Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Corporate legal assistant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a corporate legal assistant. Corporate legal assistants usually study business, legal support services, or political science. 60% of corporate legal assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 801 real corporate legal assistant resumes to see exactly what corporate legal assistant education sections show.
The most common colleges for corporate legal assistants are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online corporate legal assistant courses to help get the education required to be a corporate legal assistant.
There are certain corporate legal assistant certifications that you should consider. These corporate legal assistant certifications include Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) and Certified Paralegal/Certified Legal Assistant (CP/CLA).
What education do you need to become a corporate legal assistant?
What degree do you need to be a corporate legal assistant?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 20%
- Master's, 9%
- Doctorate, 6%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a corporate legal assistant?
- Business, 18%
- Political Science, 13%
- Law, 11%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for corporate legal assistants
| Corporate legal assistant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 15.29% |
| Pace University | 7.06% |
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 5.88% |
| University of Phoenix | 5.88% |
| Yale University | 5.88% |
Best majors for corporate legal assistants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 18.1% |
| 2 | Legal Support Services | 14.5% |
| 3 | Political Science | 12.8% |
| 4 | Law | 10.6% |
| 5 | English | 4.8% |
Best colleges for corporate legal assistants
The best colleges for corporate legal assistants are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A corporate legal assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for corporate legal assistants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become corporate legal assistants.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$30,300
Enrollment
1,445
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
7. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
8. Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$41,290
Enrollment
2,077
9. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
10. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
20 best online courses for corporate legal assistants
Advertising disclosure
1. Corporate Strategy
Corporate strategy is the strategy a firm uses to compete across multiple businesses. Many small firms want to grow by entering new businesses. Many large firms already are in multiple businesses, e.g. a photo camera producer selling also sunglasses. We developed this course to help you make good corporate strategy decisions. Of the many decisions a firm has to make, corporate strategy decisions are among the most consequential. We will look at these key corporate strategy decisions: -...
2. Corporate Entrepreneurship: Innovating within Corporations
For an increasing number of established companies, creating new business opportunities within the company is an imperative for success. Maturing technologies and aging product portfolios are requiring companies to create, develop, and sustain innovative new businesses. The Corporate Entrepreneurship Specialization is designed for those interested in learning how to innovate and apply entrepreneurship principles in the corporate setting.\n\nLearners will develop knowledge on how to navigate the...
3. The Corporate Finance Course
Corporate Governance, Capital Budgeting, Cost of Capital, Leverage, Working Capital: Complete Corporate Finance Training...
4. Corporate Finance #1 Introduction & Financial Statements
Navigating the Intersection of Finance, Accounting, and Economics for Effective Corporate Decision-Making...
5. Corporate Finance Essentials II
This course picks up where Corporate Finance Essentials left, addressing other corporate finance issues not addressed in the previous course, such as market efficiency, bonds, stocks, capital structure, and dividend policy. This course will help you to: ● Understanding the concept of market efficiency. ● Get an overview in issues related to bonds, such as type of bonds, their return (yield to maturity) and default risk ● Getting to know the valuation of stocks through the method of relative...
6. Relationship Management in Corporate Banking
How to acquire and manage successful Corporate Client Relationships in Corporate Banking...
7. Legal English Language Certificate (LELC) Level 1 - CPD
Learn from Lawyers - Learn the CORRECT use of articles, prepositions, legal terms & start writing your letter!...
8. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
9. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
10. Financial Modeling for Corporates
Learn Financial Modeling for corporate strategy, banking, FP & A, equity analysis & get a world class financial model...
11. Accounting for Corporations - Financial Accounting
Demystifying Corporate Accounting: An In-depth Exploration of Financial Transactions in Corporations...
12. Corporate Finance #2 Financial Ratios
Gain Financial Insights and Make Informed Decisions with Ratio Analysis in Corporate Finance...
13. S Corporation Income Tax - Form 1120S
Learn to enter tax data for an S Corporation into Form 1120S from a CPA...
14. Lean Enterprise: Corporate Innovation Certification
New Best Practices for Corporate Innovation...
15. Corporate ESG and Sustainability - 101 Level Masterclass
Building a Best-in-Class ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Program (cf. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR))...
16. Corporate Finance: Financial Analysis and Decision-Making
Unlocking Financial Insights for Informed Decision-Making and Valuation Strategies: An In-Depth Course...
17. Build Powerful Compliance Programs & Prevent Corporate Fraud
Learn everything you need to know to build an effective and powerful compliance culture and prevent corporate fraud...
18. ESG & Sustainability: ESG Corporate Masterclass 2023
Gain a Competitive Edge by Learning About ESG Frameworks, Reporting, Investing, Program Implementation, CSR and more...
19. Executive Travel Planning for Virtual Assistants
Manage flights, hotels, and car services for corporate travel like a pro! PLUS travel changes during a global crisis...
20. Legal Writing Master Class
Learn with lawyers by learning the correct use of prepositions and articles, drafting contracts and writing letters...
Top 10 most affordable universities for corporate legal assistants
The most affordable schools for corporate legal assistants are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for corporate legal assistants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for corporate legal assistants.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
9. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
10. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for corporate legal assistants
The hardest universities for corporate legal assistants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for corporate legal assistants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for corporate legal assistants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
10. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for corporate legal assistants
The easiest schools for corporate legal assistants to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and wayland baptist university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a corporate legal assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for corporate legal assistants.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
4. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
5. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
898
6. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
10. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
Average corporate legal assistant salary by education level
| Corporate legal assistant education level | Corporate legal assistant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $71,196 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $63,123 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $71,827 |
| Doctorate Degree | $75,349 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $64,976 |
Corporate legal assistant education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common legal questions.
Search for corporate legal assistant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025