Trade Schools
If you want to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession can be the right fit for you.
Paralegals and legal assistants are usually responsible for completing tasks such as:
- Maintaining and organizing files
- Conducting legal research
- Drafting documents
- Investigating and gathering facts of a case
- Getting affidavits and other formal statements that can be used as evidence in court
- Helping lawyers during trials
- And more
As more law firms are looking to minimize costs for their clients, many tasks that were previously completed by entry-level lawyers are now assigned to paralegals.
This leads to an increased demand for skilled workers in this profession.
Before being ready for employment as a paralegal you will need an associate’s degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree and a certificate in paralegal studies.
On this page, we will compile information about the best paralegal schools in Connecticut and the programs offered.
1Manchester Community College
About the School
Manchester Community College is one of the largest of the 12 Connecticut community colleges.
The colleges are part of the state system of community-technical colleges.
Manchester Community College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
Courses Offered
Manchester Community College provides a Paralegal program that is approved by the American Bar Association.
The program is primarily available during the evenings.
Many students work full-time and attend classes at night.
The Paralegal curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Law
- Real Estate Practice
- Legal Environment of Business
- American Government
- Legal Research and Writing
- Litigation
- Probate Practice
- And more
Students need between 61-62 credits for an Associate of Science degree.
A certificate is also available and requires 25 credits.
An active student club that offers networking opportunities and guest speakers for members is available at the school.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 1046, Manchester, CT 06045-1046
- Phone: 860-512-3000
- Website: https://www.manchestercc.edu
2Naugatuck Valley Community College
About the School
Naugatuck Valley Community College offers day, evening, weekend, and online classes in more than 100 degrees, certificate, and workforce training programs.
The college provides an outstanding faculty and state-of-the-art facilities.
The following areas of study are available:
- Associate degrees that enable students to transfer to four-year universities
- Associate degrees and certificates designed to jump-start students’ careers
- Work-force education
Naugatuck Valley Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
A Legal Assistant/Paralegal program is available at the college and leads to a certificate or associate degree.
The degree requirements include:
- Business Law
- Introduction to Paralegalism
- Real Estate Practice
- Legal Research and Writing
- Litigation
- Probate Practice and Estate Administration
- And more
Students need between 61-62 credits for an associate’s degree.
The Certificate requires 24 credit hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708
- Phone: 203.575.8000
- Website: https://nv.edu
3Norwalk Community College
About the School
Norwalk Community College offers nearly a thousand credit and non-credit courses, that can be taken by students in pursuit of a degree or certificate, or for personal or professional enrichment.
The college is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education- one of seven regional higher education accrediting bodies in the United States.
Courses Offered
A Legal Assistant Certificate program is available at Norwalk Community College.
This program is designed to prepare students for careers as legal assistants in law offices, corporations, and public agencies.
Degree and certificate programs are available to provide students with a general background in the major areas of law practiced in law offices.
Students learn how to prepare the necessary documents involved, such as probate forms, title reviews, closing documents, pleadings and discovery proceedings, legal memoranda, and complete other related tasks.
The program requirements include:
- Business Law
- Introduction to Paralegalism
- Legal Research and Writing
- Real Estate Practice
- Litigation
- Business Organization
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 188 Richards Ave. Norwalk, CT 06854
- Phone: 203.857.7000
- Website: https://norwalk.edu
4Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University provides constant academic innovation that combines immersive in-class instruction with real-world, hands-on experience.
Courses Offered
The university has a School of Law that prepares students to be skilled, unbiased, and ethical practitioners of the law.
Among many other programs, the school provides a Minor/Certificate program in Legal Studies.
This program teaches students how to analyze legal problems, conduct research, and write properly formatted legal memos and other correspondence.
Students need a total of 21 credits for completion of this minor/certificate.
At least nine credits of Legal Specialty courses, including the Internship experience, must be taken at Quinnipiac University.
All nine Legal Specialty courses may be transferred.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to the American Legal System
- Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing
- Civil Procedures
- Legal Internship Seminar
Electives are also available, including:
- Family Law
- Wills, Probate, and Estate Administration
- Employment Law
- Intellectual Property
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
- Phone: 203-582-8200
- Website: https://www.qu.edu
5Charter Oak State College
About the School
Charter Oak State College provides career-focused online degrees and certificates that prepare students for careers in a wide range of academic fields.
Financial Aid and scholarships are available to help keep the cost of college affordable.
Tuition is $319 per credit for Connecticut residents.
Charter Oak State College is accredited by the Connecticut Board of Governors for Educators and the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies concentration available at Charter Oak State College was developed with the Connecticut Bar Association and input from practitioners, lawyers, and educators.
The program is approved by the CBA for continuing legal education credits.
The concentration focuses on different kinds of law, legal ethics, effective verbal, and written legal communication, how to use technology, the state’s court structure, and more.
The following courses are available at the school:
- Business Law
- Introduction to Management
- Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibilities
- Legal Research & Writing
- Technology in Law
- Civil Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 55 Paul Manafort Dr, New Britain, CT 06053
- Phone: (860) 515-3800
- Website: https://www.charteroak.edu
6Sacred Heart University
About the School
Sacred Heart University offers a variety of programs and leading facilities.
The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The university provides Paralegal Certificate Courses offered by Sacred Heart University in conjunction with The Center for Legal Studies.
The following courses are available at the university:
- Paralegal Certificate Course
- Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course
- Legal Secretary Certificate Course
- Legal Investigation Certificate Course
- Personal Injury Law for Paralegals Certificate Course
- And more
The Paralegal Certificate course teaches students how to draft documents, complete legal research, witness and client interviewing, jury selection tactics, and more.
The course includes lectures on how to work as a full-time and part-time paralegal, or how to open a freelance business.
The curriculum is designed for beginners as well as advanced legal workers.
Course topics include how to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation.
Contact Information
- Address: 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825
- Phone: 203-371-7999
- Website: https://www.sacredheart.edu
7University of Hartford
About the School
The University of Hartford has seven schools and colleges and provides more than 100 academic programs.
The students to faculty ratio is 8:1.
The University of Hartford has been continuously accredited since 1961 by the New England of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal Studies Certificate program available at the University of Hartford is designed for students who have at least 60 undergraduate credits- 30 credits of which must be in liberal arts.
The Paralegal Certificate program includes 19 credits:
- 10 credits are required courses
- 9 credits in areas such as litigation, business law, estate administration, or healthcare law
The following required courses are included in the program:
- Introduction to the Legal System
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals
- Legal Research and Writing
- Technology in Law
Electives are available in Civil Litigation, Business/Corporate/Real Estate, Estate Administration/Probate, and Healthcare/Regulatory Law.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117-1599
- Phone: 860.768.4100
- Website: https://www.hartford.edu
8University of New Haven
About the School
The University of New Haven provides more than 100 academic programs.
The university provides a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, among many other career pathways.
The University of New Haven is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Courses Offered
The Legal Studies program provided by the University of New Haven covers topics such as:
- Legal Research and Writing
- Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility
- Legal Investigation
- Administrative Law and Regulation
- And more
A wide variety of in-depth courses are available at the university:
- Double Major- Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
- Legal Studies, B.S.- Dispute Resolution Concentration
- Legal Studies, B.S.- Paralegal Studies Concentration
- Legal Studies, B.S.- Public Affairs Concentration
- Legal Studies, A.S.
- Legal Studies Minor
- Paralegal Studies Certificate
The Paralegal Studies Certificate program includes the following required courses:
- Introduction to Legal Concepts
- Civil Procedure
- Legal Research and Writing
Students also have to choose two more courses approved by the program adviser.
Contact Information
- Address: 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516
- Phone: (203) 932-7000 | (800) 342-5864
- Website: https://www.newhaven.edu
9Liberty University
A variety of paralegal programs are also available online at schools located in other states.
One such program is provided by Liberty University
About the School
Liberty University is an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
A variety of programs are available at the associate, bachelor’s master’s, and doctoral levels.
The programs are offered fully online.
The courses are taught from a Christian perspective.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies program available at Liberty University provides students with the experience and practical skills that make students marketable while they pursue a Bachelor’s degree.
The program prepares students with a foundational knowledge of criminal law and procedures, writing depositions, and real estate transactions, and in-demand skills such as performing title searches.
The program includes 60 credit hours and can be completed in one and a half years on average.
Contact Information
- Address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515
- Phone: (888) 376-3157
- Website: https://www.liberty.edu
10Rasmussen University
About the School
Rasmussen University provides more than 50 programs and multiple start dates a year.
The university provides training programs for more than 120 years.
Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Classes are available at 22 locations and online.
Courses Offered
The following justice studies programs are available at the university:
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Paralegal
The Paralegal program prepares students for careers as an integral part of the legal system.
The online paralegal program teaches students about the legal system and the importance of legal ethics.
Students learn from practicing judges, attorneys, and paralegals.
The program leads to a Paralegal Associate’s degree in as few as 18 months.
Those who already have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree can graduate with a Paralegal Certificate online in as few as eight months.
The paralegal curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Law and the Legal System
- Introduction to Legal Research
- Paralegal Capstone
- Legal Ethics
- Law Office Management
- Family Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 385 Douglas Ave Suite #1000, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
- Phone: 407-635-8200
- Website: https://info.rasmussen.edu
Regional Salary in Connecticut
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 1,380 | $73,280 | $35.23 | $104,890 | $49,000 |
| Danbury, CT | 180 | $60,440 | $29.06 | $86,190 | $45,820 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,900 | $67,810 | $32.6 | $88,070 | $44,830 |
| New Haven, CT | 730 | $65,190 | $31.34 | $82,140 | $46,990 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 260 | $57,090 | $27.45 | $78,940 | $38,330 |
| Waterbury, CT | 220 | $57,180 | $27.49 | $76,920 | $38,020 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Connecticut provides plenty of training options for those who want to start a career in the paralegal profession.
Now that you have read our selection of the top training programs available in your region, it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your needs.
