Legal Administrative Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for professionals seeking precision and efficiency in legal environments, this program equips individuals with the expertise to manage complex administrative operations within law firms, judicial offices, and legal departments. Graduates are prepared to support attorneys and legal teams with high-level organizational, technical, and procedural competencies essential for modern legal practice.
- Office Management: Develops skills in coordinating daily operations, optimizing workflow, and ensuring seamless communication across legal teams and departments.
- Secretarial Science: Focuses on advanced administrative techniques, including time management, multitasking, and effective documentation practices tailored to fast-paced legal settings.
- Principles of U.S. or Canadian Law: Provides foundational knowledge of legal systems, court structures, and jurisdictional frameworks to support accurate and informed administrative work.
- Legal Terminology and Documentation: Builds proficiency in interpreting and applying specialized legal language and preparing, organizing, and maintaining formal legal records.
- Legal Research: Teaches systematic methods for locating, evaluating, and summarizing case law, statutes, and regulatory materials to support legal decision-making.
- Legal Software Applications: Offers hands-on training in industry-standard tools for case management, document automation, docketing, and e-filing systems.
- Law Office Procedures: Covers standardized protocols for handling client intake, scheduling, case filing, and compliance with procedural timelines and court requirements.
- Record-Keeping and Case Management: Emphasizes accuracy, confidentiality, and organization in maintaining digital and physical case files, ensuring audit readiness and data integrity.
- Billing and Financial Administration: Introduces practices for time tracking, invoice generation, fee scheduling, and managing trust accounts in accordance with legal ethics and financial regulations.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Instills a commitment to confidentiality, impartiality, and integrity in all administrative functions within the legal profession.
Legal Administrative Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Legal Administrative Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Legal Administrative Assistant degrees, including Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 154,540 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 43-6012 | $54,140 | $35,530 - $87,660 | 154,540 | $26.03 |
Legal Administrative Assistant Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $38,330 in Kentucky to $101,170 in District of Columbia—a 164% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New York, and Delaware. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 154,540 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Legal Administrative Assistant by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 47 institutions offering Legal Administrative Assistant programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Legal Administrative Assistant is found at Bryan University (80 graduates), Blinn College District (39 graduates), Northwest Career College (NCC) (34 graduates), Oxnard College (30 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (21 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 403 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
80 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| Blinn College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Brenham, Texas | Public | blinn.edu |
| Northwest Career College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | northwestcareercollege.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Other Award
|
30 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
21 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| MTI College (MTI) |
Other Award
|
16 | Sacramento, California | Private | campus.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Other Award
|
16 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Central Texas College (CTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Killeen, Texas | Public | ctcd.edu |
| Butte College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| Stark State College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Sheridan Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Hollywood, Florida | Public | sheridantechnicalcollege.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Athens, Texas | Public | tvcc.edu |
| Atlantic Technical College (ATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Coconut Creek, Florida | Public | atlantictechnicalcollege.edu |
| Anoka Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Anoka, Minnesota | Public | anokatech.edu |
| Texas Southmost College (TSC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Brownsville, Texas | Public | tsc.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| West Los Angeles College (WLAC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Culver City, California | Public | wlac.edu |
| Renton Technical College (RTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Renton, Washington | Public | rtc.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Naples, Florida | Public | lwtc.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | kvcc.edu |
| Ridgewater College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Willmar, Minnesota | Public | ridgewater.edu |
| Peninsula College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Port Angeles, Washington | Public | pencol.edu |
| Yakima Valley College (YVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Yakima, Washington | Public | yvcc.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Other Award
|
2 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Metro Technology Centers (Metro Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | metrotech.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
1 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Riverside City College (RCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Riverside, California | Public | rcc.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Associate's
|
1 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| Kaskaskia College (KC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Centralia, Illinois | Public | kaskaskia.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Alexandria, Minnesota | Public | alextech.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| ETI Technical College (ETI) |
Associate's
|
1 | Niles, Ohio | Private | eticollege.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| Lane Community College |
Other Award
|
1 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | lanecc.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
|
1 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Legal Administrative Assistant programs
How much can I earn with a Legal Administrative Assistant degree?
Salaries for Legal Administrative Assistant graduates vary by role and location. Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn a median of $54,140 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $101,170 compared to $38,330 in Kentucky. Approximately 154,540 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Legal Administrative Assistant programs?
Currently 47 accredited institutions offer Legal Administrative Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Bryan University (80 graduates), Blinn College District (39 graduates), and Northwest Career College (NCC) (34 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Legal Administrative Assistant growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,305 in 2010 to 403 in 2023-24. This represents a 69% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Legal Administrative Assistant degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. Related occupations employ approximately 154,540 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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