Legal Professions Colleges

Legal Professions is a smart major for students interested in law careers, but not interested in law school. Courses in litigation, criminal law, legal research, administration, bookkeeping and more will prepare you for a career assisting lawyers, working in court offices and other legal administrative roles.

Legal Professions degree programs are offered at every level, but most students seek a certificate or associates degree from a technical school, career college, community college, online school, 4-year college or university. These programs last from a few months to two years. Some students may wish to attain a bachelors degree or masters degree in legal professions for a broader general education base.

Students with a respect for and interest in law with enjoy the Legal Professions major most. Good reading, writing, critical thinking and communication skills will also be necessary for a successful Legal Professions career. Students interested in Legal Professions should consider related majors, too, including Advanced Legal Research/Studies (LL.M., M.C.L., M.L.I., M.S.L., J.S.D./S.J.D.); American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (LL.M.,M.C.J., J.S.D./S.J.D.); Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law (LL.M., J.S.D), S.L.J); Canadian Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (LL.M., M.C.J., J.S.D./S.J.D.).; Comparative Law (LL.M., M.C.L., J.S.D./S.J.D.); Court Reporting; Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law (LL.M., M.S.,J.S.D./S.J.D.); Health Law (LL.M., M.J., J.S.D./S.J.D.); International Business, Trade, and Tax Law (LL.M., J.S.D./S.J.D.); International Law and Legal Studies (LL.M., J.S.D./S.J.D.); Law (LL.B., J.D.); Legal Administrative Assistant; Legal Assistant; Legal Assistant/Paralegal; Legal Professions and Studies; Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies; Legal Studies; Legal Support Services; Pre-Law Studies; Programs for Foreign Lawyers (LL.M., M.C.L.); and Tax Law/Taxation (LL.M, J.S.D./S.J.D.).

Find Schools Offering Legal Professions Degree Programs

==Choosing a Legal Professions School Across the country, you can find many technical schools, career colleges, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities with Legal Professions programs. When selecting a Legal Professions school, first look at what type of degree you wish to attain—certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s. Also take a look at what recent graduates are doing now and if professors have current ties to the professional legal community. Career placement services, internships and other hands-on opportunities during your education will be invaluable.

Find Legal Professions Schools

Legal Professions Degree Programs

The associate career training degree is most common in Legal Professions. A variety of technical schools, career colleges and community colleges offer programs that will prepare you to work as a legal administrative assistant and paralegal for example. Many colleges and universities have programs as well, including some associate transfer degrees that will help you achieve a bachelors degree later if you desire.

For students holding bachelors degrees already, certificate programs are popular at technical schools, career colleges, 4-year colleges and universities and online schools. Some certificate programs will prepare students without a degree for work in the field as well.

Legal Professions majors who want to impress prospective employers or qualify for higher-paying jobs down the road may choose to attain a bachelor’s or masters degree from a college or university.

No matter what degree program you choose you can expect classes such as legal terminology, legal research, criminal law, litigation, legal writing, business law, computer software applications, accounting, business law, civil procedure, ethics and law office management. Often Legal Professions programs also include an internship in the field.

Legal Professions Degree Programs:

Online Legal Professions Degree Programs at Online Schools

You can find nearly 50 online school Legal Profession degree programs. An online degree can qualify your for careers like paralegal, law assistant, law office manager, legal researcher or law firm receptionist. You can earn a certificate, associates degree, bachelors degree or masters degree in the form of an online degree from an online school if you prefer to take classes on your own time, from your own home.

Online Legal Professions Degree Programs:

Online Legal Professions Schools:

High School Preparation

Since Legal Professions careers require a lot of research and report writing, focus on reading, writing and communication classes during high school. Log hours volunteering or working part time at a law office or court office to gain real world experience that will look impressive on your college applications. Reading as much as you can about legal issues and court-related news can give you a better understanding of law careers, too.

Find Schools Offering Legal Professions Degree Programs

Popular Careers in the Field of Legal Professions

Most careers within Legal Professions are experiencing growth, but due to the popularity of the industry, jobs are often competitive. Jobs exist in law firm, insurance companies, banks, real estate firms, government offices and corporate legal departments. Many Legal Professions majors go on to administrative careers in law, including titles such as receptionist, office manager, research assistant, secretary or account. These careers are typically associated with salaries in the range of $30,000 to $49,000.

Some programs will also prepare you for a career as a paralegal or legal assistant, often the top paying careers for Legal Professions degree-holders. Average annual salaries fall between $34,000 and $55,000. Having expertise in a growing area of law—environmental law, criminal law, intellectual property, international law or healthcare for example—can improve job prospects, too.

The best jobs are found in metropolitan areas and at larger law firms. To advance a career in legal professions, many paralegals and legal assistants look to managerial roles or seek jobs at bigger, more prestigious firms. Receptionists and administrative assistants occasionally move up to paralegal and legal assistant roles.

Beyond Legal Secretaries, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, you may want to explore careers such as Court Reporters, Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates.

Find Schools Offering Legal Professions Degree Programs

Collapse