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 Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, Broward College, and Tallahassee Community College.
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 City College, City College, City College Branch Campus, and Nova Southeastern.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider City College Branch Campus.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Miami Dade College, Broward College, Nova Southeastern, and Valencia Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Nova Southeastern, Hodges University, City College, and Indian River State College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Miami, Gulf Coast Community College, Nova Southeastern, and Pensacola Junior College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Miami, Central Florida, and The University of West Florida.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami and Central Florida.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at University of Miami, Nova Southeastern, and Central Florida.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at University of Miami, Hodges University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Kaplan University • Fort Lauderdale, FL
Studying Paralegal (completion in 1999)
• 5/5/2011
"Considering my situation at the time, it was just what I needed. I was unable to go to an actual campus and take classes, so the correspondence courses were perfect for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For individuals who are motivated to learn on their own and don't want or need the social aspect of college, the correspondence courses Kaplan offered were great. The cost was reasonable and I felt like I got a good education that has helped me on my jobs. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There are a lot of schools out there where you can get your paralegal certificate. I think Kaplan is similar to a lot of the others out there. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I took correspondence courses. They were good, but it would have been nice to have someone to ask questions to face to face. However, I loved the flexibility of correspondence courses. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I didn't think it was that hard. You have to read a lot and put your mind toward understanding what you are reading. But overall, I did not think it was that tough. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Students mainly read and take exams. There was some hands-on training, but very little. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Awesome! You could study when and where you wanted and take as long as you need to finish a class. It was great because if something major came up in my life, I could take a few weeks off, or study like crazy if I had the time and motivation. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I never saw the campus, so I assume it is average. The books and other materials they sent to me were pretty good. |
| Social Life | 5 | Since I did not attend classes on campus, I did not have any social interaction. I assume similar to other schools. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They did not provide any (at least not at that time). They might provide it now. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni week. |
Kaplan University • Miami, FL
Studying Bachelor Of Science In Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 6/26/2011
"I was satisfied. I would recommend it to anyone."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Yes, I would recommend my school. However, you will need to be resourceful when pursuing this career. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | Kaplan has a bad reputation for being easy and not being accredited,. They are accredited, however. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was pretty satisifed with the depth of the program. I wasn't very satisfied with the length of the program. |
| Instruction | 9 | The quality of instruction was good. However, talking to an instructor on a one on one basis was not. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program was not difficult. I think even an average student would do well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of reading and a lot of writing. However, there was also a lot of interesting reading and discussion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The schedule was very flexible. I took only night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It is an online school. There are no real academic facilities. |
| Social Life | 2 | There are no organized events. My social life had nothing to do with school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There are no job placement services. I found my own employment. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni support. I have never spoken to an alumnus. |
University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Psychology (completion in 2009)
• 6/28/2011
"I was satisfied with the education I received. It was a great school, and I am glad I chose to go there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a good Florida school to attend. There are many options, and the professors can give you advice on your career. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | A lot of students at UCF attend for psychology. I am not exactly sure if it is a highly rated school for the program, though. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school offered many psychology organizations. It also was a great place to work with different psychology professors who have completed many accomplishments. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the professors were excellent and connected well with students. But of course there are always those who aren't so great. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Undergrad in psychology was fairly simple. It did involve a lot of studying. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Psychology seems to overall be a mix of book and hands on learning. It is important to get first hand experience in the field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There were so many different options. It had quite a bit of online and night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were many options for students who needed further help. The library was very extensive, and offered great hours. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was not very into school spirit, but most of the students there were. There were a lot of events and parties, and the athletics were decent. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use the job placement or career services assistance. I am unable to comment on their quality or helpfulness. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get a lot of alumni emails. There are many different types of events for alumni to attend. |
St. Petersburg Junior College • St. Petersburg, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1998)
• 7/7/2011
"My school was close to home and easy to get to. I had the instructors that I wanted and the education I needed. Overall, it was a great experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My studies allowed me to become a legal assistant at an office close to my home. The hours are long but the job is very rewarding. I would highly recommend St. Petersburg College! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school has moved from a Junior College to a regular 2 year college. This has improved its reputation and esteem throughout the state. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school gave me all the tools and resources I needed to succeed. I was happy with the teachers and the counselors that were always available to me. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was very happy with the curriculum and also with the instructors. Several of our instructors were actual attorneys, so it was nice to get "real life" examples of what our career would be like. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I had a big work load and it was challenging. However, I appreciate a challenge and found the work rewarding. I had trouble with some of the math courses I had to take - but only because I'm not good in math. The teacher did help me with a lot of my work, though, so I still ended up doing well in the end. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It depended on the class, actually. Some of the instructors preferred a more hands-on approach and others preferred to teach directly from the books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to take summer classes as well as some online courses. I felt that there were more than enough class options to help me get to where I needed to be. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There is a large library on campus. However, I wish their hours were a bit more extended. In addition, the tutors were always busy and I ended up on a waiting list several times. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were lots of social events that the students put together, so I did enjoy that. There were few events that were put on through the school, though. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Since some of the instructors were also practicing attorneys, I was able to build my own network to try and get a job. The school did hold a few job placement seminars but nothing ended up working out for me at those venues. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I still receive emails from the school about certain alumni events they are having. I still feel like I'm a part of the school family. |
Pasco Hernando Community College • New Port Richey, FL
Studying Legal Assisting (completion in 2004)
• 8/7/2011
"For a community college atmosphere, I really felt like some of us gained University experience. It all depended on the instructor at the time. I really enjoyed attending there because there was plenty one on one time. Smaller class sizes allowed more time with the instructor if need be."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Most definitely, especially to people who can not attend full-time for whatever reason. The personal attention in smaller community colleges is unheard of nowadays. PHCC was one of the best colleges for me, and I liked the family type mentality. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I have a few friends that are now attending the program and love it. They speak very highly of the same instructors I had in 2004. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I had great professors who took the time with students to teach them real-life cases. It allowed me to attend school while working full-time and raising my two children. |
| Instruction | 9 | We referenced a lot of case law which pertained to real time issues. With that said, we were able to learn a lot about how the law worked at that time, and learning how to shepardize helped to reflect case law changes when determining the final outcome of the case in question. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some instructors were not as helpful, thus making us do more of the research without any key words to guide us with. I think this was good though, as it enabled us to take initiative to learn on our own. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although they based studies more on the book, we had a lot of classes in which we actually had mock trials and individual cases that we played out in class to learn together the reasoning behind why cases turned out the way they did. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I attended night classes which allowed me to get my education and work at the same time. There were also times when I was able to work around my employer and take day classes so as to be home more with my children. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library became most of our second homes! There were a variety of resources, including online media, available, and the staff was a great help as well. |
| Social Life | 10 | They were extremely school spirited. Without the organization and pre-planned events, we would not have been able to do some of the wonderful things we did such, as raise money for battered women and children. |
| Placement Services | 9 | They have jobs available for all students. However, it was up to the students to get those positions. There were placements for internships and full-time employment. The employers usually gave the college precedence over outside job applicants. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | They were very supportive. I was the President of the Legal Eagles Law Club during the first year we earned a Five Star Award. Without the guidance of instructors, we would not have been able to accomplish all we did that year. |
University Of Tampa • Tampa, FL
Studying Government And World Affairs (completion in 2009)
• 8/4/2011
"I am very satisfied with the instruction I received at the University of Tampa. It is in a wonderful location, the architecture is great, and the instructors are excellent."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Since this field requires so much reading and writing, the Academic Center for Excellence is an invaluable tool. I am aware that many colleges offer writing centers, but I believe the staff qualifications at the University of Tampa exceed many of them. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Graduates of the Government program are well prepared to move on to law school or obtain positions with government agencies. |
| Program Quality | 9 | University of Tampa is an excellent school. All of the advisors for the Government and World Affairs Department are first class. |
| Instruction | 10 | As I previously stated, the instructors at the school are wonderful. I have had professors that attended Harvard Law and professors who practiced law while they were teaching, and they were all very passionate about giving the students a quality education. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was challenging. However, it wasn't something that was unmanageable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It depends on the instructor. In my experience, it was mostly book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The University does offer night classes. However, these offerings are very limited. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The library is very up to date. The Academic Center for Excellence provides free tutoring and writing tools. |
| Social Life | 8 | There is a weekly email that goes out to notify students of all activities (e.g. campus movie night, sporting events) and I took advantage of all that I could. Working full time made it hard to take full advantage of all of the events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The University of Tampa has a wonderful Career Services program. There is an onsite career department as well as web based job posting and career tools. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I cannot really give a good response to this particular question. I am not involved in the alumni network |
Florida International University • Miami, FL
Studying Paralegal Studies & Banking (completion in 2008)
• 8/4/2011
"It provided me with the knowledge to be a successful member of society. It also give me the privilege to develop as a rounded individual."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is as good as any other big name college, but is reasonably priced. The professors are proficient and will help you to achieve your goals. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The program is an excellent program. Most people who graduated this course seem to succeed. |
| Program Quality | 8 | There are programs that help in job placement upon completion. The location was also very convenient. |
| Instruction | 7 | The material provided for the courses was relevant. The sizes of the classes were conducive to learning |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was prepared to work, which resulted in good grades. Sometimes the work load was a bit much, but to achieve anything in life one has to work hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The course includes practical experiences as well as classroom studies. Sometimes we were able to interact with lawyers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The schedule fits the lifestyle of almost anybody. Classes are scheduled during the day, evening, and even online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There were all different types of support groups. The library and laboratories were always available. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were people of various ethnic groups who intermingled. The social atmosphere was great. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The job placement is very active. From time to time there are job fairs, which seem to be well supported by quality employers. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Communication is sometimes lacking. I moved, which could result in minimal communication. |
Hillsborough Community College • Tampa, FL
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2012)
• 10/25/2011
"I feel like overall it provides me with the tools and opportunities to succeed in pursuing my degree. There could be more of a social network for students to utilize group ideas."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to anyone looking for a great atmosphere with career based knowledge. They do give you all the elements you need to get your degree and go to work in your field confident that you know what you are doing. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel it covers the necessary things I would need to know and use on a regular basis. Also, they have great class time options that work around my schedule. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some of my teachers were more of a read to you out of the book type, instead of hands on. But they were always open to questions. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There were sections that were extremely difficult to get a grasp of and learn the letter of the law as well as the spirit. Overall though, as long as you were willing to learn and did the necessary assignments, you would pass. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some of our teachers do make up projects and mock hearings which are great learning tools. Others, though, go with the read you the book method. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They have great flexibility with either online classes, regular classes, or a new hybrid of half classroom, half online. It really allows me to do school work on my own time. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They have a wide variety of resources for us to use, and the computer lab and library is always open to students. Most of the instructors will give you their personal numbers in case you need assistance. |
| Social Life | 5 | There does seem to be a lack of social events for the hybrid students. Also, there has been no pep rallies in my year of being there. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They have an entire network developed to help us with jobs. They introduce us to people who are hiring and tell us what they are looking for in employees. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I have many resources to which I could turn for support. Also there are alumni that stop by frequently to tell their stories. It's an excellent experience. |
Florida Gulf Coast University • Ft. Myers, FL
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 2011)
• 1/29/2012
"Florida Gulf Coast University prepared me well for my career as a paralegal. The staff is very supportive and helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Florida Gulf Coast University to others. It is an overall great college. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Florida Gulf Coast University has a good reputation. Many high schools and colleges recommend the school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The legal studies program immerses the student in the American justice system. It is well known for its flexible class schedules and excellent professors. |
| Instruction | 9 | All professors have Juris Doctorate degrees. The professors are experts in the fields they teach and are very supportive of the students. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The legal studies program is very challenging. The program prepares the student well for the real legal world. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Florida Gulf Coast University requires participation in field trips, volunteerism, and internships. The student is immersed in both book learning and hands-on activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Florida Gulf Coast University offers online and campus courses. It also provides opportunities to take classes on weekends and at night. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Florida Gulf Coast University's campus is beautiful. Its libraries and buildings are state of the art. |
| Social Life | 10 | My experience at Florida Gulf Coast University was great. I enjoyed the courses, students, and professors. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Florida Gulf Coast University offers students assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills. It also helps with job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Being a recent graduate, it appears to have a strong alumni network. The alumni association has a social and professional network. |
Miami-Dade College • Miami, FL
Studying Criminal Justice (completion in 2012)
• 3/4/2012
"I am happy with the classes I have taken and with the professors I have had. I am happy with the campus I attend and the staff I have encountered."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Because it is a state funded college, the cost of tuition is much cheaper than other colleges and it is very accommodating to the working student. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My school has received awards and acclamations for its programs. They have also been acknowledged by the media for the program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My professors are all in the criminal justice system which allows us to experience real life situations. The downfall of the program is class availability for night students. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors have been able to teach us what to expect in the real word. All my classes have been relevant and have enhanced my understanding of the criminal justice system. |
| How Difficult | 6 | My classwork usually includes tests, a presentation, and a term paper. The work is not difficult, just stressful due to my course load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My professors follow the outline of the book but assign projects that allow us to research and think. They also provide real world knowledge in the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Since I work full-time, my school allows me to schedule classes at night, on the weekends, online, and in the early morning hours. The only downfall is the number of classes offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The library is not open past business hours like others. Advisors for my program are always changing. |
| Social Life | 8 | There are no real athletic teams, parties, or social events for my program. But I have made very good friends in the past two years that have grown into friends outside of school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | It is non existent since it was a community college and has only now transitioned into a college. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Not sure yet since I graduate in April 2012. |
Valencia Community College • Orlando, FL
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2004)
• 3/19/2012
"This was a life changing experience for me. It was a wonderful opportunity and they provided the best courses and professors that far exceeded my expectations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The reputation of this school is well-known nationally. They prepare you to continue on to a four year program or secure employment in your chosen field. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | This is a very well-known program in the area. The reputation is one reason why I was hired. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program of study provided relevant courses. The only thing I can say is that an internship should be a requirement, not an option. |
| Instruction | 10 | All instructors were attorneys. They gave great insight and first hand experience. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It was extremely difficult as it was a condensed version of what is taught in a four year degree program. We were required to excel in many areas of law. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Even though much of the course work required extensive book learning and study, the hands on portion, such as actually learning how to research from library resources, was very thorough. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | This was another reason why I chose this college. It had great flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There is a very well equipped research and law section in the library. Also, we had access to the University of Central Florida's library if we needed it. |
| Social Life | 10 | All professors were excellent. They really wanted you to succeed and gave you every opportunity to do so. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The head of the department is very active in placing graduates. She makes recommendations to her graduating students as to what would best suit them. |
| Alumni Network | Really not much to say about this. I am not involved with this at all. |
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