Paralegal Studies major

Paralegal Studies: courses, careers, and where to study

Paralegal Studies trains graduates to support attorneys with legal research, drafting, and case management, suiting detail-oriented students drawn to law without attending law school.

A Paralegal Studies major covers legal research and writing, civil litigation and procedure, contract law, torts, legal ethics, and the use of case-management and e-discovery software. Programs are offered as both bachelor's degrees and shorter associate's or certificate tracks, and most include hands-on training in drafting pleadings, summarizing depositions, organizing case files, and interviewing clients under attorney supervision. Many bachelor's programs add concentrations such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law, and often require an internship at a law firm, court, corporate legal department, or government agency.

Paralegals (also called legal assistants) perform substantive legal work under the direction of a licensed attorney but cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for the occupation, so a four-year Paralegal Studies degree is more than the minimum credential and can support advancement into senior or specialized paralegal roles; those who later decide to practice law independently must complete a separate law degree (JD) and pass a state bar exam.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, and the occupation had a 2024 median annual wage of $61,010.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Paralegal Studies maps to CIP 22.0302, Legal Assistant/Paralegal, within the LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES family. The official definition:

A program that prepares individuals to perform research, drafting, investigatory, record-keeping and related administrative functions under the supervision of an attorney or court. Includes instruction in legal research, drafting legal documents, appraising, pleading, courthouse procedures, and legal specializations.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, and primary sources
  • Legal writing: memos, briefs, pleadings, and correspondence
  • Civil litigation procedure and the stages of a lawsuit
  • Substantive law: contracts, torts, property, and criminal law
  • Legal ethics and the unauthorized-practice-of-law boundary
  • Case management, document review, and e-discovery software
  • Client interviewing, fact investigation, and evidence gathering
  • Specialized practice areas such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law

Typical careers

Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 paralegals and legal assistants median $61,010Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Paralegal Studies. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Paralegal Studies major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Paralegal Studies program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Paralegal Studies department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Many paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), which some employers prefer. Paralegals are not licensed, but voluntary certification is available from organizations such as NALA and NFPA. Confirm a program's ABA approval and the credentials valued by your target employers.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Paralegal Studiescareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Paralegal Studies program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Paralegal Studies programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

Search Paralegal Studies schools

Paralegal Studies by state

Related majors

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.