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Legal technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a legal technician. Legal technicians usually study business, criminal justice, or law. 53% of legal technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 564 real legal technician resumes to see exactly what legal technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for legal technicians are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

What education do you need to become a legal technician?

What degree do you need to be a legal technician?

The most common degree for legal technicians is bachelor's degree, with 53% of legal technicians 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%
  • Doctorate, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a legal technician?

You should major in business to become a legal technician. 16% of legal technicians major in business. Other common majors for a legal technician include criminal justice and law.

Most common colleges for legal technicians

Legal technicians often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for legal technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Legal technician common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix16.67%
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus11.67%
University of Maryland - College Park6.67%
Northeastern University6.67%
DeVry University6.67%

Best majors for legal technicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Business16.4%
2Criminal Justice12.5%
3Law12.1%
4Legal Support Services11.8%
5Political Science6.1%

Best colleges for legal technicians

The best colleges for legal technicians are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

A legal technician 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 technicians. 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 technicians.

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 legal technicians

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1. 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...

2. Privacy Law and HIPAA

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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...

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. Introduction to Technical Support

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Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...

6. 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...

7. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

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Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

8. ISO/IEC 27701:2019. Privacy Information Management System

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Enhance your privacy knowledge with the latest ISO standard on this subject...

9. 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...

10. Data Privacy Fundamentals

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This course is designed to introduce data privacy to a wide audience and help each participant see how data privacy has evolved as a compelling concern to public and private organizations as well as individuals. In this course, you will hear from legal and technical experts and practitioners who encounter data privacy issues daily. This course will review theories of data privacy as well as data privacy in the context of social media and artificial intelligence. It will also explore data...

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12. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace

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

13. 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...

14. FinTech Law and Policy

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Being a successful FinTech firm requires more than just great technology; it also requires an understanding of the laws and regulations applicable to your business. This course will provide you with that understanding. You will learn about the critical legal, regulatory, and policy issues associated with cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, online lending, new payments and wealth management technologies, and financial account aggregators. In addition, you will learn how regulatory agencies...

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

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

16. 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...

17. 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!...

18. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

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A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

19. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

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Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

20. Information Security Fundamentals

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The very basics of Info Sec...

Top 10 most affordable universities for legal technicians

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

If the best universities for legal technicians 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 technicians.

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 legal technicians

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

Some great schools for legal technicians 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 technicians 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 legal technicians

The easiest schools for legal technicians 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 technician 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 technicians.

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 legal technician salary by education level

Legal technicians with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $70,738 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, legal technicians earn a median annual income of $67,969 compared to $67,471 for legal technicians with an Master's degree.
Legal technician education levelLegal technician salary
Master's Degree$67,471
High School Diploma or Less$61,027
Bachelor's Degree$67,969
Doctorate Degree$70,738
Some College/ Associate Degree$62,518

Legal technician 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.