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Paralegal Studies (BA)

The Paralegal Studies program at Loyola University Chicago is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a valued member of a legal team. With a BA in Paralegal Studies, students can position themselves for new career opportunities and become an indispensable part of a legal organization.

Overview

Paralegals play a crucial role in supporting the work of legal offices, and successful attorneys understand the immense value a capable and skilled paralegal brings to their organization. The Paralegal Studies program at Loyola University Chicago is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this field.

Curriculum

The B.A. in Paralegal Studies comprises 120 credit hours, with courses offered in an 8-week session format with evening and Saturday morning options. All PLST courses carry 2 credit hours unless noted otherwise.

Required Paralegal Core Courses

• PLST 369: Advanced Topics in American Law (3 hours)
• PLST 370: Advanced Legal Analysis & Writing I (3 hours)
• PLST 331: Introduction to Paralegal Studies (2 hours)
• PLST 332: Legal Research and Writing I (2 hours)
• PLST 333: Legal Research and Writing II (2 hours)
• PLST 335: Legal Ethics (2 hours)
• PLST 345: Law Office Computer Applications (2 hours)

Practice Track Requirements

• PLST 340: Civil Litigation I (2 hours)
• PLST 341: Civil Litigation II (2 hours)
• PLST 342: Litigation Technology & eDiscovery (2 hours)
• PLST 362: Business Organizations (2 hours)
• PLST 363: Contract Administration & Analysis (2 hours)
• PLST 339: Secured Transactions and Bankruptcy (2 hours)

Elective Requirement

Complete 0-6 courses depending on transfer credit (0-12 hours)

SCPS Courses

• CPST 200: Introduction to Degree Completion (3 hours)
• CPST 201: Civic Identity and Development (3 hours)
• CPST 397: Capstone (3 hours)

Core Requirements

The number of hours remaining toward Core requirements can vary due to transfer credit.

Mission Specific Requirements

Mission-specific requirements can vary from 0 to 15 credit hours based on prior credit.

General Elective Requirements

Students may have some general elective coursework to complete if their transfer credit and remaining required hours (Core, mission-specific, major, etc.) do not total 120.

Total Hours

120 hours

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies provides a high-touch advising model to incorporate the professional and educational outcomes of the student, as well as any transfer credit accepted. Advisors work directly with students to determine an appropriate sequence of courses starting at admission into their respective program based on their needs and expected time to completion.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the BA in Paralegal Studies, students will be able to:

• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions and prepare summaries of these sources.
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations.
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals.
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software, including Word, Excel, Adobe, and PowerPoint.
• Draft pleadings, collect and organize factual information and pleadings to assist with investigation of the case, discovery, and preparation for trial.
• Assist attorneys who work for corporate clients to document the organization and operation of business entities.
• Draft contract provisions and coordinate the administrative process for contracts.

Related Programs

• Paralegal Studies - Corporate Practice Certificate
• Paralegal Studies - Customized Certificate
• Paralegal Studies - Litigation Practice Certificate