Whether you call Boston home or want to move to Massachusetts just for school, you can find plenty of options in MA.
There are colleges and universities, as well as technical schools, offering paralegal studies training.
Get certified as a paralegal and earn good money when you find a job in MA as a paralegal or legal aide.
The process starts with finding the right school and training program for your budget and goals.
1 Bay Path University
Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies
At Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA, students can excel with a certificate in advanced paralegal studies.
From here, pursue an associate of science degree in paralegal studies.
This two-year degree program leads to certification and employment in the field.
You can also earn a bachelor of arts in paralegal studies from Bay Path University.
The training at this college includes plenty of offerings for paralegals.
Work toward a master of law degree and become a lawyer with these training programs.
The certificate program takes only one year, while the AS is a two-year degree, followed by a four-year bachelor’s degree.
The school also partners with Western New England University School of Law.
Be eligible to attend this law school for advanced training when you begin courses at Bay Path University.
Contact Information
- Address: 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA 01106
- Phone: 413-565-1331
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Middlesex Community College
Associate of Science in Paralegal and Legal Studies
Paralegal Studies Certificate – Transfer
Paralegal Studies Certificate – Career
Whether you have one year or two, training opportunities abound at Middlesex Community College.
This Massachusetts school in Bedford offers two choices for seeking training as a paralegal.
Choose from the paralegal studies certificate for professional students or a traditional two-year associate of science degree.
These training programs can lead to a bachelor of science in paralegal and legal studies from Middlesex Community College.
The paralegal studies certificate route has two additional options.
Streamline your studies and focus on being a paralegal as a career or for a transfer plan.
If you want to work as a paralegal in MA, choose the career program.
The pathway for transfer students belongs to those paralegals who hope to pursue additional training.
For example, if you hope to be a lawyer one day, start with the paralegal studies certificate – transfer.
You will have the credits and courses that will transfer to another degree this way.
Contact Information
- Address: 591 Springs Rd., Bedford, MA 01730
- Phone: 978-656-3370
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Suffolk University
Paralegal Studies Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies
At Suffolk University in Boston, MA, students have a few options to be trained in paralegal studies.
Work toward a paralegal studies certificate that takes one year or less.
You can also get a two-year degree with an associate of science degree in paralegal studies.
A two-year AS degree gives you the tools you need for a bachelor’s degree.
You are also fully prepared to seek certification and licensing as a paralegal.
Please note this course is not a professional certification course.
While you train and are educated in the rigors of working as a paralegal, this course will not lead to certification.
It is only an educational program leading to a certificate or a degree.
If you want to sit for a board exam and get certified as a paralegal, that will be a different program entirely.
You can do that independently when you have graduated from Suffolk University.
Contact Information
- Address: Suffolk University 8 Ashburton Pl., Boston, MA 02108
- Phone: 617-573-8488
- Website: Visit School Website
4 University of Massachusetts
General Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies
At the University of Massachusetts, two campus locations offer training for paralegals.
Choose from the University of Massachusetts Amherst or UMass Amherst and UMass Lowell.
UMass Amherst is located in Amherst, MA, while the UMass Lowell campus is in Lowell, MA.
If you want to earn a certificate as a paralegal, seek out the six-course program at UMass in Lowell.
Here, you gain the perspective to work as a paralegal in a professional capacity.
The BS degree in Legal Studies from UMass Amherst is a four-year program.
Maintain the training and credentials to continue your training with a master’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies.
Contact Information
- Address: 37 Mather Dr., Amherst, MA 01003
- Phone: 413-545-0111
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Bunker Hill Community College
Paralegal Studies Certificate
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
The paralegal studies certificate program at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA is comprehensive.
Choose between the day courses offered remotely and online or the evening classes.
The night courses are perfect for professionals who are busy working full-time while in school.
Evening courses are offered at the Charlestown campus and are in person traditionally.
The paralegal studies courses are provided to students during each academic year’s spring and fall semesters.
Learn legal writing, litigation, legal ethics, and family law in this program.
If you want to earn a two-year degree, the associate of science in paralegal studies is the correct pathway.
At Bunker Hill Community College, students can take four legal studies and law training semesters.
Pick up classes on legal topics while also getting a general education in math, science, and English.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 Rutherford Ave., Boston, MA 02129
- Phone: 617-228-3398
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Cape Cod Community College
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
If you have a certificate in paralegal studies from Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, MA, you are ready to work in the courts and law offices.
If you have a degree that is an associate of arts degree in general studies, this certificate is ideal.
You can supplement a general education degree with a specialized certificate for career advancement.
Better meet your job goals with a certificate in paralegal studies from CCCC.
This paralegal certificate does take longer than most professional certificates in this area.
However, classes only meet one time per week during the sessions, and some courses are offered online.
Cape Cod Community College also has an entirely online professional course for paralegals.
If you only want to attend college online and your goal is to get certified, this is the route for you.
For the total price of $1,699, you can earn a certificate in paralegal studies online.
The course provides a pathway to certification and passing a board exam.
This course only takes four to six months to complete.
You only need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to be eligible.
Contact Information
- Address: 2240 Iyannough Rd., West Barnstable, MA 02668
- Phone: 508-362-2131
- Website: Visit School Website
7 College of Our Lady of the Elms
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
At the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA, students can access a 100 percent online course for paralegal studies.
This remote course is prepared by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
Upon completing this course, you can sit and pass the NALA board exam for paralegal studies.
This certification exam leads to licensing and employment as a paralegal.
There are no requirements for students applying to this course.
Enroll in the course anytime and begin studying on your own time.
Contact Information
- Address: 291 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013
- Phone: 413-594-2761
- Website: Visit School Website
8 MassBay
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
At MassBay, pick two different routes to becoming a paralegal.
Decide to get a certificate as a professional ready for the certification exams.
Take a little bit longer, earn a two-year degree, and graduate with an associate of science in law and justice studies.
At MassBay in Framingham, MA, students can prepare for more criminal justice or law education.
Earn your AS in paralegal studies and get your master of law to become a lawyer or justice of the peace.
You can also train to be a legal assistant or legal aide with this certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 19 Flagg Dr., Framingham, MA 01702
- Phone: 781-239-2500
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Boston University
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Attend Boston University in Boston, MA to earn your certificate in paralegal studies.
This online course is for professionals interested in being a paralegal or legal aide.
Start your career today with this fully remote course that includes all online classes.
In addition, mentoring and advising are also conducted online.
Choose when to begin school and when to study for your certificate as a paralegal in this flexible program.
The online certificate in paralegal studies from Boston University takes 14 weeks in total.
Each session is divided into two weeks of training for seven topics.
The total price for the BU certificate in paralegal studies is $3,995 for 14 weeks of coursework.
Contact Information
- Address: 25 Buick St., Boston, MA 02215
- Phone: 617-353-2300
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Quincy College
Certificate in Paralegal Studies
If you do not have a degree, you may be eligible for the certificate in paralegal studies from Quincy College.
The school has a main campus in Quincy Center, MA.
The course for paralegals offered by Quincy College is a professional certificate program.
The program provides graduates with the training they need to pass a board exam.
The total time frame for this program is nine months.
In terms of financial cost, the tuition and fees are $7,820, coupled with $2,000 in books and supplies.
Look at paying $9,820 for your total education to earn a certificate in paralegal studies from Quincy College.
Contact Information
- Address: 1250 Hancock St., Quincy Center, MA 02169
- Phone: 617-984-1650
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
As a paralegal in Massachusetts, expect to earn approximately $57,676 a year.
This includes a salary and benefits typical for paralegals in this New England state.
How does this compare to paralegals in the rest of the nation?
A typical paralegal in the US earns anywhere from $50,330 to $119,420 a year.
As you can see, there is much room for growth in the pay scales of paralegals in MA.
Boost your income with specializations and get certified.
If you are a paralegal in Arizona, for comparison, the annual average salary is $74,900.
This is higher than what you can make in Massachusetts.
However, in Delaware, the average annual income for paralegals is only $48,841.
Living in the Northeast may reduce the amount you can make as a paralegal due to the oversaturation of the job market.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$64K |
|
$72K |
|
$82K |
Average Salary in Massachusetts
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $75,349 |
| Worcester | $81,441 |
| Springfield | $69,868 |
| Lowell | $72,955 |
| Cambridge | $75,349 |
| Brockton | $73,028 |
| New Bedford | $71,156 |
| Chicopee | $69,868 |
| Lynn | $75,349 |
| Quincy | $75,349 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 160 | $66,520 | $31.98 | $98,200 | $47,610 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 6,000 | $77,050 | $37.05 | $106,060 | $49,990 |
| Leominster-Gardner, MA | 40 | $62,120 | $29.87 | $81,410 | $47,160 |
| New Bedford, MA | 80 | $63,830 | $30.69 | $99,590 | $46,960 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 70 | $62,500 | $30.05 | $96,480 | $44,370 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 450 | $63,260 | $30.41 | $83,720 | $45,240 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 490 | $66,070 | $31.77 | $99,440 | $46,910 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Paralegal Programs by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Looking to transition into the legal field and the paralegal program at the University of Massachusetts seems like the perfect fit. Can anyone share their thoughts on the curriculum and faculty?
As a working professional, the flexibility of the online paralegal courses at Boston Uni was a great choice for me. Good read!
Thanks for putting this together! I’ve been looking for the best paralegal programs in Massachusetts, and your post helped me narrow down my options.
I didn’t know there were so many great paralegal programs in Massachusetts. This guide gives me confidence in choosing the right school for my future career.