Paralegals aren’t required to be certified or have education in the state of Kentucky.
However, employers typically expect potential employees to attend a paralegal training program, and some also want you to be certified.
A paralegal program can allow you to begin your career as a paralegal after you complete your education.
1 Murray State University
About School
Murray State University was founded a century ago, in 1922.
It’s a four-year public university located in western Kentucky.
The school has a great reputation for academics, athletics, and affordability.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Murray State University offers two paralegal programs through CLS, a partner organization.
CLS offers its programs in more than 150 schools online.
The paralegal certificate course is flexible and offers different ways to take the course.
The most popular is splitting the work into two sessions that last for 7 weeks each.
The course costs $1895.
Once you’ve completed the paralegal certificate, you can go on to take the advanced paralegal certificate course.
Instead of a set curriculum, you’ll choose six topics to complete.
This program costs $3,300.
You’ll need to complete 6 topics within a year to graduate from the program.
You can choose to take 1, 2, or 3 topics, with each topic lasting for 7 weeks.
This means you can complete the course in 14 weeks, or take fewer topics and complete the program over time.
These include Advanced Legal Research, Criminal Law, Estate Planning, Immigration Law, Victim Advocacy, and more.
This allows you to specialize in the areas that you are most interested in, which can give you an advantage over other paralegals when searching for a job.
Contact Information
- Address: 1375 Chestnut St, Murray, KY 42071
- Phone: (800) 272-4678
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Northern Kentucky University
About School
Northern Kentucky University is a school that offers small class sizes and dedicated staff.
They were named Forbes Best College, and offer more than 90 majors and programs.
They also have more than 200 clubs and extracurricular activities.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Northern Kentucky University offers a Master of Legal Studies degree.
The program requires 30 credit hours.
You can complete this program in two years part-time, or one year if you attend school full-time.
Some classes are available online, but most are only available in person on campus.
If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree, particularly in another discipline, this may be a good program for you.
You will have some core courses, as well as a variety of electives you can choose to take.
Courses can include constitutional law, civil procedure, torts, property, internet law, negotiating, and criminal law.
Contact Information
- Address: Nunn Drive | Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099
- Phone: (859) 572-5100
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Eastern Kentucky University
About School
Eastern Kentucky University provides an education for students from all walks of life.
In fact, 43% of students at the university are first-generation college students.
Six months after graduation, 77% of former students have a full-time job in their chosen field.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Eastern Kentucky University offers paralegal programs to meet the needs of many students.
You can take the Associate in Applied Science Paralegal degree program, and complete your studies in 2 years of full-time attendance.
This requires at least 60 credit hours.
If you want a more in-depth education, you can earn a Paralegal Science Bachelor of Arts degree.
This typically takes 4 years of full-time study and requires `120 credit hours.
You can also take the paralegal program as a minor while you are getting your Bachelor’s degree in another major.
The last option is a postgraduate certificate as a paralegal.
If you’ve previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in another field, you can complete this program to start your career as a paralegal.
Contact Information
- Address: 521 Lancaster Ave. 106 Beckham, Richmond, Kentucky 40475
- Phone: (859) 622-5931
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Western Kentucky University
About School
Western Kentucky University offers ninety-four majors for baccalaureate degrees.
They also offer seventy-five minor options.
The school also offers nine associate degree programs, sixty-nine certificate programs, and 48 master’s degree programs.
No matter your educational goals, you can achieve them at WKU.
Courses Offered/Program Name
WKU offers a paralegal certificate course that can be completed in two semesters, or one year.
The program requires 21 credit hours.
Core classes include Introduction to Law, Legal Ethics, Legal Research Writing, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Civil Procedure.
You’ll also choose two legal elective courses.
Students can also get a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Legal Studies.
Students must complete 120 credit hours to receive this degree, which takes at least 4 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
- Phone: (270) 745-0111
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Morehead State University
About School
Morehead State University frequently ranks as one of the best universities in the South.
Their programs focus on excellence and career preparation.
The college has been named a 2023-2024 College of Distinction, Kentucky College of Distinction, and Public College of Distinction.
The school offers more than 140 undergraduate programs and several certificate programs.
They also offer 8 doctorate programs.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Morehead offers a Legal Studies Bachelor of Arts degree.
The program requires 120 hours and can be completed in 4 years of full-time study.
Once you’ve completed the program, you can begin working as a paralegal.
You’ll also have a great foundation if you want to continue your education and pursue your law degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 354 Rader Hall, Morehead, KY 40351
- Phone: (606 783-2655
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Beckfield College
About School
Beckfield is a small school that offers programs in nursing, allied medical careers, paralegal, and more.
Courses Offered/Program Name
As of 2012, Beckfield College was the only post-secondary school in Northern Kentucky and one of just three in the Greater Cincinnati area that offers an ABA-approved paralegal program.
The faculty at the college are active attorneys and judges, so you’ll have instructors with real-world experience.
You can choose an Associate of Applied Science degree program that is typically completed in 88 weeks or two years, or a bachelor’s degree program that takes 4 years to complete.
Contact Information
- Address: 16 Spiral Drive, Florence, KY 41042
- Phone: (800) 486-1997
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Madisonville Community College
About School
Madisonville Community College takes pride in being a community, instead of simply a building or a campus.
They aim to help students find confidence, collaboration, and success.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Madisonville Community College offers a Paralegal Associate of Applied Sciences degree.
Students can complete the 60-credit-hour program in 2 years of full-time attendance.
The cost of the program is $11,160 for in-state or online students.
This degree is designed to prepare you for a career as a paralegal after graduation, so all courses may not transfer to a 4-year college.
If you want to get started faster, you can choose the Civil Litigation Certificate, Paralegal Technology Certificate, or Family Law Certificate, which are all embedded in the AAS degree.
Madisonville also offers certificate programs designed for graduates or those with at least two years of experience as a paralegal.
These include e-Discovery Technology, Legal Technology, and Legal Nurse Consultant.
Contact Information
- Address: 2000 College Drive Madisonville, KY 42431
- Phone: (270) 824-8610
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Ashworth College
About School
Ashworth has helped more than 300,000 students achieve their career goals by providing a career-focused education.
The school offers interest-free tuition payments.
They also give you personalized career guidance to help you succeed after graduation.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Ashworth College offers an online Associates of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.
The program takes two years to complete and requires 60 credit hours.
The program is self-paced, so you can go at your own pace.
This is important if you have a job or family obligations.
Contact Information
- Address: Richmond, KY, 40475
- Phone: (844) 728-4463
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Regent University
About School
Regent University is a Christian University and instills students with Christian values and ethics as part of their education.
The physical campus is located in Virginia Beach, but you can earn your degree online.
They are military friendly and considered a Green Zone Campus.
Regent is ranked as one of the top universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
They currently have 13,000 students online and on campus.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Regent was named one of the top 10 fastest online Bachelor’s Paralegal programs by the Bachelor’s Degree Center.
They are also named the Top 10 Online Bachelor’s Programs in Legal Studies.
You’ll study the most common areas of law.
These include marriage and family law, real estate, personal injury law, and contracts.
You’ll also practice research and legal writing skills, and learn legal terminology.
You will learn clerical and management skills as well.
Of course, all courses are taught with a Christian worldview to give you a firm moral foundation.
You will draft motions, briefs, and other types of documents.
You’ll learn how to interview clients and witnesses and manage case files.
Administrative duties include understanding basic accounting, case management, fee arrangements, and how to track time.
Most students complete the program in 4 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Regent University Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
- Phone: (757) 352-4885
- Website: Visit School Website
10 Penn Foster
About School
Penn Foster offers online education ranging from high school diplomas to degrees, and career-focused certificate and diploma programs.
In fact, they’ve been a leader in distance education for more than 140 years.
Courses Offered/Program Name
Penn Foster’s Paralegal Diploma program allows you to complete the program quickly, so you can begin your new career.
It’s self-paced, and you can complete it in as little as 5 months, with 8 months being the average time needed.
The program costs $799, and monthly payments are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 925 Oak Street, Scranton, PA 18515 USA
- Phone: (800) 275-4410
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Paralegal Salary Information
The average salary for a paralegal in Kentucky is $62,930.
However, salaries range from $55,825 to $71,196.
How much you earn can vary based on your education, years of experience, and the type of legal work that you are performing.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$55K |
|
$62K |
|
$71K |
Average Salary in Kentucky
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Lexington | $62,709 |
| Louisville | $63,485 |
| Owensboro | $62,808 |
| Bowling Green | $60,604 |
| Covington | $65,398 |
| Hopkinsville | $60,188 |
| Frankfort | $61,138 |
| Henderson | $63,209 |
| Richmond | $62,095 |
| Jeffersonville | $62,174 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 140 | $50,370 | $24.21 | $63,960 | $36,730 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY | 80 | $54,150 | $26.03 | $80,620 | $37,690 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 510 | $56,920 | $27.36 | $77,120 | $43,150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 1,030 | $55,810 | $26.83 | $76,820 | $37,180 |
| Owensboro, KY | 50 | $45,010 | $21.64 | $56,270 | $35,940 |
* 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
For anyone considering a career in law, starting with a reputable paralegal program is key. These options in Kentucky offer excellent pathways into the legal field.
It’s great to see these programs getting recognition. The instructors are knowledgeable and supportive, and the curriculum is comprehensive.
I was torn between a few different programs, but after researching extensively, I’m confident I made the right choice.
It’s great to have such a thorough overview of the top programs available, highlighting their unique features, accreditation, and strengths. The detailed descriptions and insights into each program’s curriculum and support services are incredibly helpful for prospective students trying to make an informed decision.
Thanks for compiling such a valuable resource for anyone looking to pursue a career as a paralegal in Kentucky like me! I’ve been doing thorough research before the term starts.