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Legal Support Services at William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, IL · Public · Certificate

serving 8,815 students in Palatine, IL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,980 at William Rainey Harper College come in 19% above the national median of $36,991 for Legal Support Services programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 128.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Legal Support Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Legal Support Services's career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

At #6 of 127 nationally, this is a top-5% Legal Support Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Legal Support Services, including Legal Secretary (median $54,140/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
65
Score
68
High End
Earnings $43,980/yr (19% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$504K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
131.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,822
Out-of-state: $11,802

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Legal Support Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Legal support workers, all other $68,760 -1.2% 100%
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310 -0.3% 4%
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010 +0.2% 48%
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760
-1.2% growth 100% AI-proof
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
$67,310
-0.3% growth 4% AI-proof
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010
+0.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Legal Support Services Careers

Your work will be at the heart of the legal process. As a paralegal, you’ll spend your days in a law office, drafting motions, organizing evidence for trial, and using research databases to find case-critical information. You might also work as a legal assistant, managing an attorney's busy calendar, electronically filing documents with the court, and serving as the primary point of contact for clients during stressful times.

Read the full Legal Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services Overview

View all 127 schools offering Legal Support Services →

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Tacoma Community College ($50,681) Inver Hills Community College ($49,694) Des Moines Area Community College ($49,137) North Hennepin Community College ($48,960) Loyola University Chicago ($48,819) North Hennepin Community College ($48,599) MTI College ($47,535) Palm Beach State College ($46,622)

Other Majors at William Rainey Harper College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,929) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($65,443) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($64,113) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,982) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($56,767) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($38,474) Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants ($36,528) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($36,111)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Legal Support Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 65/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Legal Support Services at William Rainey Harper College?
A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Legal Support Services field.
How vulnerable is Legal Support Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Legal Support Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does William Rainey Harper College rank so high for Legal Support Services?
The #6 ranking out of 127 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Legal Support Services graduates?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Legal Support Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Legal Support Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Legal Support Services have roughly 77,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →