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Judicial assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a judicial assistant. Judicial assistants usually study criminal justice, legal support services, or business. 53% of judicial assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,390 real judicial assistant resumes to see exactly what judicial assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for judicial assistants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online judicial assistant courses to help get the education required to be a judicial assistant.

There are certain judicial assistant certifications that you should consider. These judicial assistant certifications include Certified Paralegal/Certified Legal Assistant (CP/CLA) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

What education do you need to become a judicial assistant?

What degree do you need to be a judicial assistant?

The most common degree for judicial assistants is bachelor's degree, with 53% of judicial assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 53%
  • Associate, 22%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a judicial assistant?

You should major in criminal justice to become a judicial assistant. 17% of judicial assistants major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a judicial assistant include legal support services and business.

Most common colleges for judicial assistants

Judicial assistants often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Denver, and University of Colorado at Boulder. Here are the most common colleges for judicial assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Judicial assistant common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix10.30%
University of Denver7.88%
University of Colorado at Boulder6.67%
Arizona State University6.06%
Metropolitan State University of Denver6.06%

Best majors for judicial assistants

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice16.9%
2Legal Support Services13.7%
3Business12.5%
4Law8.8%
5Psychology7.4%

Best colleges for judicial assistants

The best colleges for judicial assistants are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

A judicial 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 judicial 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 judicial assistants.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$30,300

Enrollment

1,445

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$41,290

Enrollment

2,077

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,230

Enrollment

12,161

9. Touro College

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$19,870

Enrollment

5,243

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for judicial assistants

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1. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague

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International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...

2. Cloud Computing Law: Data Protection and Cybersecurity

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Vast amounts of personal information are processed in the cloud. But who is legally responsible for such ‘personal data’ in cloud environments? What duties do cloud providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have? And what rights can you, as an individual, exercise under data protection law? If you’d like to find out, then this course is for you! First, we’ll look at how the European Union’s ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (‘GDPR’) regulates the processing of personal data in cloud...

3. Effective Legal Office Administration

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4.5
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Effective Legal Office Administration...

4. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

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A 60 minute fast track summary of the Law of Contracts, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

5. European Business Law: Understanding the Fundamentals

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The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies. This six week course is the first in a series of three that will provide students with an insight into European Business Law. The series ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on various specialized areas of law. Each course will give the students an understanding of the laws and policies that regulate the internal market of European Union, as well as relevant...

6. Cloud Computing Law

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This Specialization is intended for anyone interested in understanding the legal rights and obligations of providers and customers of cloud services. Our three Courses cover the key legal and regulatory issues for cloud services, including cloud contracts, data protection law, law enforcement access, and much more! You will learn to describe cloud providers’ and customers’ legal rights, to identify and assess legal risks, and to suggest possible legal and technological solutions...

7. Executive Travel Planning for Virtual Assistants

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Manage flights, hotels, and car services for corporate travel like a pro! PLUS travel changes during a global crisis...

8. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

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A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

9. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out

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Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...

10. Privacy Law and Data Protection

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What does it take to comply with privacy laws? In this course, we’ll look at the practical aspects of navigating the complex landscape of privacy requirements. Better understanding privacy laws and data protection will enable you to protect your organization and the constituents that depend on your organization to safeguard their personal information. First, we will examine the historical context that drove the creation of laws, best practices, and other standards for protecting personal...

11. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy

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A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...

12. English for Business and Law - Contract Law

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An English language course for business and law...

13. An Introduction to American Law

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This course will give you a glimpse into six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure. You will gain insight into the complexities and dilemmas that arise from the application of law in different settings, and what is distinctive about American approaches...

14. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

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‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

15. Legal English

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Legal language and communication skills...

16. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary

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An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...

17. American Contract Law II

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Course description: Contracts I & II provides a comprehensive overview of contract law in the United States. The course covers most of the key concepts found in a first year law school class. Each lecture is based on one or more common-law cases, integrating legal doctrines with policy discussions. The course also covers key sections from the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which governs the sale of goods. By the end of the course, the learner should be able to understand: Formation defenses:...

18. Introduction to International Criminal Law

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-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...

19. Become a Virtual Assistant

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Live Free. Work Virtually. Virtual Assistant Training...

20. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

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Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

Top 10 most affordable universities for judicial assistants

The most affordable schools for judicial assistants are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for judicial 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 judicial assistants.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

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. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for judicial assistants

The hardest universities for judicial assistants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for judicial 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 judicial 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. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

7. University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,401

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

9. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for judicial assistants

The easiest schools for judicial assistants to get into are Wayland Baptist University, barry university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a judicial 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 judicial assistants.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. Manor College

Jenkintown, PA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

898

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

9. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

10. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

Average judicial assistant salary by education level

According to our data, judicial assistants with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $51,322 annually. Judicial assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,424.
Judicial assistant education levelJudicial assistant salary
Master's Degree$49,081
High School Diploma or Less$44,643
Bachelor's Degree$49,424
Doctorate Degree$51,322
Some College/ Associate Degree$45,672

Judicial assistant education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.