Interested in all things related to the law and justice system? Enjoy researching, writing, and investigating? Here are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Paralegal Degrees!
Not to be overshadowed by lawyers, paralegals are an important part of our country’s justice system. In fact, if you love the idea of hunting down facts or you have a passion for getting to the bottom of puzzles, then Paralegal Studies may be the perfect fit for you. Paralegals must be very organized, responsible, and have great time management skills to succeed.
See our methodology page for a detailed explanation of the data we use and how we apply them to our rankings.
What is a Paralegal degree?
A paralegal degree will prepare you for all types of legal work. You’ll learn the ins and outs of the justice system as well as how to properly run and manage a law office. While most paralegals work for law offices, a paralegal degree can lead to jobs in corporate legal departments, government agencies, and more.
As a paralegal, you’ll be given assignments by lawyers who will rely on you to research case files and prepare for court cases. You may be asked to speak with certain clients, appear in court, and more. A paralegal degree can also prepare you for law school if that’s something you’re considering.
Consider a broader degree for your bachelor’s, then a more focused master’s program. For instance, a Criminal Justice degree will give you a solid base for future specialties.
How much can you earn with a Paralegal degree?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn, on average, upwards of $50,000 per year. Of course, your salary will really depend on where and in what industry you choose to work. Top-earning sectors for paralegal work include federal government, finance and insurance, local government, and legal services.
The good news is that paralegal jobs are plentiful. In fact, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 15 percent from now to 2026. Formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills will have the best job prospects.
What are the best Paralegal degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
