Paralegal Studies

You will learn how to:

• Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and PDF’s

Students in the Litigation & Corporate Track will be able to:

• Assist attorneys in preparing and presenting lawsuits
• Draft court pleadings and maintain case files and databases
• Collect and organize information through investigation and the discovery process
• Help prepare the case for trial and assist attorneys at trial by coordinating the case material
• Assist attorneys who work for corporate clients document the organization and operation of business entities
• Retrieve information to conduct due diligence procedures for commercial and real estate transactions
• Draft contract provisions and coordinate the administrative process for contracts
• Help clients in regulated industries demonstrate compliance with government regulations

Not surprisingly, many SCPS Paralegal Studies alumni work in law firms, including some of the nation’s most reputable firms. Others, however, pursue opportunities with federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor, or with state agencies. Still others work in corporate legal departments, where annual earnings can be particularly robust.

Eager to increase the efficiency of legal services and reduce their costs, law firms are expected to continue hiring more paralegals and legal assistants. Similarly, many corporations are also looking to save costs by increasing their in-house legal departments, a move which will drive demand for paralegals in a variety of work settings.

$56,230

Median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants (Source: BLS)

$69,680

Median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants working in the federal government (Source: BLS)

$64,740

Median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants working in finance and insurance (Source: BLS)

14%

Projected growth in employment for paralegals and legal assistants over the next decade (Source: BLS)

45,800

Projected number of annual job openings for paralegals and legal assistants over the next decade (Source: BLS)

SPCS students enrolled in the Paralegal Studies degree program receive instruction, guidance, and support from dedicated faculty members, including full-time faculty members from Loyola University Chicago’s well-regarded Institute for Paralegal Studies. Our faculty, which includes lawyers and seasoned paralegals, teach classes balancing legal theory with practical paralegal skill. As a result, you will receive the best preparation for your paralegal career and gain knowledge and skills to fuel your advancement in the field. View Our Directory

Prospective students can take advantage of SCPS’s rolling application process and apply immediately. Alongside an application, SCPS requires official transcripts from all prior institutions you attended as well as an AAS in Paralegal Studies or a minimum of 15 credit hours in paralegal coursework.

Accepted students can begin pursuing their Paralegal Studies degree during any of the 5 sessions throughout the academic year. To complete the degree program, students must complete 120 credit hours, which includes 48 credit hours in the Paralegal major.

Major courses are offered in 8-week sessions in an online format with evening and Saturday morning meeting times. Other courses necessary to complete the degree are also fully online, which may include both synchronous and asynchronous components with either evening or Saturday morning meetings.