Paralegals are a necessary part of the United States legal system.
From research to interviews, this skilled field helps to keep law firms, corporations, and government agencies running smoothly.
Discover the different certificates and degrees that will give you access to this exciting career.
1 University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati offers several different programs for obtaining a paralegal certificate.
Each one is distinguished according to your desired growth.
- Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Law and Paralegal Studies
- Post-Associate Certificate in Law and Paralegal Studies
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Law and Paralegal Studies
All classes are conducted online with flexible schedules, enabling you to work on your studies around a full-time job.
Full- or part-time courses are available, and credit hours are required to complete them.
Most students take 1–2 classes per semester, with a goal of 3-6 credit hours.
Any student with a high school diploma or GED is qualified to enroll in a paralegal course at the University of Cincinnati.
However, a minimum ACT/SAT score is required.
If this test is not taken, the school will ask you to take an English assessment exam and a mathematics placement test.
This is for first-year students only.
If you are transferring from another school, the Academic Advisor is in charge of assessing past results.
Credits can be transferred if regionally accredited.
The cost for a semester is an average of $3534.00 for a resident.
Grants and funding can be applied for by visiting the school website for tuition and financial aid for contact information.
Contact Information
- Address: University of Cincinnati 2600 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45221
- Phone: 513-556-0000
- Website: Visit School Website
2 UC Clermont
As the name implies, UC Clermont is part of the University of Cincinnati.
However, the atmosphere for learning is quite different from the usual classroom and college campus.
100% online, this program offers an Associate of Applied Business in Paralegal Studies degree for part-time or full-time students.
However, the flexibility of being completely online does not diminish the ability of instructors or the legal and practical skills that you may find at other online schools.
The curriculum is extensive and geared toward the career paralegal in necessary core courses.
General education coursework is woven into the electives for composition and presentation of speeches.
Fine-tuning critical reading and writing, advanced research and analysis skills, and rhetorical sensitivity to differences in academic, professional, and public composing are imperative to the career paralegal.
Here are some examples of the courses you can find at UC Clermont:
- Law Office Technology. This course will provide an overview of computer technology applicable to law office management, document production, scheduling(including docket control), litigation support, and case management software.
- Foundations of Quantitive Reasoning. Problem-solving, statistical reasoning, and modeling with geometry are the topics used for real-world contexts. Math Placement of 420 is recommended.
- Family Law. The determination of child support and spousal support awards, valuation of property, property division, and settlement is only a small part of the study program. History of marriage, resolution of disputes, and financial consequences will also be learned.
- Civil Litigation. This course covers the various civil trial process components. Discovery, trial process, and ethical considerations of paralegals will be discussed in detail. A second course introduces students to pleadings and motion practice.
- Administrative Litigation. Concepts of administrative law and procedure in governmental agencies are presented with an emphasis on the role of the paralegal.
Job placement at UC Clermont is available and encouraged once your degree has been obtained. It is not uncommon for starting wages to be $60k to $70k in a desired job.
Incoming undergraduates who are residents of the state of Ohio will have a tuition of $3277.00 per semester for the full-time program.
Other fees may apply, such as program fees or special course fees.
For more information on enrolling in the UC Clermont Paralegal Studies Degree program, contact:
Enrollment Services
University of Cincinnati Online
57 West Daniels Street
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(833) 556-8611
Part of the University of Cincinnati, UC Clermont is designed to give a fully online program that is recognized by the American Bar Association and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This is a top-ranked university that gives the flexibility needed by many working students.
Contact Information
- Address: 57 West Daniels Street Cincinnati, OH 45221
- Phone: (833) 556-8611
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
This is a public college that is fully online or hybrid/blended.
It is located at 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Accredited and in receipt of high evaluations from current and past students.
Cincinnati State offers an Associate of Applied Business Degree, including law and paralegal studies.
These studies include an Administrative Assistant program, a Legal Administrative Assistant certificate, or a Paralegal Certificate.
Once your certificate is earned, an annual earning of $59,000 to $94,000 becomes a reality.
The Certified Paralegal certificate is the ultimate goal of completing your exam through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
You must complete 15 semesters or 225 clock hours to finish your course.
However, once you have put in the time, graduation will lead you to over 14,800 open job positions nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Law 110-Employment and Administrative Law
- Law 130-Estate Planning, Family & Probate Law
- Law 120-Legal Research and Writing
- Law 210-Litigation
- Law 290-Paralegal Capstone
Additional business courses may also be required.
In-house or online courses are available in 12 months to complete.
An online course costs $2,495 and can be broken down into monthly payments.
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 Central Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45223
- Phone: 513-861-7700
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Purdue Global
Known for being the largest provider of legal support systems, Purdue Global is ranked near the top for the number of degrees and certificates granted.
It has been teaching legal-related professions since 2001 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Although located in West Lafayette, Indiana, many students in the Cincinnati region choose to follow this popular online high-quality school.
Purdue Global is an online school and is a great way to experience your future goals without commitment.
When signing up for an undergraduate program, Purdue Global will extend three weeks of classes to try out their school.
If it is not a good fit, there is no cost or obligation to continue.
The paralegal courses are in-depth, covering several different topics for a wide range of skills needed in the legal field.
A few of these include:
- Interviewing and investigating. Interview preparation techniques and the use of technology in legal interviewing and investigation settings will be learned as expected in a legal setting.
- Legal Technology. The appropriate uses of legal terms, phrases, abbreviations, symbols, and reference sources used by attorneys, paralegals, and the courts are explained and learned. Basic procedures for transcribing, formatting, and processing legal correspondence will be shown in detail.
- Bankruptcy. The law governing the collection of debts and when bankruptcy should be considered. Hands-on experience will be practiced in exemption rules, performing a means test, and categorizing debtor’s assets and liabilities.
- Family Law. Spousal maintenance, property distribution, pet custody, paternity, child custody, and support are a few areas discussed in addition to remedies and alternatives to marital problems.
- Trial and courtroom presentation. There are rules of criminal and civil procedure, rules of ethics, and courtroom presentations that must follow certain guidelines. This course will introduce you to behavior in the courts.
Undergraduate courses run $371.00 per quarter credit hour.
Graduate courses are $420.00 per quarter credit hour.
Tuition is $2500.00 for each term and can be spread out through equal payments.
Books are in addition to these fees.
However, many courses use electronic materials and there is no fee.
Financial aid information can be found at www.purdueglobal.edu/paying-for-school/tuition-fees/financial-aid-info.pdf.
A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 is required when seeking admission to a graduate program.
However, this is not the only determining factor in admissions.
An application that shows commitment and academic excellence is an example of your dedication to professional growth.
There are many benefits to joining the Purdue Global family that may give you options missing from other Paralegal schools.
If you are interested, contact Purdue Global, Office of the Registrar.
Contact Information
- Address: 2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100, West Lafayette, IN 47906
- Phone: 866-522-7747
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | University of Cincinnati |
|
#2 | UC Clermont |
|
#3 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College |
|
#4 | Purdue Global |
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