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 Northern Virginia Community College, Tidewater Community College, Lord Fairfax Community College, and J Sargeant Reynolds 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 Marymount and Virginia Intermont College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Hollins, Centura College, and Centura College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Hampton, Northern Virginia Community College, Marymount, and Thomas Nelson Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Southwest Virginia Community College, Patrick Henry Community College, Central Virginia Community College, and Virginia Western Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Centura College, University of Richmond, Hampton, and Hollins.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of University of Richmond, Virginia Intermont College, Hollins, and Hampton.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Richmond.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at University of Richmond.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at University of Richmond, Virginia Intermont College, Hollins, and Hampton.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Virginia • Charlottesville, VA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2009)
• 5/5/2011
"UVA was a great school and I enjoyed it very much. Obviously, not everything was perfect, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UVA allows you to make a ton of great connections. Also, our law school is top rated. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | With a top notch faculty, our program is well-known. It's always cool to see your former professors on TV! |
| Program Quality | 8 | I made great connections. These will hopefully prove beneficial to my future. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors helped me broaden my horizons. It wasn't about what was on the syllabus. It was about the lessons I learned from talking to them. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It's a challenging school. However, the challenges have helped me grow. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It all depends on the classes you choose. Some are very much about lectures and others are very much about discussions in seminars. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There were no online options. Everything else was great. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | UVA has great new facilities, but some are obviously older and in need of renovations. Overall though, it is pretty good. |
| Social Life | 9 | UVA students work hard and play hard. The fraternities tend to dominate the social scene, though. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Some of my friends got jobs through these services. I did not. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | There are alumni all over the world. They are very helpful and excited to help. |
Virginia Western Community College • Roanoke, VA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2004)
• 6/28/2011
"Overall I believe my school provided me with the education I needed to excel in my career. They also made it easy to be a full time worker and a full time college student at the same time. They were flexible and provided an abundance of resources."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would always recommend a four year college experience first. But if this was not possible, then my college is a great two year college! |
| Program Reputation | 5 | This is just a community college. Some people use this as a transition school between high school and a four year college. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school had great professors. They also offered a variety of tutors and extra help when needed. |
| Instruction | 7 | I felt my professors provided me with all the resources I needed to become successful. Some even took us on "field trips" if you will... Giving us a first hand views of the profession. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't find the material overly challenging. It was easy to understand and learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As previously stated, some professors took us on "field trips." They wanted us to experience things first hand. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They provided day and evening classes. There were several times during the day and evening offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I always had access to libraries, tutors, etc. They had great resources with which to assist students. |
| Social Life | 4 | This was a community college so socialization was a little lower. We did not have kids living on campus. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I wasn't really given a job placement opportunity. My school had a waiting list at the time to even talk with the counselor who was in charge of job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have not heard from my school except for receiving a catalog of upcoming classes and courses being offered. I did receive a personal note of congratulations from a professor after graduation. |
George Mason • Fairfax, VA
Studying Business (completion in 2011)
• 7/15/2011
"I am satisfied very much by how the school sets its procedures and rules, rules that help create a mature and organized environment to learn and be successful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to anyone pursuing a successful and professional career, and is expecting the best academic experience. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Many people who choose this program go on to join reputable organizations in the government. They are recognized by employers. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It is a very comprehensive program that is offered. It teaches the fundamentals and then moves to advanced skills. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors are there to help you when you feel confused. It is straightforward as long as you keep up with the work. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It is fairly difficult only if you do not pay attention or come to class. Studying at least 2 hours a day is integral to pass, but as long as you do that you will do fine. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The requirements are still traditionally more based on using books to learn and study from. The main time when you can use computers are when you have free time away from class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The schedules that students are able to create are very malleable in terms of the students work and home requirements. They can choose night classes, for example, if they have work in the afternoons. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school's academic facilities are held to the highest of standards. The money spent to update, maintain, and develop these facilities require ample investment. The students can go to the libraries and computer. rooms to research and study to prepare for major exams. Tutoring is available also to gain a better grasp of course work. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school spirit at the school is highly represented, and during athletic events, everyone comes out to show school pride. There are annual events meant to bring about more support from the community and to have them get involved. |
| Placement Services | 9 | At my school there is an office specifically for career services and job placement. It's where students may come and speak about what they want to do after school. Then they are provided tools to help them reach goals. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni are all professional individuals who are always eager to lend a hand to students in the same program of study. They will mentor you if necessary. |
George Mason University • Fairfax, VA
Studying Administration Of Justice (completion in )
• 7/25/2011
"I was very satisfied with the experience of attending GMU's Administration of Justice program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would wholeheartedly recommend the Administration of Justice and law programs at George Mason University. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think perhaps some schools have a higher rating for Legal Study programs or Administration of Justice programs. However, George Mason itself is a well respected public college in Virginia and also has a competitive law school with a growing reputation. Many of the teachers for GMU's law school are also faculty for the Administration of Justice program. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The program I enrolled in was Administration of Justice. I really enjoyed this program as I had the opportunity to learn about the legal and enforcement aspects of the criminal justice system. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instructors were very good and came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some were current and former police officers, some worked for government agencies and some were working attorneys. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The workload for each class was really very demanding. However, it was good to have the challenge of memorization, homework assignments, and papers to write. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My curriculum offered a mixture of hands on knowledge and book knowledge. We completed a brief internship at the Fairfax County PD Victim Services Program to complement some of the courses. We also were able to participate in intern programs to assist law firms with legal research. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | GMU, as one of the largest public schools in Virginia, offered a variety of evening, online, and summer session courses to cater to traditional and non-traditional students. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | GMU has an amazing campus rich with resources. GMU offers two large libraries and many computer labs, as well as a law library. There are many classrooms equipped with state of the art media equipment for faculty and students. |
| Social Life | 6 | GMU offers a variety of clubs and on campus activities for students to become more involved with the campus community and the NOVA community. Although I participated with a few volunteering clubs, I worked while attending college so I was not very involved with the campus socially. |
| Placement Services | 5 | GMU offers a career website where any current students or alumni can post their resume for a nominal fee. This was helpful to me when I was looking for jobs in the NOVA area, but in my current city, it was not very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I was not very involved with GMU's alumni network myself, but several other students were able to get in touch with alums to mentor them in their career fields. |
The Braxton School Of Business • Richmond, VA
Studying Legal Assistant Certification (completion in 1995)
• 8/1/2011
"It was a small school and I feel they could have went into more depth with some subjects."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The school is no longer operational. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is closed, but had a great rep when open. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school was full time days for one year. Some of the subjects taught, such as Business Math, were very short in term. |
| Instruction | 7 | I enjoyed Legal Transcription and Accounting very much. The emphasis on typing was a little much for one who already knows how to type. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I graduated top of my class and enjoyed school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | When I went to school, most all subjects were hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I took the summer courses and enjoyed them. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It was just average. Could have been a bigger school. |
| Social Life | 2 | There were many cliques, so I focused solely on my studies. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was placed as a Legal Assistant with a Personal Injury attorney within 6 months. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The school is no longer in operation and promised lifetime job placement which hasn't been fulfilled. |
University Of Virginia • Charlottesville, VA
Studying History, Comparative Literature (completion in 2010)
• 11/14/2011
"For the price, the quality of education was excellent. The grounds were beautiful, and Charlottesville is a quaint town. There were many activities available outside of the school (hiking, wine-tasting, trails, etc.). However, it is a large school, with little socioeconomic diversity. It is continuously expanding/renovating."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The law school is top-ten. It's a great area and a respected school. However, it is a little distant from Washington, D.C. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Both are fairly well-known. UVA has a top-ten English department and a top-twenty History department. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors are renowned for their research and work in their fields. The quality of the lectures and professors was high. The English Department and History Departments are renowned in the state. |
| Instruction | 8 | Although my majors were not necessarily in line with my legal career, the education I gained through my major programs allowed me to expand my writing and analytical skills. Also, the substance of the courses helped me to achieve an expanded perspective in my legal work. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My school is the top public school in the United States and is #25 nationally. The work was challenging, but never unbearable. The work load was usually fairly heavy, especially in liberal arts courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Especially in my fields, the education focused on books and lectures. However, I also performed several independent studies, so the options are available if the student pursues them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were several summer offerings, but options were fairly limited in comparison to the regular school year. Most classes were during the day, but there were class options available on the evenings. Weekend classes were not available. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school had multiple libraries and great resources. As a research university, there were plenty of resources, but some professors were unavailable to the students. There were tutors and study group support mostly for hard-science classes. |
| Social Life | 8 | There is great school spirit here, and a variety of sports that the students avidly supported. Most fraternities were near school grounds and were very much a part of school life. Greek life contributed to much of the organized social events, but student council was active as well. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I wasn't exposed to it often, but I know that there were programs and services available to students and alumni. They did not help me find a job, however. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | UVA's alumni network is large and accessible. I have already reached out to several UVA alums concerning my career interests and have received great advice. |
William And Mary School Of Law • Williamsburg, VA
Studying Law School (completion in 2012)
• 2/23/2012
"My school has the small atmosphere that is conducive to studying while also being well regarded enough to get a job in the legal field. The program is of a high quality at a bargain price."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Though I have only gotten legal assistant type jobs during my time at W&M, I'm pretty sure the experience and education I have gotten will let me go into almost any field, legal or business related, that I want. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Though the school is in Virginia, I have gotten interviews and a job for legal assistant-type work in other states. W&M is ranked in the top 30 of law schools, which shows a very solid reputation, especially in the Washington, D.C. area. The school's name, I'm sure, has gotten my foot in the door for an interview on several occasions. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The school is highly ranked, which makes getting externships and other work easier. The classes are all well taught, and the emphasis on legal research and writing is very solid. |
| Instruction | 9 | I wish there were more practical, office management classes done in law school, which is highly relevant as more JD's are working as paralegals in this economy, though the depth of the classes does make finding relevant case law easier. I do like the amount of on-the-job training I get from internships, though. Instructors, for the most part, were practicing before they became professors, which does help tremendously. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Many classes have a ton of reading, as is to be expected. The fact that classes are graded on a curve makes the level of competition for grades extremely high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Externships and internships, providing "hands on" learning, are highly encouraged. We have the longest legal research and writing program that I know of, which emphasizes practical skills. Still, as an ABA school, the school is book-oriented, as to be expected. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | No on-line options that I know of. Outside of the first year, we make our own schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school has an abundance of classroom space. Our library is well stocked. Professors are always available, and the school is always open for students in the program. All first year classes have teaching assistants. |
| Social Life | 5 | Parties and social events are rarely official school sanctioned events, and revolve primarily around drinking. As the school is not located on the university's main campus, we are somewhat alienated and do not have much school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 7 | For the most part, career services finds jobs, legal and not, and posts them, and coordinates with regional job fairs, which pretty much every school does. However, the network for externships is extremely valuable. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't personally used the alumni network at the school. I'm told it is relatively strong, but I haven't had any real experience with the alumni network myself. |
George Mason University • Reston, VA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 3/15/2012
"It did not leave me feeling prepared for the job I have. It was unfortunate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If all you need is a certificate to get the job, go for it. Otherwise, don't waste the time or money. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It does the job. It trains paralegals. That's it. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It provided the basics necessary to understand the profession and practice of paralegal studies. It was online learning and as such, the level of interaction was low and the amount of teacher attention was even lower. |
| Instruction | 4 | Very little of what I learned has relevance to the practice I support. It was a broad range of different paralegal capabilities, but in real life, very few of those are utilized on a daily basis. |
| How Difficult | 2 | It was not necessary to complete all of the reading to pass the course. It was not challenging enough for me to retain even 50 percent of what I learned. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was no hands on learning. It was all book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was easy to make up work. Classes were online and required very little time. |
| Academic Facilities | This is not really applicable since the course was online. | |
| Social Life | Not applicable (online course). | |
| Placement Services | 2 | I found my job on my own. I had no assistance from the school. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no network and no support structure. I couldn't tell you where the nearest graduate of that program is or even how to get in touch with them. |
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