Paralegal Schools in New York
New York’s colleges and universities offer a broad array of paralegal programs from general practice to specialty practice areas like public interest legal studies or government and politics. The following overview of paralegal schools in New York is designed to equip you with key information so that you can make the educational decision that is right for your career. You might also consider online paralegal programs as alternatives to traditional on-campus programs. Please visit our paralegal careers in New York page for information on career opportunities for paralegals in the state.
Quick Facts
- There are 34 colleges and universities that offer paralegal/legal assistant degree programs in New York.1
- 15 schools offer a certificate program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 19 schools offer an associate’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 11 schools offer a bachelor’s degree program for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 1 school offers a master’s degree for paralegals/legal assistants.1
- 2 schools ranked in Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs.2
- 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools in 2022.3
- 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs in 2022.4
- 19 ABA-approved paralegal degree programs are in New York.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with paralegal/legal assistant degree programs.
Table of Contents
- Comparison of Paralegal Programs
- Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs in New York
- Select Schools in New York with Paralegal Degrees
Comparison of Paralegal Programs
The table below will help you compare not-for-profit paralegal and legal studies programs in New York based on various factors. The table includes paralegal program-specific information such as the programs offered and whether there are any online options. It also includes general school information to help you compare the colleges and universities that host these programs, including overall acceptance rate, graduation rate for first-time bachelor’s degree seekers, median debt for graduates, and net tuition per year for full-time undergraduate study. We have also included information on approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). While ABA approval is not required in order to work as a paralegal, it is a mark of program quality that is preferred by many employers.
| School | ABA Approved? | Paralegal Degree(s) | Acceptance Rate6 | Grad Rate1 | Online Options? | Median Debt7 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Bronx Community College (Bronx) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AAS-Paralegal and Legal Studies | 100% | 21% | Yes | $5,162 | $4,441 |
| CUNY Hostos Community College (Bronx) | — | AAS-Public Interest Paralegal Studies | 100% | 23% | — | $4,900 | $5,628 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College (Long Island City) | Yes | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 28% | — | $4,014 | $7,340 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (Brooklyn) | Yes | AAS-Paralegal Studies; BS-Paralegal Studies | 88% | 18% | — | $6,500 | $4,652 |
| Daemen College (Amherst) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; BS-Paralegal Studies | 62% | 62% | — | $14,679 | $18,218 |
| Dutchess Community College (Poughkeepsie) | — | Certificate-Paralegal; AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 32% | — | $5,500 | $7,486 |
| Elmira College (Elmira) | — | BA-Legal Studies; BS-Legal Studies | 80% | 68% | — | $23,250 | $22,754 |
| Finger Lakes Community College (Canandaigua) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AAS-Paralegal and Legal Studies | 100% | 33% | Yes | $7,244 | $8,981 |
| Herkimer County Community College (Herkimer) | — | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Legal Studies | 100% | 30% | Yes | $7,150 | $6,966 |
| Hofstra University (Hempstead) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal | 68% | 65% | — | $17,152 | $32,975 |
| Ithaca College (Ithaca) | — | BA-Legal Studies; Minor-Legal Studies | 73% | 74% | — | $21,500 | $34,942 |
| Long Island University Brooklyn (Brooklyn) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies | 84% | 48% | — | $19,000 | $24,436 |
| Manhattanville College (Purchase) | — | BA-Legal Studies | 90% | 60% | — | $19,500 | $25,205 |
| Marist College (Poughkeepsie) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal | 49% | 84% | — | $22,968 | $38,715 |
| Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry) | Yes | BS-Legal Studies: Paralegal Studies | 82% | 44% | Yes | $16,672 | $15,283 |
| Molloy College (Rockville Centre) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; Minor-Paralegal Studies | 78% | 74% | — | $23,000 | $28,500 |
| Monroe Community College (Rochester) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 25% | — | $5,500 | $6,968 |
| Nassau Community College (Garden City) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 23% | — | $5,500 | $4,377 |
| Pace University (NYC) | — | Minor-Law | 79% | 57% | — | $19,400 | $32,492 |
| Rockland Community College (Suffern) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Legal Studies | 100% | 29% | — | $5,500 | $9,982 |
| St. John Fisher College (Rochester) | — | BA-Legal Studies; Minor-Legal Studies | 64% | 75% | — | $20,500 | $28,468 |
| St. John’s University (Queens) | Yes | AS-Legal Studies; BS-Legal Studies; BS/MA-Legal Studies and Government and Politics | 72% | 63% | — | $19,999 | $26,993 |
| Suffolk County Community College (Selden) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 24% | Yes | $4,376 | $5,152 |
| SUNY Broome Community College (Binghamton) | — | AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 27% | Yes | $5,750 | $6,225 |
| SUNY Canton (Canton) | — | BS-Legal Studies; Minor-Legal Studies | 85% | 47% | Yes | $13,000 | $13,285 |
| SUNY Erie Community College (Williamsville) | — | AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 25% | — | $5,000 | $4,733 |
| SUNY Genesee Community College (Batavia) | Yes | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 32% | Yes | $5,768 | $5,991 |
| SUNY Jefferson Community College (Watertown) | — | AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 31% | — | $5,644 | $10,540 |
| SUNY Schenectady County Community College (Schenectady) | Yes | AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 22% | — | $5,500 | $5,511 |
| SUNY Westchester Community College (Valhalla) | Yes | Certificate-Paralegal; AAS-Paralegal Studies | 100% | 17% | — | $5,500 | $8,135 |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College (Dryden) | — | Certificate-Paralegal Studies; AAS-Paralegal | 100% | 26% | Yes | $7,000 | $11,216 |
| Touro College (New York) | — | AS-Paralegal Studies | 69% | 61% | — | $12,500 | $24,916 |
| United States Military Academy (West Point) | — | BS-Law and Legal Studies | 12% | 85% | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| University at Buffalo (Buffalo) | — | BA-Legal Studies | 61% | 75% | — | $14,999 | $17,264 |
- — indicates none.
- N.Av. indicates no data available.
Top-Ranked Schools with Paralegal Programs
Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs
- SUNY College of Technology at Canton (#4)
- Mercy College (#27)
US News & World Report’s Best Law Schools 2022
- St. John’s University (#72 tie)
- University at Buffalo (#98 tie)
- Hofstra University (#119 tie)
- Pace University (#139 tie)
- Touro College (#147-193)
US News & World Report’s Best Legal Writing Programs 2022
- Hofstra University (#46 tie)
- St. John’s University (#46 tie)
- Touro College (#46 tie)
- University at Buffalo (#100 tie)
- Pace University (#144 tie)
Select Schools in New York with Paralegal Degrees
Traditional Programs
CUNY Bronx Community College
City University of New York’s (CUNY) Bronx Community College (BCC) offers an ABA-approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal and Legal Studies. This program focuses on business and law courses that offer a comprehensive background in legal fundamentals and key paralegal skills such as legal research, document preparation, client interviews, and computer skills. The mandatory 75- to 100-hour internship component allows students to gain valuable experience within a legal setting, network among potential employers, and familiarize themselves with the ethical and professional responsibilities of the profession. This program also allows students to apply earned credits toward a law-related bachelor’s degree. BCC strives to impart sound business ethics and a sense of professional responsibility to graduates of the AAS in Paralegal Studies in order to prepare them to enter the paralegal job market. To enroll in the program, students must have at least 18 credits of general education across a minimum of three disciplines. BCC also offers a Paralegal Studies Certificate for students seeking to supplement their previous college education.
CUNY New York City College of Technology
CUNY’s New York City College of Technology (City Tech) is a public institution that offers both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Paralegal Studies that are ABA-approved. Both programs are built upon a solid liberal arts foundation and offer a wide range of specialty courses for those interested in focusing their degree in a specific area of law. The program aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the American legal system, the fundamentals of legal analysis, and proficiency in legal technology. In addition to imparting general legal knowledge, the program offers courses in specialized skills such as Real Estate Law, Family Law, and Public Speaking. Both the BS and the AAS programs incorporate an internship requirement into the curriculum, giving students an opportunity to apply coursework to real-world situations and the potential to form valuable professional relationships. City Tech is home to an in-house law library and is within walking distance of state and federal courts and local law firms, providing students with nearby resources in the study of law.
Daemen College
Daemen College offers an ABA-approved Bachelor of Science (BS) in Paralegal Studies that prepares students to pursue careers as paralegals with an understanding of the scope and ethical bounds of the profession. Students of the 120-credit hour program will develop professional skills such as critical thinking, oral communication, and the use of technology, with a foundation based in the liberal arts. The curriculum combines general education classes with paralegal courses such as Law Office Computer Technology, Law for Society, and U.S. Judicial Process. In the final year of the program, students will take a course in legal research and then use that knowledge towards either a paralegal internship or a senior research project. Daemen’s Legal Studies program will expose students to professional environments through trips to local, state, and federal court buildings, and provide mentorship and career counseling from practicing attorneys. Daemen also offers double major opportunities for paralegal students, in Business or Global and Local Sustainability.
Social networking on LinkedIn provides an opportunity for legal recruiters, and HR managers in law firms and corporate law departments to search for worthy candidates by reviewing your online resume.” –Laura Kryta, President of the Western New York Paralegal Association and Paralegal at Phillips Lytle LLP
Hybrid and Online Programs
Mercy College
Students at Mercy College can earn an ABA-approved Bachelor of Science (BS) in Legal Studies with a concentration in Paralegal Studies. Many of the courses for this major can be taken online, but the remaining courses must be completed on the Dobbs Ferry campus. The four-year bachelor’s curriculum starts with 60 credits of general education courses. Legal Studies students must complete 36 credits of major-specific classes, such as Intro to Legal Studies and Constitutional Law and Policy. In addition to the core curriculum, students interested in the Paralegal concentration must take 24 elective credits in courses such as Litigation, Advance Seminar in Paralegal Studies, and Law Office Management. Coursework teaches the oral and written communication skills needed in the legal field as well as negotiation and mediation tactics. Students learn how to research and interpret the law with an emphasis on ethical practices. Graduates are prepared to work in entry-level positions or pursue further graduate study with eventual careers in law, business, or government.
Suffolk County Community College
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal Studies at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC), part of the State University of New York (SUNY), is a 61-credit degree program available at the Ammerman and Grant Campuses through either a traditional or hybrid format, as at least 75% of the required coursework is offered online. The ABA-approved curriculum is designed to give students a foundation in law as it is practiced in an office environment and the necessary training to prepare a variety of legal documentation and filings. Students will learn how to perform legal research, access court websites and online documents, and understand the ethical standards of the legal profession. Classes in the two-year program include Civil Litigation, Legal Writing, and Law of Property. While many classes are available online, students must take at least 10 credits of legal specialty courses in person to complete the program. Admission to the program requires an ACT or SAT score of at least 21 or 1080, respectively. College students seeking enrollment must have at least 12 credits and a GPA of at least 3.0. SCCC also offers a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
The State University of New York’s College of Technology at Canton (SUNY Canton) offers a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Legal Studies program that prepares students for careers as paralegals. The program can be completed on campus or entirely online. The interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes legal research and legal writing as well as the ties between law and business. Students are required to take legal courses such as Constitutional Law and Criminal Practice and are encouraged to take complementary courses in such areas as Accounting, Business, and Criminal Justice. Legal Studies students have the opportunity to take an optional internship that allows them to earn credits while gaining real-world experience. The instructors at SUNY Canton bring broad practice experience to the classroom, providing an additional experiential basis for learning. Students seeking to advance to a law degree can take advantage of SUNY Canton’s 3+3 option and complete both degrees in six years.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Paralegal411’s Top Online Paralegal Programs: https://www.paralegal411.org/degrees/bachelors/online/
3. US News & World Report Best Law Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Legal Writing Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/legal-writing-rankings
5. American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/
6. Niche: https://www.niche.com/
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/