Do you have a passion for the law but don’t want to become a lawyer or don’t want to spend years in school?
If so, there are other jobs in law, and a career as a paralegal could be right for you.
As a paralegal, you will be responsible for performing any task the lawyers assign to you, such as:
- Gather facts for a case, and some investigation is involved
- Researching relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles essential to a case.
- Gather evidence and arrange it and arrange it so it’s easy for the lawyer to review it while preparing for a case
- Keep files organized on paper or electronically
- Draft correspondence and contracts
- Summarize or write reports to help lawyers get ready for a trial
- File briefs, exhibits, and legal documents
- Call clients, lawyers, or witnesses to schedule meetings, depositions, and interviews
- Assist the lawyer with anything they need.
If this sounds like a job you’ll love, you must complete a paralegal program, and Kansas has excellent programs.
1 Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson Community College is a public community college attended by nearly 5,000 students every semester.
There are over 74 areas of study, and 55 percent of graduates are in career and technical programs.
The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The college offers a 60-credit hour paralegal program, and upon completion of the course, you’ll earn your Associate of Applied Science degree.
The required courses include:
- Small Business Accounting
- Business Law I
- Word Processing: Microsoft Word for Windows
- Microcomputer Applications
- Law and the Legal Assistant
- Litigation
- Family Law
- Wills, Estates, and Trusts
- Legal Ethics
- Introduction to Legal Research and Writing
- Personal Injury and Civil Wrongs
- Real Estate Law
- Criminal Law
You also must complete six Paralegal Option credits, and there are 12 options to choose from, and they each cover different types of law.
Finally, you must complete 15 General Education credits, and you can select from Science, Math, English, Literature, History courses, and more.
When you complete the program, you’ll have the knowledge to land a paralegal job and succeed.
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 N Plum Street Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
- Phone: (620) 665 3500
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Johnson Community College
Johnson Community College is located in Overland Park, Kansas, and is one of the top community colleges in Kansas.
It offers a range of undergraduate courses, allowing you to earn an associate’s degree or use your credits to move forward with a bachelor’s degree.
If you’re interested in law, the college has two excellent paralegal programs, and both are approved by the American Bar Association.
You can take the Paralegal Certificate course if you already hold an Associate of Science, Bachelor’s, or a graduate degree.
If you don’t currently hold a degree, you can take the Associate of Arts with Emphasis in Paralegal course.
This is a 63-hour program, and the course is broken up into four semesters, and you are required to take complete paralegal electives.
You must complete the program prerequisites, including:
- Composition I
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Introduction to Law
You must complete the courses before admission and earn a C or higher to earn the credits.
The semester courses include:
- First Semester
-
- Interpersonal Co0mmunication
- Public Speaking
- Intercultural Communications
- Personal Communication
- Composition II
- Humanities Elective
- Mathematics Elective
- Second Semester
-
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Technology
- Legal Research
- Social Science or Economics Elective
- Third Semester
-
- Advanced Legal Technology
- Legal Analysis and Writing
- Science course with lab
- Science or Mathematics Elective
- Fourth Semester
-
- Legal Ethics, Interviewing, and Investigation
- Humanities Elective
- Social Science or Economics Elective
You must complete three Paralegal Elective credits during the third semester and six during the fourth, and the options include:
- Tort Law
- Contract Law
- Criminal Litigation
- Real Estate Law
- Family Law
- Forensic Science and the Law
- Immigration Law
- Elder Law and Estate Planning
- Intellectual Property Law
- Employment Law
- Bankruptcy Law
- Paralegal Internship I
- Paralegal Internship II
- Paralegal Internship III
- Special Topics
The curriculum is challenging, and you must possess excellent communication skills, a high level of motivation, and analytical skills to succeed in the program.
When you complete the program and earn your Associate of Arts with Emphasis in Paralegal, you’ll be ready to work in a courthouse or a law firm.
If you enroll at Johnson Community College to earn your Paralegal Certificate, the curriculum is shorter, and you won’t have to take as many courses.
This is a 33-credit hour program, broken up into two semesters.
The prerequisites include Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Introduction to Law, and you must pass each class with a C or higher.
- First Semester
-
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Technology
- Legal Research
- Second Semester
-
- Advanced Legal Technology
- Legal Analysis and Writing
- Legal Ethics, Interviewing, and Investigation
You must also complete three Paralegal Elective credits during the first semester and six during the second, and the choices are the same as the Associate of Arts with an Emphasis on Paralegal.
One great thing about Johnson Community College is that the school offers flexibility.
In-person classes are held late in the afternoon and early evening, making it easy to attend classes if you have a full-time job.
You can also take courses online, allowing you to plan your studies around your busy schedule.
All of the instructors have juris doctor degrees, and the adjunct instructors are practicing lawyers or paralegals.
Also, you’ll have access to the Career Development Center, where you can help create your resume and prepare for interviews.
You will also be notified when employers look for paralegals, helping you find a job faster.
Contact Information
- Address: 12345 College Blvd Overland Park, Kansas 66210
- Phone: (913) 469 8500
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Kansas City Kansas Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College is an excellent school with accessibility, flexibility, quality, and accountability.
It’s a two-year college located in Wyandotte County in northeast Kansas, with a superb paralegal program.
The program will teach you various skills necessary to assist lawyers and become a successful paralegal.
It’s a 66 to 68 credit hour program, and you’ll earn your Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Degree upon completion.
The courses are broken up into three sections including:
- College Requirement
-
- Freshman Seminar, which is one credit
- General Education Requirements
-
- Composition I
- Composition II or Technical Writing
- Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication
- Intermediate Algebra or higher
- Humanities Elective
- Psychology
- Natural Physical Science Elective
- Paralegal Requirements
-
- Microcomputer Business Software
- Basic Keyboarding or Speedbuilding I
- Introduction to Law
- Legal Research I
- Litigation I
- Real Estate Law
- Family Law
- Legal Writing
- Criminal Law for the Paralegals
- Business Organizations
- Legal
- Research II
- Litigation II
- Wills, Trusts, and Probate
- Insurance Law
- Seminar: Legal Interviewing & Investigation
- Paralegal Internship I
- Paralegal Internship II
Upon completing the course, you will have the skills to become a successful paralegal, and after completing the two internships, you’ll have some experience working in a law office.
The internships will look great on your resume, putting you on the fast track to landing a great job.
Contact Information
- Address: 7250 State Ave Kansas City, Kansas 66112
- Phone: (913) 334 1100
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Washburn University
Washburn University is a public university located in Topeka, Kansas.
The university offers over 200 academic programs, including three paralegal programs, including:
- Bachelor in Legal Studies – a four-year program
- Associate of Arts in Legal Studies – a two-year program
- Certificate in Legal Studies – 36 credit hours
The Legal Studies curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Legal Practice
- Introduction to Law
- Corporate Law
- Family Law
- Property Law
- Wills and Estate Administration
- Constitutional Law
- Legal Research I
- Legal Writing
- Litigation I
- Interviewing & Investigation
- Legal Research II
- Elder Law
- Personal Injury Law
- Administrative Law for Paralegals
- Law and the Cinema
- Capital Punishment in America
- Criminal Law
- Professional Ethics
- Introduction to Contracts
- Independent Study
- Special Topic/Legal Asst.
- International Travel Experience in Legal Studies
- Litigation II
- Bankruptcy & Collections
- Internship
- Legal Studies BLS Capstone
You’ll have the knowledge and skills to be a successful paralegal upon completion.
The tuition at Washburn University is $338 per credit hour, which is competitive with other four-year schools in Kansas, and financial aid and scholarships are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 SW College Avenue Topeka, Kansas 66621
- Phone: (785) 670 1010
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Newman University
Newman University is a Catholic university.
The school was named for St. John Henry Newman and is a sponsored ministry of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ United States Region.
The main campus is located in Wichita, Kansas, and has outreach sites in:
- Southeast Kansas
- Western Kansas
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The university has a Pre-Law program designed for future paralegals or as a stepping stone toward law school.
It’s an 18 credit hour program, and the courses include:
- Persuasion
- Logic
- Ethics
You must also complete 12 elective credit hours, and the options include:
- Management in Organizational Behavior
- Legal Environment of Business
- Critical Thinking and Argumentation
- Introduction to Literature and Criticism
- Writing with Community Partners
- Business and Professional Writing
- History of Political Though
- The Human Person
- Social and Political Philosophy
- American Government
- World Government Systems
- Social Psychology
- Comparative Criminal Justice
- Sociology of Law
- Sociological Theory
You can start working as a paralegal upon completion of the program.
If you enjoyed learning about law and would like to go further, you can use your degree to get into law school and eventually become a lawyer.
Contact Information
- Address: 3100 W. McCormick Wichita, Kansas 67213
- Phone: (316) 942 4291
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Hutchinson Community College |
|
#2 | Johnson Community College |
|
#3 | Kansas City Kansas Community College |
|
#4 | Washburn University |
|
#5 | Newman University |
Paralegal Salary Information
You can make an excellent living as a paralegal in Kansas.
You can make between $49,943 to $79,658, and the average salary is $63,679.
The exact amount of money you’ll make depends on the location, your education level, and your internship experience.
The national average salary for paralegals is $58,297, which is lower than the average in Kansas, making it an excellent place to work.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$56K |
|
$63K |
|
$72K |
Average Salary in Kansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wichita | $63,064 |
| Overland Park | $65,378 |
| Kansas City | $65,572 |
| Topeka | $61,853 |
| Olathe | $65,200 |
| Lawrence | $63,170 |
| Shawnee | $65,378 |
| Salina | $62,395 |
| Manhattan | $61,185 |
| Hutchinson | $62,395 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | 100 | $48,910 | $23.51 | $64,430 | $36,020 |
| Manhattan, KS | 50 | $50,360 | $24.21 | $75,020 | $35,630 |
| Topeka, KS | 310 | $49,030 | $23.57 | $67,580 | $35,990 |
| Wichita, KS | 750 | $47,920 | $23.04 | $65,970 | $33,410 |
* 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
It’s reassuring to know that there are quality paralegal programs right here in Kansas. No need to look elsewhere for top-notch education in this field!
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