Paralegal FAQs

Yes. The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Paralegals has approved our associate degree and certificate programs. Jeff Rubel, director of the Paralegal Technology program, says that "less than 28 percent of the paralegal programs nationwide have earned ABA approval." Rubel indicated "this recognition is the highest available for such programs and truly is the mark of an excellent program."

Our classes are scheduled so that you can complete the program by attending classes in the evening (two courses in one evening), weekends, online and during the day. Our evening classes meet one day per week in the evening from 5:40 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (you complete six credit hours in one evening). We also offer weekend class that meet on four Saturdays during the semester. In the alternative, if it is your desire to attend classes during the day, you can complete the program during the day. If you are in the associate degree program, general education classes are offered at a variety of times in the morning, afternoon and evening hours.

You bet you can! Our Paralegal Studies program is designed to meet the needs of working adults, allowing you to obtain your education while continuing full-time employment. If you are willing to make the commitment, you can become a paralegal!

That depends on which program you enroll in and how many courses you take each semester. If you attend full-time, you should be able to complete the associate degree program in two years (even faster if you attend summer terms). Approximately half of our students are evening students with full-time responsibilities. Evening students may take as few as one course a semester or as many as three. The number of credits you take each semester will determine how long it will take you to complete the required credit hours.

If you begin in the fall and attend full-time, you can complete our post-degree certificate programs in nine months. (You need a bachelor'™s degree to enter a certificate program.)

Our instructors are all experienced, licensed attorneys with expertise in the area they teach. Our faculty offer expertise in their given area of law, personalized attention to students, and are committed to providing a quality, "hands-on", practical education to our paralegal students.

Visit our Tuition & Fees information page to see our current tuition.

We have a full-time financial aid office that will help you apply for grants, loans and scholarships. In addition, the Southwestern Ohio Educational Opportunity Center can help you with counseling and information on financial aid, Pell Grants, Ohio Instructional Grants, scholarships and loans to finance your education. Best of all, their services are FREE! Pick up the phone now and call them at 513-558-5432. You can go to school, the resources are available, and the Southwestern Ohio Educational Opportunity Center will help you find them.

In today's legal environment, paralegals (sometimes called legal assistants), have become valued members of the legal team, helping to deliver professional services to clients. Under the supervision of an attorney, legal assistants help interview clients, perform legal research, gather and assemble factual information, draft documents and pleadings, analyze and summarize documents, file documents with courts and agencies, and prepare for and assist at trials.

The profession is ranked among the fastest-growing occupations in the US. Department of Labor's 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Surveys indicate that 71 percent of legal assistants work for private law firms, but opportunities are growing in many other diverse areas.

Graduates of our program are using their legal training in corporations; local, state, and federal government agencies; insurance and health-care companies; banks and trust departments; court systems; real estate title companies; financial service organizations; and more.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the need for paralegals is expected to increase through the 21st century. Many students obtain a part-time paralegal job sometime during the program, which then leads to a full-time position. Others are able to land a job through their required intern experience.

The Paralegal Studies program provides two options:

Associate of Applied Business / Transfer Option Most students in the program are pursuing an Associate of Applied Business (A.A.B.) degree in Paralegal Studies. These individuals will complete 63 credits, or 21 courses, before obtaining their degree.

Certificate Option   For those students already possessing a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) or B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree, we offer a Post-Baccalaureate Professional Certificate in Paralegal Studies. The certificate requires the completion of 33 law credits, the equivalent of 11 classes.

Many of the students receiving an A.A.B. degree and go on to complete a bachelor’s degree. We have an agreement with College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services at the University of Cincinnati for students to complete their Bachelors degree with only two more years of classroom work.  Even better, most of the courses can be taken on our campus!  

Yes, the Academic Success Center has professional tutors to assist students. Our faculty members are also happy to help our students.

Most of the paralegal classes are limited to 25 students each. Keeping the number small facilitates better communication among students and with their instructor.

Contact the program director, professor Jeff Rubel, at (513) 732-5302 or jeff.rubel@uc.edu.