Paralegal Schools in Connecticut
The following guide to paralegal schools in Connecticut is designed to equip you with key information on your options for earning a paralegal degree or certificate in the state. Paralegals and legal assistants usually work in law offices or legal departments of private and public organizations. Earning a degree or certificate from a paralegal school is a good first step to working in this growing field. You can find out more about employment options for paralegals and legal assistants by visiting our guide to paralegal careers in Connecticut.
Quick Facts
- There are 7 colleges and universities that offer paralegal/legal assistant degree programs in Connecticut.1
- 6 schools offer a certificate program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 5 schools offer an associate’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 3 schools offer a bachelor’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 1 school offers a master’s degree for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- No schools ranked in Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs.2
- 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools in 2022.3
- 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs in 2022.4
- 5 ABA-approved paralegal degree programs are in Connecticut.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with paralegal/legal assistant degree programs.
Table of Contents
- Comparison of Paralegal Programs
- Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs in Connecticut
- Select Schools in Connecticut with Paralegal Degrees
Comparison of Paralegal Programs
The table below will help you compare not-for-profit paralegal and legal studies programs in Connecticut based on various factors. The table includes paralegal program-specific information such as the programs offered and whether there are any online options. It also includes general school information to help you compare the colleges and universities that host these programs, including overall acceptance rate, graduation rate for first-time bachelor’s degree seekers, median debt for graduates, and net tuition per year for full-time undergraduate study. We have also included information on approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). While ABA approval is not required in order to work as a paralegal, it is a mark of program quality that is preferred by many employers.
| School | ABA Approved? | Paralegal Degree(s) | Acceptance Rate6 | Grad Rate1 | Online Options? | Median Debt7 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Community College (Manchester) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AS-Paralegal | 100% | 16% | — | $3,000 | $7,533 |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury) | — | Certificate-Legal Assistant/Paralegal; AS-Legal Assistant/Paralegal | 100% | 16% | — | $3,500 | $6,965 |
| Norwalk Community College (Norwalk) | Yes | Certificate-Legal Assistant; AS-Legal Assistant | 100% | 11% | — | $3,500 | $6,759 |
| Quinnipiac University (Hamden) | Yes | BA-Law and Society/Certificate in Legal Studies; Minor/Certificate-Legal Studies | 70% | 76% | — | $21,500 | $41,815 |
| University of Hartford (West Hartford) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AS-Paralegal Studies; BA-University Studies: Paralegal Studies | 76% | 55% | — | $19,000 | $28,692 |
| University of New Haven (West Haven) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AS-Legal Studies; BS-Legal Studies: Paralegal; Minor-Legal Studies | 83% | 65% | — | $21,500 | $35,395 |
| Yale University (New Haven) | — | Master of Studies in Law | 6% | 96% | — | $12,000 | $17,511 |
- — indicates none.
- N.Av. indicates no data available.
Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs
US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools 2022
- Yale University (#1)
- Quinnipiac University (#129 tie)
US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs 2022
- Quinnipiac University (#138 tie)
- Yale University (#154 tie)
Select Schools in Connecticut with Paralegal Degrees
Traditional Programs
Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College (MCC) offers two ABA-approved paralegal programs, an Associate of Science (AS) in Paralegal that requires 61 to 62 credits to complete, and a 25-credit Paralegal Certificate. Students may enroll on either a part-time or a full-time basis; full-time students can finish the AS program in as little as four semesters and the Certificate in two semesters. The majority of classes are offered in the evening to accommodate working adults, with a few courses only available during the day. In the AS program, students will take general education courses and legal courses beginning in the first semester, while the Paralegal Certificate does not require any general education courses. Students will receive paralegal training through classes such as Computer Applications in Law, Probate Practice, and a Legal Studies Capstone Course, during which they will develop a portfolio and complete a comprehensive assessment of their learning throughout the program. For students seeking to transfer to a four-year program, MCC has transfer agreements with the University of Hartford, Quinnipiac University, and Bay Path University in Massachusetts.
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Students at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) can pursue an Associate of Science (AS) in Legal Assistant/Paralegal that will help prepare them to perform the complex responsibilities required to assist lawyers. The two-year program will provide instruction in practical skills such as legal research, drafting legal documentation, and using software applications. Over the 61 to 62 credit curriculum, students will take classes in legal subjects such as Real Estate Practice; Business Law; and Probate Practice and Estate Administration. Graduates of the AS in Legal/Assistant/Paralegal will be prepared to find employment as legal assistants in insurance companies, real estate firms, and public offices. Admission to NVCC requires a high school diploma or GED. NVCC also offers a 24-credit Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate.
Norwalk Community College
The ABA-approved Associate of Science (AS) in Legal Assistant and Legal Assistant Certificate programs at Norwalk Community College (NCC) are designed to prepare individuals to perform legal work, including drafting probate forms, title reviews, pleadings and discovery proceedings, and corporate filings and minutes, under the supervision of a qualified attorney. The Legal Assistant curriculum provides a comprehensive background in the major areas of law practiced in legal and corporate settings, such as family, business, and administrative law. Students in both programs must take an internship course in order to gain work experience in a working legal department or law office. The internship may be waived for students already working as legal assistants. Graduates of NCC’s Legal Assistant programs will be eligible to take the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam. The certificate program is only open to students who have already completed a bachelor’s or associate’s degree with at least 18 liberal arts credits.
Quinnipiac University
The College of Arts and Sciences at Quinnipiac University offers a Minor/Certificate in Legal Studies that combines the values of a liberal arts education with focused coursework in paralegal studies. The ABA-approved program is taught by practicing lawyers and features courses such as Civil Procedures, Family Law; and Wills, Probate, and Estate Administration. Additionally, the program develops critical skills such as legal research and writing through specific courses in practical paralegal skills. A legal studies internship program allows students to integrate coursework with practical office experience and provides students the opportunity to network in local law offices. This program prepares students for a range of professional opportunities in the legal field upon completion. Quinnipiac also offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Law in Society for students interested in a humanities-based approach to the legal field, intended for students who are interested in furthering their education in the study of law. BA in Law in Society graduates will also receive a Certificate in Legal Studies.
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford’s (UHart) Paralegal Studies Department offers three ABA-approved paralegal programs: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in University Studies with a Concentration in Paralegal Studies, an Associate in Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies, and a Paralegal Certificate program for students who have already completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits. Classes are scheduled in the evenings and on Saturdays to meet the needs of part-time and working students. The Paralegal Studies programs offer instruction in various specialty areas of law and the practical skills necessary to enter the paralegal profession. Paralegal coursework includes Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals; Legal Research and Writing; and Technology in Law. Internships are required for BA students, and available to all paralegal students, to provide an opportunity for students to engage in the paralegal field in an active professional capacity. Pro bono clinics held on campus offer further opportunities to apply what students have learned. Additionally, the coursework requires students to prepare professional-level work, supplying graduates with a portfolio of writing samples to show prospective employers.
University of New Haven
The Legal Studies Department at the University of New Haven (UNH) offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Legal Studies with a Concentration in Paralegal Studies for students seeking to develop practical legal skills built on a liberal arts foundation. The Paralegal Studies concentration will help prepare students for careers as paralegals or legal assistants, or for further study in law. The 124-credit program includes general education courses, legal studies courses, electives, and paralegal courses. Paralegal concentration coursework includes a required course in Civil Procedure and four further courses, chosen from classes such as Cyberlaw, Criminal Law, and Real Estate Law. Legal Studies students must complete a two-semester internship that provides exposure to professional legal work and offers the opportunity to begin networking before graduation. Students and graduates have access to UNH’s Career Development Center, which provides assistance in areas such as networking, job searching, and graduate school preparation. In addition to the BS program, UNH offers an Associate of Science (AS) in Legal Studies and a Paralegal Certificate that are ABA-approved as well as a Legal Studies Minor.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs: https://www.paralegal411.org/degrees/bachelors/online/
3. US News & World Report Best Law Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Legal Writing Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/legal-writing-rankings
5. American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/
6. Niche: https://www.niche.com/
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/