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 Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, Community College of Allegheny County, and Harrisburg Area 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 Harcum, Manor, Erie Business Center, and Mount Aloysius College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Cedar Crest, Consolidated School of Business, Consolidated School of Business, and Harcum.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider PJA School, Community College of Philadelphia, Peirce College, and Harcum.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Peirce College, Westmoreland County Community College, Cedar Crest, and Community College of Philadelphia.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Dickinson, Wilson College, Cedar Crest, and Point Park University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Wilson College, Dickinson, Cedar Crest, and Gannon.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Dickinson and University of Pittsburgh.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Harcum, Manor, Dickinson, and Wilson College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Dickinson, Wilson College, University of Pittsburgh, and Cedar Crest.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Cambria-Rowe Business College • Johnstown, PA
Studying Legal Assistant Business Program (completion in 2009)
• 5/4/2011
"They more than met all my expectations. I would recommend this school to anyone."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Cambrie-Rowe is an excellent school. They continue helping students even after they graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Cambri-Rowe is ranked highly in this field. They uphold their reputation well. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Cambria-Rowe was an excellent school to attend. The professors made me very well prepared to join the workforce. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors made sure to give you adequate preparation for the work place. They taught very relevant information. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The work was semi-difficult. As long as you apply yourself, it can be done. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some of it is hands-on, mostly as far as computers are concerned. Some of it is book learning in regards to legal terminology. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | They only have one option. That is Monday through Thursday during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They had everything I needed to excel in my program. They were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | The school focuses more on academics, although they do have some clubs. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Cambri-Rowe has a high job placement rate. They keep you posted on job leads. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They provide a Facebook page to keep in touch with old classmates. They also keep a list of emails. |
Piece College • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Associate's Of Science In Paralegal Studies (completion in 2009)
• 6/24/2011
"For the price versus the quality of my education, I am very satisfied. The school isn't as pricey as many of the options out there. Overall, I got what I needed from the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For anyone thinking of becoming a paralegal, I would recommend they try Pierce. When factoring in the curriculum, price and instructors, it is well worth it. I would have to say that there are many helpful tools offered by the school to allow for maximum success in the field. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I know there are better schools out there than Piece. In fact, I never heard of the school until I did an internet search. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was very satisfied with my school, since I feel that the school sent me in the right direction to become a paralegal. My instructors were fantastic at ensuring that I succeeded. |
| Instruction | 7 | There were certain classes that I thought could have been dropped and replaced with classes that were more beneficial to me. However, a majority of the classes did prepare me for my current role as a paralegal. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I thought that the workload was quite fair. Basically, the workload was enough to assist me in becoming a successful individual but not so much that I could barely balance life and school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classroom atmosphere contained a combination of hands- on and book learning. This made classes not seem as tedious. Additionally, everyone had some part of class that was easier for them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Classes were scheduled around my needs. I still was able to balance my life outside of school and my education. Their program even offers online options to ensure you receive all of your credits. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I found all the research information I needed at the school's library. From what I have heard, their online program offers a vast amount of information all via the computer. I was part of a study group so I did receive peer support and help. |
| Social Life | 6 | There was school spirit amongst the student body and the activities. I think there could have been more organized social events. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Overall, the school did assist me with finding a position prior to graduation. I would have to say that the staff is very helpful at explaining your options and even finding openings. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I think my school has a normal alumni and support network. The school could have a better program; however, donation and volunteers are asked to assist with the future generations of Pierce. |
Computer Systems Institute • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Paralegal Science (completion in 1985)
• 9/5/2011
"I felt I had a great opportunity for minimal cost and long lasting return through the years. I developed contacts and close friendships through the 25 yrs since I graduated."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would if I could, but they closed. It was a great opportunity for someone wanting to do more with her life with minimal resources and time. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | The school closed, which speaks volumes. The school doesn't have name recognition unless a person is familiar with Pittsburgh, PA. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I got a quality education by attorneys who also taught at Duquesne University, which was five times the cost. I paid a fraction of that for the same thorough classes which were much smaller in size as well. |
| Instruction | 7 | I actually felt very prepared when I entered the work force. I was able to follow up with instructors who after 25 years I can now call friends. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The work was challenging because I attended day and evening classes. The work load was heavy, but it was my own choice. I was a student but I worked a full time job at the time so it made the work load more challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had night classes that let students experience case studies which proved invaluable in developing thinking patterns. There were several trips for Real Estate Law and Criminal Law that made the experience worthwhile. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were day and evening courses I attended which was great for the working student like myself. By attending night classes I could take advantage of the instruction from working attorneys who applied case studies. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The school didn't have onsite options due to the location in the city. However, students were in walking distance of anything they needed. The classes were small but the building was older and not updated. |
| Social Life | 2 | School was all about work. There were not a lot of extracurricular activities going on. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I give mixed results because they were incredible when they were open and were constantly preparing me for job opportunities, resume writing, and interview processes. These service no longer exist though, since the school closed. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The sad news is this school has since closed due to financial reasons, which was very upsetting to me. I felt I learned a great deal and that they maximized the experience their students. |
Western School Of Health And Business Careers • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Paralegal Specialist (completion in 2006)
• 10/19/2011
"I was very satisfied with the school and with what I learned. I learned everything I needed to succeed in my field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The school is a great fit for people who are dedicated to start and finish. If they are looking for a flexible schedule, this school is not for them. If they are looking to focus only on paralegal studies, then the school is an excellent fit. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The school's reputation in the city was very good. I would tell people where I went to school and I would always gets tons of questions about how to enroll. |
| Program Quality | 4 | My professor was a family law attorney so she gave us a realistic view of the law. My school catered to all the current fields and gave us a broad understanding of all of them. |
| Instruction | 5 | The quality of instruction was excellent as far a my core classes went. Everything was relevant to what we would be doing in the field. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program was very difficult because of all the fields of law we studied. Real estate law was particularly difficult because of the amount of research you had to do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The books and hands on materials were great. All the book pertained to the material and they were very explanatory. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school's flexibility was not that great. I had classes from monday through friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm, but this is the schedule I had signed up for. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The resources were not that great as far as the school's library goes. The only good thing that was available to us was an online resource for doing research that we did not have to pay for. |
| Social Life | 5 | My social experience at school was great with my classmates. We did not have any school spirit days, but my classmates and I would often go to lunch and have our own pizza parties. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The job placement assistance was excellent and they helped a lot. I had several job opportunities before graduating with the help of the employment assistance program. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The alumni and network support was not all that great. I have no contact with any of my classmates or my professor. |
Duquesne University • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 12/5/2011
"It greatly exceeded my expectations of what a summer course could offer, and it was very well organized. The program was a great value at $5,000 for a complete summer program, and it prepared me to earn my paralegal certification one year later."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is a great value for the money and is one of the fastest ways I know to change careers. I had no background in law or administrative work before I went through the program. It is like boot camp for career changers. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I don't know of another program in the country that offers a program like the one I took. The legal writing program was ranked 2nd in the country when I took the course. The professor who taught legal writing to the law students also taught legal writing to the paralegal students. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Duquesne gave me a very well-rounded learning experience. Half of the students will do pre-law and become lawyers. The training was extensive. |
| Instruction | 10 | The courses were taught by lawyers who explained what would be expected of us in the workplace. They had real-world examples that were helpful for us to learn from. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It was a three-month intensive study program. It was a lot of new material to absorb. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a combination of self-study, classroom learning, and trips to government buildings, city hall and the court house. We got to know the types of places we would be working in, as well as the type of work to expect. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school provided two tracks to study. You could do the fast track, which was full time. You also had the option to study part time and select from evening courses offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They had state-of-the-art facilities and the latest software. The rooms were comfortable and air conditioned. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was in a summer program, so activities were limited. It was very conducive to an intensive summer program without distraction. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They had career placement counselors visit us in class. They had a well-organized career library with resources. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Two years later, the school stays in touch with me by mail, with news and updates. They also provided me with information about jobs and temp agencies, and I went on several interviews due to their information and services. |
University Of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA
Studying International Relations/History (completion in 2004)
• 2/26/2012
"I received a great education and had a wonderful experience. If I had to choose all over again, I would choose the same school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on the individual's goals. I would think, however, that most people at my school would enjoy the mental challenges of being an attorney as opposed to being a paralegal. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | An Ivy League school rated as one of the top 5 in the country. It is known for its History and IR programs. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school is in the top 5 liberal arts schools in the country. It is known for its International Relations program, which draws from the econ, poli sci, and history departments. |
| Instruction | 10 | Some of the top faculty members in the country. Because UPenn is such a big name, it draws people high in their fields to teach. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Definitely an adjustment from high school. I was challenged more and was surrounded by incredibly smart students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were assigned a lot of reading for each class. Very little hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Average flexibility for a 4-year liberal arts program. No weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My thesis instructors were invaluable when I was completing my senior thesis. They met with me and helped me out immensely. Also, we had access to multiple libraries and computer labs. |
| Social Life | 9 | I hung out with mainly the theater crowd. We were like a very close-knit, co-ed fraternity. They made my school experience great. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I haven't had to contact career services yet. However, I will say that the opportunities I have received since graduation have been because of the school that I went to. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not contacted the Alumni association yet. However, they send out communications all the time, so they would probably be very communicative. |
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