Choosing Paralegal School

Tips on Choosing a Paralegal School

So you’ve made the decision to pursue a paralegal career and you’ve figured out whether you want to get a paralegal certificate or a degree. How do you choose the school that’s right for you?

While only you can make that choice in the end, here are a few tips to make comparing paralegal programs – and choosing a paralegal school – a little easier.

Curriculum and Course Selection

Take a look at the overall program description and the course schedules, if possible. Most programs will offer core courses in things like legal research and common legal computer programs. In addition, you often get to take specialty courses, too. Look them over and compare what you get from different schools.

Make sure you understand the sequencing of classes – do you need to take classes in a particular order? This may affect when you can take classes, or how many classes you can take at once. Also, make sure you understand class enrollment procedures.  Questions to ask include:

• What are the core courses and how do they compare to other programs?
• What specialty courses are offered?
• How convenient are the class schedules?
• How many classes do students typically take in one term? Can you take more or less classes or credit hours, depending on your situation?
• Are courses ever cancelled due to low enrollment or other factors? How often does that happen?
• How does class registration work?
• What is the likelihood of getting into a class when you need to take it?
• Can you transfer credits from previous course work? 

Job Placement Assistance and Alumni Support

How much help do you get from the school when it comes time to look for a job?  This can be really important when choosing a paralegal school! Getting your paralegal degree or certificate is just one part of a successful job search. Most schools offer at least some basic help as you try to land your first paralegal job. In addition, some schools also provide ongoing job search support to their graduates. This can be extremely valuable to you in your paralegal career.

In addition, schools that have very loyal (read: satisfied) alumni may have a leg up over others that don’t. Alumni that stay involved in or proud of their school are more likely to offer support or mentoring to current students. Alumni can also be a great source of job leads. Some questions to ask when evaluating different schools’ job placement assistance and alumni involvement include:

• Do they help you land an internship while you’re a student? (an internship can be a great way to get on-the-job experience and also get to know a potential employer before graduation)
• What percentage of students do some sort of internship during the program?
• Where are alumni working?
• What percentage of students have jobs lined up at graduation? A few months out?
• Where do graduates typically work? Are there certain law firms or employers that regularly hire graduates?
• Does the school offer career assistance to alumni?
• How strong is the alumni network? Are alums willing to talk with current students about the paralegal field, job search strategies, and so on?

Accreditation

When choosing a paralegal school, accreditation may be a key point of distinction between programs. There are a variety of organizations that provide accreditation, as explained in our guide to paralegal school accreditation. However, it’s important to know which accreditations are in demand where you live. To find out, read local job listings to see what employers want. For example, some job listings might say applicants need to have graduated from an "ABA-approved school".  In that case, you want to ensure the school you choose is ABA-approved.  In some regions school accreditation is very important.  In others, employers put more emphasis on being certified. So it pays to do your research beforehand to see what you’ll need to land a job, and then make sure you choose a paralegal school that delivers!

Tuition and Financial Aid

Different programs can vary in their cost and in what’s included in the cost. It’s important to look at the details to understand exactly what you’re paying for. In addition, it’s important to consider what type of financial aid may be available to help you pay for your paralegal program. Here are a few questions to consider:

• What does tuition include? Are there a lot of extra fees?  What do they cover? 
• Is the program approved by the United States Department of Education? (if so, it may qualify for federal financial aid programs)
• What type of financial assistance does the school offer?
• Does the school help students find scholarships? 

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