Bachelors
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Summer
On-Campus, Online
About the Paralegal Bachelor's Degree at Loyola
Paralegals are essential to the legal field, providing valuable assistance in research, documentation, case preparation, and more to attorneys in various settings. If you are interested in exploring the legal workplace, a paralegal credential from Loyola University Chicago will prepare you for meaningful work in this exciting sector.
For those with an associate degree in paralegal studies, Loyola's BA in Paralegal Studies will help you refine your skills and earn a bachelor’s degree, which is required by most large legal employers.
ABA-approved and including an embedded Dual Litigation & Corporate Practice Certificate, our paralegal studies program opens doors to your career success in the legal community.
Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as authorized by law.
Program Structure
The paralegal studies major comprises 40 credit hours towards the 120 credit hours required for a bachelor’s degree. Students can begin the program during any of the five 8-week sessions throughout the academic year (late August, mid-October, mid-January, mid-March, and June). Classes are held weekday evenings (and occasionally on Saturday mornings) online or at Loyola's Water Tower Campus, conveniently located off the Red Line in the heart of Chicago. All courses are offered online at least once per year. The paralegal degree can be pursued full-time or part-time.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Paralegal Degree?
Loyola's BA in Paralegal Studies will enhance your writing, research, and paralegal skills to expand your career opportunities.Our program allows students with an Associates in paralegal studies to gain an expeditious route to a bachelor's degree, which most large employers require for paralegal positions.
- American Bar Association (ABA)-approved
- A flexible format
- Practicing faculty
- A well-respected and established institution
Loyola’s Institute for Paralegal Studies meets rigorous academic, curricular, and professional standards set by the American Bar Association. The ABA is well recognized by attorneys and law firms and denotes superior education for paralegal careers with an emphasis on professional competence, and more.
Take courses around your schedule with in-person or online evening classes. Choose from four start dates throughout the year and complete your certificate full time in as little as 10 months.
Learn from attorneys who are experts in their fields, including experience in immigration, environmental law, employment law, civil litigation, real estate, and bankruptcy.
Prepare for your paralegal career through Loyola's Institute for Paralegal Studies, which has offered ABA-approved paralegal credentials since 1991. The majority of our paralegal studies graduates (90%) gain employment in the field within six months of graduation.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Continuing and Professional Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Paralegal Studies BA program.
Faculty and StaffParalegal Studies: Career Connections
As a paralegal studies program graduate, you’ll be prepared for a paralegal career in a variety of contexts including: corporate, law firm, nonprofit, and government.
Specific job options include:
- Immigration paralegal
- Real estate paralegal
- Government paralegal
- Intellectual property paralegal
- Labor and employment paralegal
- eDiscovery paralegal
- Bankruptcy paralegal
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you. The 10 year projections (2021-2031) predict a 14% increase in employment for paralegals. The projection for all occupations during that period is 5%.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Paralegal Studies BA program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Paralegal Studies BA learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogBA in Paralegal Studies Results and Skills
Paralegal training readies you for a career in legal work, providing a thorough understanding of law in the area of your choosing. Paralegal training also helps you:
- Refine your writing and research skills
- Exercise critical thinking and problem solving
- Develop written and verbal communication skills
- Gain proficiency in legal technology
- Develop sounds ethics
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your return to school a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
Tuition and Costs
Students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies will likely have the ability to influence their total cost through the use of transfer credit and non-traditional credit. Please keep that in mind when reviewing the variety of estimated total cost options for the Paralegal Studies BA below.
On average, students in the Paralegal Studies BA program transfer 60 credit hours to Loyola and 11 hours of non-traditional credit. We can accept and apply up to 36 credit hours of non-traditional credit (CLEP, DSST, and American Council on Education).
Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
| Credit Hours | Cost Per Credit Hour | Estimated Total Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 45 (Minimum number of credit hours completed at Loyola.) | $760.00 | $34,200.00 |
| 71 (Average number of credit hours completed at Loyola.) | $760.00 | $53,960.00 |
| 120 (Maximum number of credit hours completed at Loyola. Please note that this number does not include any potential transfer credit or non-traditional credit.) | $760.00 | $91,200.00 |
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Paralegal Studies BA Scholarships
Degree-seeking students in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS) who have completed the scholarship application will be considered for the many scholarship opportunities available to students each semester.
Achieve the Degree Scholarships include both merit and need-based scholarships. Newly-admitted undergraduate degree-seeking students can expect to receive $2,000 in their first semester while awards for current students range from $1,100 to $3,000 per semester.
Students receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer should also consider seeking admission to the SCPS Fellow Scholarship program that will match up to $5,250 per academic year the reimbursement total you're eligible to receive from your employer.
For detailed information about tuition, costs, and aid, please visit the SCPS Tuition & Financial Aid page.
School of Continuing and Professional Studies Events
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Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Paralegal Studies BA are listed below. We encourage you to apply early for priority review. Please note that decisions may take longer during busy periods.
Rolling applications, recommended deadlines are:
Fall I 2023: August 4, 2023
Fall II 2023: October 6, 2023
Spring I 2024 December 21, 2023
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Paralegal Studies BA include:
Transcripts
2.0 Minimum GPA
International Student Requirements
Additional information regarding the application process for international students can be found on the International Student Requirements page.
Additional Details
For general information and a step-by-step guide to applying for graduate and professional study, please visit our Admission Process page. There is no fee to apply to graduate programs at Loyola.
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