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 Montgomery College, The Community College of Baltimore County, UMUC, and Prince George's 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
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Prince George's Community College, Montgomery College, UMUC, and The Community College of Baltimore County.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Anne Arundel, Hood, College of Southern Maryland, and Hagerstown Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of UMUC, Hood, Hagerstown Community College, and Stevenson University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Stevenson University and Hood.
Excellence
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Stevenson University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Hood.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Chesapeake College • Wye Mills, MD
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2005)
• 10/20/2011
"I'm satisfied with my experience. I enjoyed going to college and it got me the job I wanted."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to anyone. If your currently working 40 hours a week or if you're in a situation where you need flexible hours, Chesapeake College is for you. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Our school has a good reputation so anywhere you apply to, they would seriously consider your resume. It is not hard to find a job with a Chesapeake College degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The community college I attended was full of great instructors. The cost of the classes and the flexibility of hours was amazing. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructor was a paralegal turned lawyer so he was able to give us pointers on how to do your job effectively. I had the same instructor through all of my paralegal classes and I felt comfortable with him so I was able to relax more in the classroom and pay more attention to instruction. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The classes themselves where not hard at all. The amount of studying I had to do for the class as well as the other classes I needed to complete the program was a bit much. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mostly, my instructor would use the book to start the lesson. Afterwards he would have a discussion on the topic and invite debates. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | While I was working I was going to college. They have classes all day and into the night so their is no excuse for anyone to drop out due to conflicting hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The internet, copies of term papers, and most school materials were provided by the school. Everything was state of the art and up to date and the financial department was more than happy to help you with the cost of books. |
| Social Life | 7 | There wasn't much of a chance for social interaction. The biggest social interaction was during finals when they would have a student relaxation day. |
| Placement Services | 6 | As far as internships go, the school was great at placing students. After graduation, the students were left to find their own jobs, but the college did give referrals. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There was no alumni network at my school. Chesapeake College has a good reputation so there was no need for one. |
University Of Maryland • College Park, MD
Studying Criminal Justice And Criminology (completion in 2010)
• 10/26/2011
"The lack of good sports teams was disappointing to me, as was the amount of crime in College Park. However, I was able to get an excellent education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you choose legal assistance as your career, you could go to a school that is much cheaper in cost than Maryland. If being a legal assistant is a stepping stone onto something greater, I would recommend maryland. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Maryland is considered one of the top schools for Criminal Justice and Criminology. I gave it a 10 because as far as in state schools go, that is quite an accomplishment. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The University of Maryland is one of the top ranked schools in terms of Criminology. Its proximity to DC provides students with ample opportunities to interact with top people in the legal (specifically criminal) fields. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors consisted of former lawyers, wardens of prisons, and federal agents. This helped me tremendously in gaining the knowledge I needed for criminology. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Almost everything I learned was out of a book. Most exams were multiple choice. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost all of my learning came from books. Professors' lectures normally went hand in hand with the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I was able to take many of my classes during the evening, which helped because I'm not a morning person. I also took 2 semesters worth of summer and winter classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The school has 2 libraries, both of which are spacious and quiet. Most of my classes were in large lecture halls which were up to date with the newest technology. |
| Social Life | 5 | School spirit was average because our two main sports teams, football and basketball, were also average. There were many parties - most of which were off campus. |
| Placement Services | 8 | While in school I found internships through the career assistance department. My current job was found through the school's job website. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | The alumni network is constantly having events in various cities around the US. There is also a jobs network set up for alumni. |
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