Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior paralegal education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a senior paralegal. Senior paralegals usually study legal support services, business, or political science. 55% of senior paralegals hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 5,289 real senior paralegal resumes to see exactly what senior paralegal education sections show.
The most common colleges for senior paralegals are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online senior paralegal courses to help get the education required to be a senior paralegal.
There are certain senior paralegal certifications that you should consider. These senior paralegal certifications include Certified Paralegal (CP) and Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC).
What education do you need to become a senior paralegal?
What degree do you need to be a senior paralegal?
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Associate, 22%
- Master's, 7%
- Doctorate, 6%
- Other Degrees, 10%
What should I major in to become a senior paralegal?
- Business, 13%
- Political Science, 10%
- Law, 9%
- Other Majors, 41%
Most common colleges for senior paralegals
| Senior paralegal common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 11.04% |
| Roosevelt University | 7.43% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 6.98% |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York | 6.76% |
| New York University | 6.08% |
Best majors for senior paralegals
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Support Services | 27.3% |
| 2 | Business | 13.1% |
| 3 | Political Science | 9.6% |
| 4 | Law | 9.0% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 7.8% |
Best colleges for senior paralegals
The best colleges for senior paralegals are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A senior paralegal with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for senior paralegals. 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 senior paralegals.
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 senior paralegals
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world, with the world’s most valuable intellectual property assets dwarfing the value of their real-world counterparts. Apple’ trademarked brand was valued at over $100 billion as of 2017. J.K. Rowling’s Harry potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date. But how did the law come to create such enormous value in intangible assets? This course will introduce the various types of U.S. intellectual property: patents, which cover...
2. Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world. The pharmaceutical patent for Lipitor generated over $100 billion in revenue, the copyright for the Harry Potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date, and the trademarked brands of the world’s largest tech companies now eclipse $100 billion in value. But what makes these intangible assets so valuable?\n\nThrough the courses in this specialization, you will learn the differences between the various forms of U.S. intellectual...
3. Effective Legal Office Administration
Effective Legal Office Administration...
4. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy
A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...
5. Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry
This course begins with an overview of general intellectual property law in the United States, then examines how the policy choices behind those laws shapes the behavior of major players in the healthcare industry. We will examine how patents and trademarks shape the behavior of pharmaceutical companies, and how complex issues involving medical research in university settings, and ownership of genetic information and material, are resolved by intellectual property laws. The course concludes...
6. An Introduction to American Law
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...
7. Real Estate Acquisitions 101
How To Identify Commercial Properties, Run Due Diligence, Raise Capital, and Close Commercial Real Estate Transactions...
8. English for Business and Law - Contract Law
An English language course for business and law...
9. Healthcare Law
This Specialization is designed to help you navigate the complex legal framework that governs modern health systems. You will learn the fundamentals of American health law, then explore how privacy law shapes the relationship between healthcare providers and their patients. You will also learn how intellectual property law influences everything from the pharmaceutical industry, to medical research, to cutting-edge ethical issues involved in emerging technologies such as DNA-testing. Finally,...
10. Privacy Law and HIPAA
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. Intellectual Property Security Awareness
How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...
12. Legal English
Legal language and communication skills...
13. Privacy Law and Data Protection
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...
14. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague
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...
15. Company Law: A Comprehensive Summary
An in-depth summary of Company Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations...
16. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
17. Introduction to International Criminal Law
-- 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,...
18. American Contract Law II
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:...
19. Intro to Business Law for Entrepreneurs (+Free Book!)
How do I Protect My Family? What Type of Company to Register. Dealing with Investors. Patents. IPO. Ethics and More...
20. Law of Contracts in 60 Minutes: A Fast Track Course
A 60 minute fast track summary of the Law of Contracts, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for senior paralegals
The most affordable schools for senior paralegals are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for senior paralegals 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 senior paralegals.
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 senior paralegals
The hardest universities for senior paralegals to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for senior paralegals 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 senior paralegals 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 senior paralegals
The easiest schools for senior paralegals 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 senior paralegal 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 senior paralegals.
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 senior paralegal salary by education level
| Senior paralegal education level | Senior paralegal salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $66,869 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $58,519 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $67,525 |
| Doctorate Degree | $71,204 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $60,426 |
Search for senior paralegal jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025