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Legal aide education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a legal aide. Legal aides usually study law, political science, or business. 56% of legal aides hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 856 real legal aide resumes to see exactly what legal aide education sections show.

The most common colleges for legal aides are the Northeastern University and the Northeastern University.

There are also many online legal aide courses to help get the education required to be a legal aide.

What education do you need to become a legal aide?

What degree do you need to be a legal aide?

The most common degree for legal aides is bachelor's degree, with 56% of legal aides earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 14% and doctoral degree degree at 14%.
  • Bachelor's, 56%
  • Doctorate, 14%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a legal aide?

You should major in law to become a legal aide. 22% of legal aides major in law. Other common majors for a legal aide include political science and business.

Most common colleges for legal aides

Legal aides often get their degrees at Northeastern University, University of Texas at Austin, and Wayne State University. Here are the most common colleges for legal aides in the US based on their resumes.
Legal aide common collegePercentages
Northeastern University9.64%
University of Texas at Austin8.43%
Wayne State University7.23%
University of Phoenix6.02%
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus6.02%

Best majors for legal aides

RankMajorPercentages
1Law22.2%
2Political Science12.7%
3Business11.8%
4Criminal Justice8.1%
5English6.0%

Best colleges for legal aides

The best colleges for legal aides are Northwestern University, Boston University, and University of Richmond.

A legal aide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for legal aides. 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 legal aides.

1. Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$30,300

Enrollment

1,445

2. University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,000

Enrollment

25,973

3. Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$41,290

Enrollment

2,077

4. University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,610

Enrollment

3,215

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. Touro College

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$19,870

Enrollment

5,243

8. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. Roger Williams University

Bristol, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$34,522

Enrollment

4,347

20 best online courses for legal aides

Advertising disclosure

1. 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...

2. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law

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The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...

3. Effective Legal Office Administration

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Effective Legal Office Administration...

4. Legal English

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Legal language and communication skills...

5. 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...

6. 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...

7. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace

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Regulatory and Case Law Considerations for Employers' Social Media Policy Development...

8. Legal Writing Master Class

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Learn with lawyers by learning the correct use of prepositions and articles, drafting contracts and writing letters...

9. Cross-border road transport in EU law context

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Have you ever wondered which legal rules are applicable to cross-border EU road transport? Are you interested in the issues revolving around EU employment law in the international road transport sector? Then, on behalf of the University of Antwerp, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Gdańsk, University of Luxembourg and Tilburg University, we would like to welcome you to this MOOC on Cross-border Road Transport in EU law context. This MOOC is a part of the Erasmus + Project funded by...

10. 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:...

11. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary

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

12. Cloud Security Course: Cloud Compliance, Audits,Legal issues

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For CCSK and CCSP Aspirants - Cloud Agreements/Contracts, Legal and Compliance Concepts...

13. 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...

14. Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship

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By its nature, the law touches on many aspects of entrepreneurship, making it an applicable and versatile topic of study. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it's important to understand how to form the business, work with the initial customers, and hire. For active entrepreneurs, there are critical considerations on employment law, operating policies, and managing contracts. For everyone, the role that the law plays in managing the company, and its associated risks, must be properly understood to...

15. Legal English Language Certificate (LELC) Level 1 - CPD

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Learn from Lawyers - Learn the CORRECT use of articles, prepositions, legal terms & start writing your letter!...

16. English for Business and Law - Contract Law

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An English language course for business and law...

17. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy

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

18. Learn Ethical Hacking By Hacking Real Websites Legally

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Fun way to learn ethical hacking by playing online hacking games - hacking real websites legally...

19. 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!...

20. Law: A Comprehensive Summary for LLB Students

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An essential 24 hours of Video Lectures, Spider Graphs and Case Summaries made to guide LLB students preparing for exams...

Top 10 most affordable universities for legal aides

The most affordable schools for legal aides are Brigham Young University, florida international university, and john jay college of criminal justice of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for legal aides 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 legal aides.

1. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

3. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,270

Cost of attendance

14,177

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

6. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

7. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Cost of attendance

20,934

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

9. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

10. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for legal aides

The hardest universities for legal aides to get into are Northwestern University, Boston University, and University of Richmond.

Some great schools for legal aides 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 legal aides 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. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,401

4. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

5. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

7. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

8. American University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,320

9. Tulane University

New Orleans, LA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,428

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for legal aides

The easiest schools for legal aides 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 legal aide 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 legal aides.

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. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

5. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

6. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

7. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden

Camden, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,086

8. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

9. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

10. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

Average legal aide salary by education level

Legal aides with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $61,157 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, legal aides earn a median annual income of $58,677 compared to $58,231 for legal aides with an Master's degree.
Legal aide education levelLegal aide salary
Master's Degree$58,231
High School Diploma or Less$52,474
Bachelor's Degree$58,677
Doctorate Degree$61,157
Some College/ Associate Degree$53,804

Legal aide 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.