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 Quincy College, Bentley, Middlesex Community College, and University of Massachusetts.
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 Bay Path and Bridgewater State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Bay Path and College of Our Lady of the Elms.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Atlantic Union, Mount Wachusett Community College, Bunker Hill, and BU.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Atlantic Union, Northern Essex Community College, College of Our Lady of the Elms, and Cape Cod Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Hampshire, Amherst, BU, and Bentley.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Amherst, Hampshire, Bentley, and Anna Maria.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Amherst, BU, Hampshire, and Bentley.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Amherst, Bentley, and BU.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Amherst, Hampshire, Atlantic Union, and Suffolk University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Massachusetts, Amherst • Amherst, MA
Studying Philosophy And Legal Studies (completion in 2009)
• 5/5/2011
"Very satisfied. What I learned changed two key things about myself: I changed my view on the meaning of life and I changed my view on ethics."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I am pretty sure everyone else goes to school to make a good income in the future. I went to become a better person. If you are seeking money, I recommend going to school for something in the fields of business, engineering, or computer science. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The philosophy program is pretty good. The legal studies program, however, is not. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My program gave me a lot to think about. I don't really feel like it taught me a lot of the work I do now, though. |
| Instruction | 3 | I did not receive much career instruction. I had to find my job on my own. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The work was not too challenging. There was a lot of reading, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My majors involved more reading of books than hands on learning. I'm not sure how you would learn about philosophy and legal studies on a hands on basis, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes were offered during the summer, winter, evenings, and online. They didn't have any on the weekends, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Our classes were held in the oldest buildings. I suppose that's what happens when your programs are not science related. |
| Social Life | 7 | The school was fun socially. There were a lot of parties one could go to and sporting events at which to tailgate. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I had to find my own work. They did not help me much at all. They maybe reviewed my resume one time but didn't offer any good advice. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I do not know any alumni who can help me. The only contact I receive is when they ask me for money. |
Harvard • Boston, MA
Studying Government (completion in 2008)
• 5/5/2011
"I enjoyed my four years because I met a wonderful array of friends with whom I am still in close contact. I learned from brilliant professors and I believe that I have a strong foundation on which to build my future career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It never hurts to have a brand name school on your resume. People are willing to give you a second look and often times doors are open that would normally be closed. The education is pricey, but I do think the outcome (great education, great friends, wonderful experience overall) is worth the expense. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Harvard is currently ranked number one in the nation. Additionally, the Government department has many fine professors who have done outstanding work in their specific fields. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I learned a lot about the government in my program, but what I learned had very little to do with my job as a legal assistant. I was trained to do my job within the first three weeks at the firm. |
| Instruction | 8 | My studies provided a strong foundation for being able to read documents very quickly and with a keen eye for detail. Furthermore, my program encouraged me to think outside of the box which often was helpful when dealing with various requests from attorneys. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The academic competition was very rigorous, with a strict curve that really forced professors to be stingy with anything above a B+. Moreover, we were required to read at least 100 pages per week for each class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my four years at Harvard, I did not participate in any hands on learning. Most of the professors taught out of a series of textbooks or created packets which included the necessary essays/excerpts for meaningful discussion on a particular topic. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Students are giving full reign of their schedules so long as the classes are not conflicting in time (you could not take two classes at the same time). This is a system unlike other schools where students are often unable to take classes because of prerequisites or class size limitations. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | With over 15 libraries, students were able to find any resource necessary for their studies. Furthermore, if their studies required sources that were not readily available on campus, the school would find the source for the student and have it delivered to campus. |
| Social Life | 5 | Beyond the Harvard-Yale football game and Springfest, the school did not sponsor large scale events for the student body. However, individual houses did sponsor themed parties that were hit or miss. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They do not really provide counseling in fields that are not "stereotypical." This includes careers outside of medicine, the law, and finance. As a result, students with alternative interests have difficulty finding jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni are very willing to meet with graduating students, but they are often unable to provide actual jobs. However, it is nice to have a strong support system that will help you get into contact with people who may be able to help. |
Boston University • Boston, MA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2009)
• 7/1/2011
"I am very satisfied. I wish it was cheaper, however."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school, generally. You can get a bachelor's degree to be a paralegal anywhere, however. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | We are well-known and have a good graduate program. There is a diversity of classes. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school doesn't have paralegal programs. However, I had a good liberal arts education. |
| Instruction | 8 | It is a high quality university. Many professors are experts in their fields. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It obviously depends on what program you are in. I tried to challenge myself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Our classes emphasize book learning. However, we have many other engaging programs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Again, it depends on what you take. My classes did not really need to be flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Our facilities are top of the line. The school invests well into them. |
| Social Life | 8 | We are in a major city with lots of attractions. There are bars everywhere. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Career Services is always welcoming and open. They advised me with my decisions. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | We have individuals in all manner of professions. Our alumni are easy to approach. |
University Of Massachusetts, Amherst • Amherst, MA
Studying Philosophy And Legal Studies (completion in 2009)
• 6/26/2011
"I like the program. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. I am sure I would be worse off if I did not enroll in the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Most people go to school to get a job. You don't need a 4 year bachelor degree to make money. A technical school will do. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation is good. The school is well known but it is not elite. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I learned a lot about our legal system and it changed the way I thought. It also helped me read better, write better, and think better. |
| Instruction | 6 | I did not receive any career preparation. I learned a lot about our legal system. I improved my reading, writing, and thinking skills. I currently work in foreclosures, but I did not learn about them as a student. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I had to read and write a lot but I could manage. But I suppose it may be a lot for other people. I took about 18 credits per semester to graduate on time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I read a lot in my program so it was mostly book work. I don't think we ever had field experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The schedule is flexible. They have evening, once a week, weekend, summer, online, and winter courses. There was usually a good variety including a bunch of general education courses everyone needs to take. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | When I was leaving, our school built at least 5 new buildings. I came to campus after I graduated and the new facilities look great. There is a good student-to-professor ratio, too. |
| Social Life | 7 | It was fun. There were a lot of social events one could go to, and plenty of parties as well. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They had job placement services. I didn't use them, though. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | UMass Amherst has a large alumni base. I do not go to them for support, though, and when I meet someone who graduated from UMass Amherst, I usually don't use that as a major characteristic when I judge one's character. |
Boston University • Boston, MA
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2014)
• 7/21/2011
"The professors were wonderful, and offered a very large variety of courses. Upperclassmen benefit from the option of taking advanced and more challenging courses. The facilities were top notch, from the libraries and computer labs to the fitness center and arena. The school's location was amazing, and provided for a good social life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The school is best suited for specialized fields such as business, engineering and communications. Although the programs are strong across the board, those seeking a liberal arts degree may want to choose a lower priced school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school has a few world-renowned professors in the area I studied. The school is also ranked highly by outside groups for specific areas within my field of study. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors were very knowledgeable about the subjects they taught. The program also offered many different courses ranging from broad surveys on subjects to very specific, intensive courses. |
| Instruction | 6 | Although I did learn a lot in my time at school, I felt that the career preparation was lacking. The career center did not do enough to reach out to students and help them find placement after school. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The upper level classes were extremely challenging, however the lower level classes were often too easy. Many students skipped a large number of class sessions, but still were able to do well, especially in liberal arts classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes were focused largely on book learning. However, some classes were varied and included actual lab work and time spent in computer labs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I never took advantage of weekend, summer or online options. However, classes were offered at a wide range of times. I could tailor my schedule for all morning or all afternoon/evening classes and still take the courses I wanted to. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library itself was large and well-maintained. The school had several great computer laboratories that had accessible hours and helpful staff. The labs also offered equipment that could be used for specific purposes, such as Mac computers in design labs and a choice of Macs or PCs in printing labs. |
| Social Life | 8 | Although it isn't a "party school," the social atmosphere was very good. The school offered plenty of activities for all types of students, and the dormitories were varied enough that students could choose their living places to meet their social wants. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The school took no active steps in providing career support for graduates, which is partly due to the large number of students attending the school. The career services center offers job posting boards, but there were rarely any new postings on it. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school offers alumni support programs and encourages former students to be involved. However, there is no discernible benefit to connecting to alumni through the school, or at least the school has not made those benefits clear. |
Bentley University • Waltham, MA
Studying Economics (completion in 2005)
• 8/2/2011
"I had a good time in college. I learned a few things, but the cost is really getting to me as the years go on."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | If I could do it over again, I would prefer to go to a larger, more nationally known university. Bentley was close to home for me and that is mostly why I chose it. I would rather have gone to BU or BC. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I think that an Economics degree is pretty valuable. Bentley is generally known for accounting and maybe marketing. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Bentley is considered an above average business school. The staff generally seems smart enough. It is very expensive, but provided a pretty robust business education. Economics helps in the legal field due to the logic skills you acquire. |
| Instruction | 2 | The quality of the curriculum was pretty poor. The school charges so much money for little value. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The work load was fair. I came across some interesting projects and learned a few things. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were many hands on experiences working with local businesses and making business plans. I think this was helpful in gaining real life experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Classes were offered all the time. There were evening classes and many summer options. I wish we had online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Bentley's facilities are amazing. The best feature was the ACE lab for accounting, but the library and computer resources were helpful for all majors. |
| Social Life | 10 | Bentley's social experience is great. I made numerous life long friends. It was so much fun! |
| Placement Services | 5 | I think that there are many career placement options. In the office they will review your resume and also help you prepare for interviews. This is helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I think that Bentley does a pretty good job with alumni relations, especially as of late. They use social networking and also encourage alumni relations and networking. |
University Of Massachusetts • Amherst, MA
Studying Economics & Psychology (completion in 2004)
• 7/29/2011
"I always wonder whether there was a better choice for me, but I still feel smart. Education is important and it changes you."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | There is only so much an economics and/or psychology major will do for you. I ended up working as a real estate paralegal, and enjoy working. I have learned everything though working in the field. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Overall the school has a good reputation. A lot depends on who you are and where you come from. I have had to take all challenges on my own. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I don't believe there are many jobs worth pursuing in my specific majors. At times I wonder whether I would have done better studying something else. But I can't change the past. |
| Instruction | 8 | I was happy with the education I received. I felt I learned a lot and was ready to take on any employment, yet at graduation, the job market was poor. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I believe there will be classes that appear to be easy, and then there are classes that no one wants to take. Most of my classmates complained they were having trouble, but I didn't. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This depends on your major. Science majors have more hands on work. My field was more theoretical. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Due to the size of the school, I had a good number of choices in being able to create a schedule that worked for me. This was especially important for me since I was working then. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The large library was very useful, but I preferred to study on my own in private. There was always plenty of room on the top floor of the library. It also had a great view. |
| Social Life | 10 | There was always a party you could go to. Perhaps that may have been too much of a good thing. But with everything, all good things must come to an end. I enjoyed my time there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I learned about resume writing from some workshops they provided. But, other than that, I haven't really been active in seeking their assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni association is active, but I am not involved. My work and family responsibilities don't allow me much free time. |
Bay Path College • Longmeadow, MA
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 2002)
• 9/24/2011
"Overall it was a great experience for me. I was educated very well and would recommend Bay Path to anyone looking for a legal career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You will learn everything you need to know for the paralegal profession. I would also recommend doing many internships, even more than are required. The more hands on work, the better for this field. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I do not run into many people in my field from the same institution. The legal studies program is very well represented in Massachusetts. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The classes taught me everything I needed to know to get started in this field. The professors were very informative and I still have a relationship (professional) with some of the instructors. |
| Instruction | 8 | The courses that I took were directed toward litigation which is the area I wanted to start a career in. Their expertise helped me get the job I always wanted. I was able to go to court houses and sit in and learn hands on. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I did not find most of the courses too challenging. Having had so much interest in law during high school, I prepared myself for the work that was going to be involved. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were mostly a book taught program. Once I did my internship I was able to get into the courtrooms. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They had multiple classes that were offered both day and night. So it was easier for me because I was also working part time during the day. There were no online classes when I attended 10 years ago. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | It is a very clean, well maintained campus. I never had any issues with poor surroundings. Bay Path is known for its beautiful campus and old but well maintained buildings. |
| Social Life | 8 | This was an all girl school. They had several events during which I was able to meet fellow classmates. I did not live on campus so it was not as easy to meet people. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Bay Path does have placement services. I did not use them but I do have friends that graduated with me that were placed and some are still at the same place of employment, 10 years later. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I was really not involved with the alumni while attending. Now that I am graduated I am contacted about once a year for support. |
Northeastern University • Boston, MA
Studying Criminal Justice/Pre-Law (completion in 2008)
• 10/11/2011
"I loved Northeastern. So happy I moved out here for it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I will always recommend Northeastern. In fact, I have in the past numerous times. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The best in the nation. Professors are always on the TV during criminal trials. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Northeastern was great. They provided us with all the necessary information. |
| Instruction | 5 | Career prep was done more through the co-op program. Professors focused more on the criminal aspect than on law. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was known as the easiest college on campus. I thought the workload just wasn't that heavy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | More book learning than hands-on, but classes were still informative. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I thought they were flexible. I was able to work full time still. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I never really went to the library. I preferred the student center. |
| Social Life | 10 | Never went to school events or sports events. The football team was terrible, but the parties were awesome! |
| Placement Services | 10 | The co-op program was the major sell for the school. The Career Services office was nice. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They are always out doing alumni events. They have networks across the country. |
Suffolk University • Boston, MA
Studying Prelaw (completion in 2007)
• 1/27/2012
"It provided the training and preparation I needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a good program. It does a good job preparing students for jobs after graduation. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The program has stayed about the same I think, though the staff has changed. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Good program in general. The classes were a little bigger than I would have liked. |
| Instruction | 8 | Professors were prepared and they took the time to talk to students after class. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It requires constant work. However, it's doable if you stay on top of things. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would have liked more hands-on instruction. Book learning could have been enhanced with more hands-on material. | |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They have a good library and online resources are available for research. |
| Social Life | 8 | Students are sociable and helpful. It is a good community. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The counselors organize job fairs and companies come in to meet with students. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have not used this source much, although I have not heard very good things about it. |
Boston University • Boston, MA
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2010)
• 2/26/2012
"Great school. Great community once you find your niche."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Where I work, people stay in my position for five years at a maximum. BU is an expensive school, so I wouldn't recommend it if this is all you plan on doing post-graduation. On the other hand, law firms like hiring from good schools, and BU is definitely a school many lawyers respect. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I rate it an 8, as far as I know. I don't keep on top of those things really, but I do know we had some distinguished professors in the philosophy department. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My major was Philosophy. Boston University is a great school for studying Philosophy. |
| Instruction | 8 | We had small classes and a lot of personal interaction. I had very few classes with poor professors or TA's. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Studying philosophy is not that hard. The difficulty comes in personal motivation--are you willing to put in the time to read through some of the most arduous papers ever written? |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's hard for me to gauge this because philosophy is not necessarily a "hands on" kind of major. But we had a lot of very raw discussions in class, and that might be considered hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | For a typical four-year college, it was fairly average. It gets less flexible as you get into higher classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | BU is constantly evolving. New dormitories, computer facilities, and the like are always popping up. |
| Social Life | 8 | School spirit centers around the BU Hockey team. If you aren't at a hockey game, you're probably out drinking. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I never took advantage of the career services at BU, though I heard that they were about average. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't had a whole lot of experience with it, yet. But what experience I have had has been ok, I suppose. I don't really know what to expect. |
Becker College • Worcester, MA
Studying Paralegal Studies/Legal Studies (completion in 1998)
• 3/7/2012
"I believe I received a wonderful education. I am happily working in my field of choice and believe my education gave me the foundation to do so successfully."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe the legal program at the school is very good. It provides many opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, for students to make informed decisions about what they wish to do with the education they are receiving. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is known more for some of the other programs they offer. However, legal/paralegal studies is getting more widely advertised these days. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school provides a 2-part program that allows students to obtain both an Associates Degree and a Bachelors Degree. It also helps to secure paid or unpaid internships to provide on the job training. |
| Instruction | 9 | I began working immediately following my graduation and felt confident in my ability to do so. Through the courses I took, I was able to decide which field of law appealed to me and I was able to look for employment in that field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was challenging. The professors were generally attorneys and held us to high standards and had high expectations of the students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A great deal about law is learned from books, especially relating to rules and procedures. However, the internships available provided an important opportunity to put that knowledge into practice. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The school has both day and evening classes. They also have two campuses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The advisors were always readily available. There were always study group sign ups to be found. The library was small, but had a large volume of information on hand, and students were permitted to use the libraries of neighboring colleges as well. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not live on campus. As a commuter, I did not have the same social experience. However, I did develop some friendships that I still maintain today. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Again, I have never used the career placement services. I was, however, provided with an internship during my education which was very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | The school does have an alumni program and a career placement office. I have never used either, so I do not have any personal experience with them. |
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