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Student attorney education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a student attorney. Student attorneys usually study law, political science, or criminal justice. 66% of student attorneys hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 6,735 real student attorney resumes to see exactly what student attorney education sections show.
The most common colleges for student attorneys are the American University and the American University.
There are also many online student attorney courses to help get the education required to be a student attorney.
There are certain student attorney certifications that you should consider. These student attorney certifications include Certified Legal Secretary Specialist: Intellectual Property (CL§) and Estate Planning Law Specialist.
What education do you need to become a student attorney?
What degree do you need to be a student attorney?
- Bachelor's, 66%
- Doctorate, 27%
- Master's, 6%
- Associate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 0%
What should I major in to become a student attorney?
- Law, 32%
- Political Science, 21%
- Criminal Justice, 6%
- Business, 5%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for student attorneys
| Student attorney common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| American University | 10.77% |
| Syracuse University | 9.23% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 8.72% |
| Howard University | 7.08% |
| Suffolk University | 5.64% |
Best majors for student attorneys
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law | 31.6% |
| 2 | Political Science | 20.7% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 5.7% |
| 4 | Business | 5.0% |
| 5 | Psychology | 4.9% |
Best colleges for student attorneys
The best colleges for student attorneys are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
A student attorney with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for student attorneys. 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 student attorneys.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
10. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$53,391
Enrollment
8,568
20 best online courses for student attorneys
Advertising disclosure
1. A Law Student's Toolkit
Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...
2. Supporting Clients
To reach your goal of becoming a Career Coach or Navigator, you have learned about relationship management and human-centered career coaching in course 1 and gained skills to recruit and work with clients in course 2. This third course in the Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate will help you advise people as they move along their career paths; assist with job searches, interviewing, and resume creation; and set them up for success as they start their careers. By the end of the...
3. Tax Preparation and Law 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, & 2019
Unlock Tax Filing Confidence with Practical Examples & Step-by-Step Instructions in this Comprehensive Income Tax Course...
4. Intellectual Property Security Awareness
How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...
5. 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...
6. 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...
7. Essentials of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
The Who, What, When, Where, and How of the World's Most Common Business Contract...
8. US Income Taxes - Income Tax Preparation Simplified for You
The A – Z of self-preparing and e-filing your basic income taxes by 04/15. Income tax preparation made easy for you...
9. How to Prepare Your U.S. Federal Tax Returns Online
Master Income Tax Preparation Using Turbo Tax...
10. Tax Preparation: Learn Fast! Prepare Taxes with Confidence!
Become a confident tax preparer by learning about taxes and applications over practical examples and scenarios...
11. Tax Strategies of the Wealthy
How the Rich Get Richer Through Taxes...
12. Partnership Income Tax (Form 1065)
Learn to enter tax data for a Partnership into tax Form 1065 from a CPA...
13. Practical Course in Goods and Services Tax
Learn GSTR1 and GSTR2 Returns,GSTR3B Monthly return & GSTR9 Annual return...
14. C Corporation Income Tax (Form 1120)
Learn to enter tax data for a C Corporation into tax Form 1020 from a CPA...
15. Fundamentals of Business Taxes
Learn the fundamentals of business taxes and understand the basics of doing taxes for your business...
16. Tax Accounting Made Easy to Understand
Finally, an easy to understand tax accounting course. Taxes explained step by step...
17. Introduction to Child Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Learn about child behaviour, parenting styles, relationships and socialising, cognitive development, counselling & more!...
18. Counselling clients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Learn step by step, highly practical and rapid learning. Useful during and after the pandemic. CBT-REBT based...
19. Fully Accredited Professional Child Psychology Diploma
Learn or Specialise Your Therapy in Child Psychology with this Fully Accredited Diploma Course...
20. Income Tax - Schedule C Small Business Sole Proprietor
Small business, schedule C income tax preparation using actual tax forms for examples including form 1040, Schedule SE...
Top 10 most affordable universities for student attorneys
The most affordable schools for student attorneys are Brigham Young University, florida state university, and university of florida.
If the best universities for student attorneys 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 student attorneys.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
6. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
San Juan, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
11,299
7. SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,099
Cost of attendance
24,568
8. University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$8,178
Cost of attendance
20,934
9. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Cost of attendance
25,497
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for student attorneys
The hardest universities for student attorneys to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for student attorneys 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 student attorneys 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for student attorneys
The easiest schools for student attorneys to get into are University of Southern Maine, cleveland state university, and western new england university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a student attorney 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 student attorneys.
1. University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,050
2. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
3. Western New England University
Springfield, MA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,160
4. Saint Thomas University
Miami Gardens, FL • Private
Admissions rate
52%
SAT average
1,031
5. Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL • Private
Admissions rate
79%
SAT average
1,196
6. Pace University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
76%
SAT average
1,154
7. Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,190
8. Suffolk University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,131
9. Widener University
Chester, PA • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,115
10. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,124
Average student attorney salary by education level
| Student attorney education level | Student attorney salary |
|---|---|
| Doctorate Degree | $107,986 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025