Center for Advanced Legal Studies Reviews

I am getting ready to graduate in May with honors from the AAS Paralegal Program at CALS and have had such a positive experience. I am earning my degree online and as a busy working mom and grandma, I appreciate the accessibility and flexibility. The teachers do an amazing and thorough job, while the curriculum provides a solid educational foundation in Paralegal Studies. Don't get me wrong, it's work, but the harder you work, the brighter your future. Everyone I have dealt with at CALS has been so pleasant and supportive. I want to say a big thank you to Sarah Casey, the school's Office Manager. She keeps us all organized and gets us the materials we need. Plus she's really, really nice. Eric Happe, the Director of Distance Education does a great job with keeping the classes rolling and I really appreciate his friendliness and accessibility. PRO TIP: As you're getting close to completing your certificate or degree, make sure you visit with Tami Riggs in Career Services. She polished up my resume, gave me advice on how to answer tough questions in an interview, encouraged me, and was sincerely devoted to finding just the right job for me. I haven't even graduated yet but she sent me on an interview at a fantastic firm and I got the job! Thank you Tami. You are wonderful. Thank you CALS for helping me to realize my dreams and surpass my goals. This is an excellent school to gain the knowledge you need to become a paralegal. I thoroughly and wholeheartedly recommend it!

The Center for Advanced Legal Studies is a great program. They completely prepared me for my first paralegal position at the oldest law firm in the state, at a competitive salary. I am so pleased with the education I received while earning my paralegal certificate, I enrolled in the AAS program in Paralegal Studies. They are also very proactive in helping graduates find interviews with Houston's top firms. I found the employer and secured interviews without their assistance, but the school's outreach coordinator helped me revamp my resume and sent a stellar letter of recommendation on my behalf. I'm certain this helped set me above other candidates. I will be forever thankful!

I graduated their Paralegal Certificate program with a 4.0 GPA and I was able to obtain employment 2 1/2 months later in a law firm that actually pays me my worth with full time hours regardless of my availability. This is a great program and you can gain so much knowledge if you put the work in of course. When I had my interview for my job I felt confident and prepared using my project notebook that I created during one of my course not only did I show my skills but my employer was highly impressed as well. My background was only in restaurants and retail before I got my job now but I wanted to write this review to show that anyone within any kind of background you can change your life just by going to this school. Thank you CALS, I look forward to continuing my education with you to obtain my degree!

Center for Advanced Legal studies has helped me grow and dive deep into my career. I appreciate Mr. Happy and Tami for helping me to not gain legal knowledge, they have also helped me land an awesome job opportunity. If you are considering going here. Take the chance.

Center for Advanced Legal Studies was unlike any other education I have had before. The classes were small (so I was able to get one on one attention if needed), I got really close with the other students, and the curriculum was pertinent to learn how to become a paralegal. I learned a lot about the Texas Court system, Texas laws, and how to search up cases all over the United States. Even though that is just a glimpse, this was eight months well spent.

I have enjoyed the 8 month Paralegal Certificate program at Center for Advanced Legal Studies. During this time I have learned the meaning of What a Paralegal responsibilities are and exactly what a paralegal does in great detail. The time was well spent, the classes are an appropriate length for the working class.

As of this day, I currently have 2 career opportunities in law firms, that I will be starting this week, and that is due to the recruitment department at the Center for Advanced Legal Studies.

CALS was the jumpstart I needed not only in my career path but also in a time of personal growth. After a big career change, and as a newly single parent, I needed an opportunity that was supportive as well as intentional and guided. CALS provided me exactly that.

From the moment I expressed interest, James Scheffer was there to answer any questions, as well as facilitate all of my next steps along the way. Mr. Scheffer was always there in person, via email, or by phone. The staff at CALS is always available.

I enrolled in the Paralegal Certification program at CALS before we knew Covid-19 would become monumental. CALS handled this in stride. Administration immediately reverted to online courses. Eric Happe was instrumental in this entire process. Mr. Happe guided me through online courses expediently and with kindness and immediacy.

Our instructors also transitioned very well. Mr. Swanson and Mrs. Ziemnicki are always available. This is consistent throughout the staff at CALS. Mr. Swanson showed up every day with the help of Maria Filanova. Ms. Filanova was always there regardless of the situation at hand. Mr. Swanson was tough but fair. His lectures and stories were a respite from his challenging exams.

Mrs. Ziemnicki always has a story to share, as well. She is tough, she is challenging, and she will also be available anytime you need her. She is remarkable, to say the least. What I appreciate most about Mrs. Ziemnicki is her support for the students, her availability, and her care.

Finally, with CALS, you are provided the opportunity for career outreach. Tami Riggs is amazing in this position. She is in the corner of each graduate and will not give up until she finds the perfect position for them. I cannot speak highly enough of her tenacity and availability. Ms. Riggs found the perfect position for me and my needs.

This is what you get at CALS.

Being enrolled here has really helped my career path. The job placement staff has been so helpful. Eric Happe, Tami Riggs and Sarah Casey are my top Go-To's. Always available with quick responses and have been understanding through all of the obstacles I faced but they worked with me to help me stay in school and made me able to continue and grow and succeed and for that, I am forever grateful.

I had a good experience at CALS. The staff is kind and always helped me with any issues that I had, very supportive. You will find amazing experienced teachers in the legal field that will provide you with the knowledge needed to start a new career as a paralegal. Besides that, the career assistance is excellent and helped me to find a job. Thank you, Team CALS!

I wish that I could say that this was money well spent, but here I am three years after obtaining my Paralegal certificate from this institution, and am in no better position than where I was before beginning the program. What bothers is me is what appeared to be feigned concern that certain staff had for students, post-graduation. If I could do it all over again, I would keep my legal aspirations to myself, so I wouldn't be $10,000 in debt.