful school. I find that I gain instant credibility when I tell people that's where I got my education. |
| Instruction | 8 | Again, the school itself has a wonderful reputation. I was able to get a job right out of school, and I find that my skills are sought after. Their program definitely prepared me for my career. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some people thought it was difficult, but I'm a very good student. I found it to be easy for the most part. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I did find that the program was very academic. I was currently working in the legal field, and while the information provided was helpful, a lot of it was not very "real world" applicable. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was very good. I completed my program as a working adult and found it to be very flexible. I was able to maintain my current schedule and still go to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I rated it as average as I didn't really avail myself to the academic facilities. I understand that they are there and are quite good. |
| Social Life | 5 | Again, an average rating based on my experience. As a working adult, I didn't really seek out any social experiences. |
| Placement Services | 10 | You are virtually guaranteed a job right out of school. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | This doesn't really apply to me. I was an adult returning for continuing education and alumni matters don't really interest me. |
University Of San Diego School Of Law • San Diego, CA
Studying Law (completion in 2008)
• 10/16/2011
"The school was too expensive for the education that I received and the reputation that it has. I do not feel that my education was worth the time and money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If a person gets a scholarship, then the school might be worth going to. Without a scholarship or another means to pay for the education, I wouldn't recommend someone going into that much debt. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The local reputation is good, especially for trial work. However, outside of the San Diego area I do not think people are familiar with its reputation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school had good professors and a nice facility. However, I don't feel that I was prepared enough to take the Bar exam. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors seemed interested in teaching us and were very interesting. However, I do not feel that I learned enough to take the Bar exam and had to find ways to learn the material on my own. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I had to read and prepare for class every day because the students were called on at random. However, the depth of understanding of the material did not have to be very great. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The law is very book-oriented, so we relied on texts to a great extent. The only hands-on class that I took was Lawyering Skills. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to attend classes at night, after work. However, I was not able to attend some classes that I wanted to take because they were not offered at the times that I could attend. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The library was dated in terms of decor and materials. The classrooms have since been updated, so they look better and have improved technology. I don't think there were any tutors or academic advisors that I know of. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were social events, such as mixers and the occasional Halloween party. Overall, I did not consider the social scene to be very inclusive, though. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I could not find a job and still cannot find a job. Career services is very ineffective in helping students find jobs or notifying students of opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The only time I hear from the alumni network is when they call me to ask for money. I do not feel that there is much support in finding a job. |
Trinity Law School • Santa Ana, CA
Studying Law (completion in 2010)
• 10/25/2011
"The school was great in providing a variety of law classes. The professors were very accessible."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school provides an education that will help you in the legal field. The professors are working lawyers and provide practical information for you to work in this field. The work is challenging but doable. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The school is a good Christian school and provides a great law school education. The school is very big in the legal field. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors are helpful and the books they recommend you to read are great. I think that the school is very encouraging. |
| Instruction | 7 | The curriculum was intellectually stimulating and the type of classes taught were very important. The professors were very accessible and intelligent. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The tests were very difficult and the exams were very long. The work load was extremely heavy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school was more book oriented in that you had to read lots of books. You also had to read about a lot of cases. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school offers summer options and is flexible. They allow you to do night classes as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The computers are brand new and they provide a great library. They also have helpful librarians and professors that answer your questions quickly. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school had great gatherings and social events. The school was great socially. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The job placement and career services are great because they help you with revising your resume. They also set you up to talk to attorneys working in the field. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni support is good because they teach you how to write a resume and how to find a job. I think that the alumni are very encouraging and helpful. |
The Law School At The University Of San Diego • San Diego, CA
Studying J.D. Program (completion in 2000)
• 11/29/2011
"It was a very difficult program. I felt over my head most of the time but I think that was my fault and not the school's. I just wasn't the right kind of person for law school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend the paralegal program but not the law school. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The law school has a very good reputation in San Diego and is well respected. It was a tier 2 law school when I attended and I believe it still has the same strong reputation. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I would not recommend going to law school to become a paralegal, although I have heard very good things about USD's paralegal program. |
| Instruction | 8 | I hear the quality of instruction for USD's paralegal program is very good. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I attended three years of law school to obtain my J.D. It was a very difficult program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There wasn't a lot of instruction on how to draft pleadings or discovery, the real nitty-gritty of the day to day life in the legal field. We learned mostly legal theory. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There was a day session for full-time students and a night-time session for part-timers. There were summer classes but nothing on-line. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Our library was very good and had very good librarians. There were never any class room size issues and the professors (for the most part) were accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | Once a month there was a night-time social event, but the school didn't sponsor those. The school really tried to keep us focused on school. |
| Placement Services | 3 | After graduation I recall a lot of my friends having difficulty getting jobs as attorneys. At the time I think no one was hiring and the career services office was pretty unhelpful. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not really sure how to answer this one. The law school might have a good alumni network but after graduating, I didn't work as an attorney. |
University Of California-Berkeley • Berkeley, Ca, CA
Studying History (completion in 2009)
• 1/10/2012
"I had a great experience at Cal. The career services were my biggest complaint, but I don't really know what they could have done given the logistical concerns of such a large school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The legal field is decent; I have decent pay for the work I do. However, the opportunities are dwindling and the sector is struggling along with the rest of the economy. At some point it gets repetitive and many want to take the next step and become attorneys. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I haven't kept up in the rankings, but when I graduated the program was ranked very high nationally. I think it would be difficult for another program to provide substantially greater instruction. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had fantastic professors and an engaging curriculum. I felt that I was presented with great opportunities. |
| Instruction | 9 | My professors were incredibly knowledgeable and learned. They were respected in their fields and developed a focused curriculum. Career preparation is one area of complaint. |
| How Difficult | 8 | We were required to write a major thesis research paper before graduation. All my classes were demanding and required full engagement. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were some instances when hands on research was required. However, history lends itself to book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I never had any serious issues getting requirements. However, registration was not easy and I didn't always get what I wanted. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The libraries were expansive and of tremendous quality. Professors were accessible, and there was plenty of support in place for those who so desired. |
| Social Life | 10 | I played on a sports team which provided a sense of social community. In addition, there was a strong social scene which kept me very busy during my time there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | It was a large school so students were really forced to seek out help. Even when I reached out I found the career services were limited in their ability to provide tangible help. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I haven't taken advantage of the alumni network since I'm so far away. However, the base is large and I feel confident in the alumni network. |
San Francisco State University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 1/10/2012
"I got the certificate, I can go take classes as an alumni for half off, they offer continuing education classes and certifications for important things so it's a resource that continues to offer stuff. Also I got work and have been somewhat prepared for it so I think that means that the program worked."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended the program; my brother's girlfriend is about to start. I have been giving her advice on what teachers to take and what opportunities to pay attention to. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The program is the only Paralegal program accredited by the American Bar Association in the Bay Area, so that is really great. Also when employers ask me where I got the certificate and I tell them they recognize it and know someone who went there or generally had a good experience with people who went there. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It's a good program, it is completely accredited by the American Bar Association. If you want a paralegal certificate in the Bay Area this is where you go. |
| Instruction | 6 | Some of the teachers were great, and some were bad so if I have to rate them all together it would end up being average or above average. Some teachers had a lot of good information and insight into what a paralegal does and what we would need to know to succeed in this field and that was great. |
| How Difficult | 4 | This really depends on each person's circumstances. As a native English speaker and recent college graduate I didn't find a lot of the program particularly hard but for other people in different situations, it was harder. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It really seemed to depend on the teachers. In my computer class and research classes there was a lot practical things, going to the library, going online to find information that was really helpful. But in other classes we just read the book together and that wasn't helpful at all. I could have done that by myself. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are summer classes and a lot of classes offered in the evening, there are a lot of people who have taken this program while raising kids and/or having a full-time job. I don't believe there are any online classes offered at this time. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Instructors were relatively easy to access when you had questions, and the staff of the school was really great at answering questions and getting back to me quickly. They had a nice little library and a lot computers but I do wish there was a copy machine in the library and printer in the computer lab. |
| Social Life | 7 | This is an extended learning program, it's not a normal college with sports and Greek life or anything like that. They offer continuing education classes and opportunities to network and everyone was friendly so I think it was pretty good. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There is not much specific job placement and but there was help in terms of getting a job. They offer panels and workshops to network and to help with your resume, and they kept relevant job postings up in the common areas of the school. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I am not sure about a specific alumni network, but the program knows a lot of staffing and recruiting firms in the area and has a lot of different options for internships and that was really great. It seems like if you mention a law firm or legal organization in the Bay Area the dean knows someone from there and has a relationship with them. |
Fremont College • Cerritos, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 2/26/2012
"I am pretty satisfied with the education I received there. I really feel that I learned a lot of useful things that I have already applied in my current position."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I really feel it is all up to the person. I think it was a good place for me, but I do not know if it is the best for others. |
| Program Reputation | I haven't really heard much feedback about the school from anyone I work with, or any other people I know in the legal field. It is an ABA accredited school, but it is small and fairly new, so it's not really well known. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | I enjoyed my school experience. I feel I learned a lot and was able to get my AA in a short amount of time. |
| Instruction | 8 | The quality of instruction was great. We learned about all the different sections of law and what the role of a paralegal is in the legal field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work load was intense because we had to learn a lot of the laws as well as complete practice forms, litigation paperwork, notebooks, etc. that we use in real life. We basically learned to perform all the duties a paralegal has and we applied them in sample form. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was definitely a mix of both. They did a good job of balancing the book learning and the hands on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | My school offered different schedules to meet the needs of all kinds of students. They had all day classes that met three times a week, 1/2 day classes M-F, and nightly classes M-F year round. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The instructors were very knowledgeable, and the law library there was where most of our classes were, so we had great resources to work with at all times. There was also a separate computer lab with adequate resources as well. |
| Social Life | 7 | I enjoyed the social experience at my school because we had a small, tight knit group which was very supportive of each other. However, as far as organized school social events go, there really wasn't a whole lot of that. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Their career services assistant was very helpful. He really helped me to get interviews, gave me useful tips for my resume, and walked me through what to expect from employers during interviews. |
UCLA, Extension • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Attorney Assistant Training Program (completion in 2005)
• 3/6/2012
"The program was enjoyable, and it made me confident in selling my skills as a paralegal. UCLA added to my resume has boosted my marketability and led to job offers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The UCLA name carries prestige. The program will prepare students to become successful paralegals. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The UCLA School of Law is well-regarded in the state. Since the paralegal program is affiliated with the Law School, we share some of that prestige. |
| Program Quality | 10 | We had practicing attorneys and judges as professors. We also had practicing paralegals and alumni for support and mentorship. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction was quite good. Professors expected us to behave like the paralegals we were determined to become. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The coursework was challenging, and the workload required that students actually remain committed to the program. Most students participated in study groups we created with one another. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did have to learn legally accepted practices from the book. The majority of the program was geared toward students BEING paralegals, so practical, hands-on, experience was about 50% of the coursework. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes were all held on site. Students could choose a year-long evening program or a compressed 6 month daytime program. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We had a computer lab that was exclusive to paralegal students. We did NOT have access to the law school library (except for a tour), but our professors were available via appointment, email, and telephone. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in school activities. Our graduation on-campus was extremely well-done. |
| Placement Services | 10 | An alumni-only job board and lifetime job placement services are available for graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | We had alumni visit and answer questions during the program. Outreach efforts since graduating have been dismal. |
Maric College • San Diego, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2006)
• 3/8/2012
"There were faults at our school, but the knowledge I obtained was excellent! If I could do it again, I would."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, because being grand-fathered in and having a degree DOES make a difference. A degree shows employers that "I can be committed, and I can complete what I start." |
| Program Reputation | 1 | My school was sued because they claimed it was backed by the ABA and it was not. After being sued so many times, they closed the school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | There were high expectations at my school. You could not just walk in and get an A - you had to fight for it, giving us students a better understanding of the courses. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the core classes were taught by attorneys. This was a benefit because we were getting advice and education from our future employers. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The classes were just as hard as, if not harder than, other classes I took outside of this particular school. The general education was challenging too. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Huge text books for legal studies. The only hands on we partook in was going to the law library. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Pretty convenient. There were night and morning class available. The night classes started at 5:30 and ended at 9:00. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There was nothing at this junior college that my high school did not have. Actually, I think that my high school was more sophisticated in terms of academic facilities and resources. |
| Social Life | 1 | There were no school activities. We shared the college with other programs, mostly medical. So about 200 students showed up in scrubs and there were 35 of us in office attire. The only spirits we had were at a bar after school. |
| Placement Services | 5 | It was okay, I had a counselor help me with my resume and help me set up interviews. Honestly, I did better on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | There was no social interaction. There were no groups or after school involvement. Also, our class was very small, so that was disappointing. |
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