10 Best Paralegal Schools inIllinois

1Loyola University Chicago

About the School

Loyola University Chicago provides Paralegal training classes that help students earn a specialized certificate in one year.

Online options are also offered.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available at the university:

• Litigation Practice
• Corporate Practice
• Dual Certificate
• Customized Certificate
• BA in Paralegal Studies

Depending on the chosen program, students may take classes such as:

• Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• Legal Research and Writing
• Legal Ethics
• Litigation Technology & eDiscovery
• Real Estate Transactions
• Contract Administration and Analysis
• Secured Transactions and Bankruptcy
• And more

Students can begin the program during four of the five eight-week sessions throughout the academic year.

Classes are held on weekday evenings online or at Loyola’s Water Tower Campus.

All courses are available online at least once per year.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Contact Information

• Address: 820 N. Michigan Ave. Lewis Towers 621, Chicago, IL 60611
• Phone: 312.915.6820
• Website: https://www.luc.edu

2Southwestern Illinois College

About the School

Southwestern Illinois College provides a variety of academic programs.

The college has three campuses: Belleville, Red Bud, Sam Wolf Granite City, and off-campus sites.

Southwestern Illinois College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Courses Offered

The Paralegal Studies program available at Southwestern Illinois College aims to prepare students for employment in law firms or other law-related fields.

The school uses a technology-based curriculum that emphasizes writing and research skills, as well as critical thinking skills.

The program also emphasizes practical applications that prepare students for the workplace.

Courses are taught by licensed attorneys, judges, and practicing paralegals and can be taken online or in person.

Students may earn a Paralegal Studies Degree or a Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate.

An accelerated degree option is open for those who have completed an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college and want to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree by completing at least 30 semester credits of program-related coursework.

The curriculum covers topics such as:

• Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• Civil Procedure
• Legal Research and Writing
• Torts
• Law Office Management
• E-Discovery/E-Investigation
• And more

Contact Information

• Address: 2500 Carlyle Ave. Belleville, IL 62221
• Phone: 618-235-2700
• Website: https://www.swic.edu

3Illinois Central College

About the School

Illinois Central College offers a Legal Studies Certificate program for students who already have a bachelor’s or associate degree and want to start a career as a legal assistant or paralegal.

Students enrolled in this program learn the knowledge and skills needed to serve clients through the law, under the supervision of an attorney.

The program can be completed in 12 months by full-time students and costs $4,650 plus supplies and fees.

The certificate program requires 30 credits.

A bachelor’s degree or associate degree from an accredited college or university is required for admission to this program.

Courses Offered

Students enrolled in this program learn about

• Legal Environment of Business
• Criminal Law
• Court Procedures and Evidence
• Introduction to Legal Studies
• Family Law
• Wills, Laws, and Estate Administration
• Civil Litigation
• Administrative Law
• And more

Contact Information

• Address: 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635
• Phone: (309) 694-5422
• Website: https://icc.edu

4Elgin Community College

About the School

Elgin Community College provides a Paralegal program that prepares students for careers as members of legal teams.

Courses Offered

The Paralegal curriculum includes classes on:

• Introduction to Law- a course that introduces students to the skills needed to perform substantive work under the supervision of a licensed attorney
• Family Law- a course that examines Illinois domestic relations law
• Civil Litigation- a course that explores civil procedure and pleading
• Real Property Law- a course that studies the law, procedures, and documents related to the sale and lease of real estate
• Legal Research- a hybrid course that requires extensive independent legal research and analysis using federal and multi-state materials
• Legal Writing- students learn advanced concepts related to legal writing, research, and analysis
• Criminal Law Procedure- a course that focuses on the Illinois criminal law statute and Constitutional rights applicable to criminal prosecutions.
• And more

Contact Information

• Address: 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123
• Phone: 847-697-1000
• Website: https://elgin.edu

5Generations College

About the School

Generations College is a two-year, private, nonprofit college.

The college provides classes online and on campus.

Generations College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Courses Offered

A Paralegal Studies program is available in Chicago.

The program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Students attend on-campus and online classes and prepare for a wide range of career paths, including moving directly into the workforce as a paralegal or legal secretary or continuing their education to become attorneys.

The curriculum includes courses such as:

• Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• Family Law
• Tort Law
• Civil & Criminal Litigation Procedures
• Real Estate & Trust Law
• Legal Research & Writing
• General Education
• And more

Students need 62 degree credit hours.

Contact Information

• Address: 29 East Madison St. 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
• Phone: (312) 922-1884
• Website: https://www.generations.edu

6DePaul University

About the School

DePaul University provides a variety of continuing and professional education programs.

The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Courses Offered

The university provides a Paralegal Studies Certificate Program that focuses on the practical skills needed to succeed as a paralegal.

The program can be completed in 17 weeks and includes legal fundamentals and core paralegal skills as well as other topics of law, including torts, contracts, business organization, and corporate law.

The syllabus includes topics such as:

• Fundamentals of the Profession
• Clients and Client File
• Legal Terminology
• Legal Process
• Legal Ethics
• Document Preparation
• Evidence and Investigation
• Pleadings and Discovery
• Summons and Complains
• Trial Practice
• And more

Contact Information

• Address: 1 E. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604
• Phone: (312) 362-8000
• Website: https://www.depaul.edu/Pages/default.aspx

7CLS by BARBRI

About the School

Formerly known as The Center for Legal Studies, CLS by BARBRI provides continuing legal education.

The curriculum is delivered to students in online, live lecture, and text-only formats.

The courses are designed for adult students and are taught at a college level.

Applicants need a high school diploma or GED and they must be 18 years of age before enrollment.

Courses Offered

The following paralegal courses are available at the school:

• Paralegal Certificate Course
• Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course
• Advanced Legal Research and Writing
• Personal Injury for Paralegals
• eDiscovery for Paralegals

Costs vary depending on the course.

The Paralegal Certificate Course cost starts at $1,895.

This is a flagship introductory course and functions as a first step toward a paralegal career.

The most popular format can be completed in two, seven-week instructor-led sessions.

The school’s interactive platform offers 24/7 online course access with video and printed tutorials available.

Six sessions per year are available, starting every eight weeks.

Students have 14 weeks to complete the online program: seven weeks for Paralegal I and seven weeks for Paralegal II.

The school also provides the following related courses:

• Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course- starting at $3,300 or $550 per topic
• eDiscovery for Paralegal- a course starting at $995
• Personal Injury for Paralegals- starting at $995
• Advanced Legal Research and Writing- starting at $995

Contact Information

• Address: 12222 Merit Drive, Suite 1340, Dallas, TX 75251
• Phone: 800-522-7737
• Website: https://www.legalstudies.com

8Purdue University Global

About the School

Purdue University Global provides programs designed to help working adults earn a degree.

The university provides an online university designed to fit into the students’ busy life.

Courses Offered

Among many other program pathways, the university provides the following legal studies programs:

• Master of Science in Legal Studies
• Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
• Legal Secretary Certificate
• Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• And more

The Pathway to Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate can be completed in 11 months.

The certificate requires 36-37 credits.

The program costs $371 per credit.

Students learn from a faculty of legal practitioners with real-world expertise in legal services, law, and policy.

The curriculum covers topics such as:

• Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession
• Civil Litigation
• Legal Ethics
• Law Office Management
• Legal Research and Writing
• And more

Contact Information

• Address: 2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100, West Lafayette, IN 47906
• Phone: 866-522-7747
• Website: https://www.purdueglobal.edu

9Liberty University

About the School

Another training option is the online paralegal training programs available at Liberty University, an accredited Christian college.

A variety of programs are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels and are taught from a Christian perspective.

The programs are available fully online and students can complete the coursework while keeping a job and remaining active in their community.

Students can transfer up to 75% of the degree total.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Courses Offered

The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies program available at Liberty University provides students with the experience and practical skills that can be marketed while they pursue a Bachelor’s degree.

The program prepares students with a foundational knowledge of criminal law and procedures, writing depositions, and real estate transactions, and in-demand skills such as performing title searches.

The program includes 60 credit hours and can be completed in one and a half years, on average.

Contact Information

• Address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515
• Phone: (888) 376-3157
• Website: https://www.liberty.edu

10Loyola University New Orleans

About the School

Loyola University New Orleans provides a Paralegal Certificate program that can be completed online in six months.

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and diplomas at approved degree levels.

Tuition for undergraduate online programs is $450 per credit hour.

Courses Offered

The program trains students in legal writing, terminology, research, contracts, trial preparation, investigation, discovery, and other relevant topics.

After completing the program, students receive a Loyola University New Orleans Certificate of Completion and 36 Continuing Education Units.

This program costs $5,695 plus course materials.

The online certificate program starts on the 15th of every month.

Students take courses such as:

• Essential Skills for Paralegals
• Tort Law
• Louisiana Procedures
• Contract Law

Up to $2,000 in scholarships is available for students who qualify.

Contact Information

• Address: 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118
• Website: https://www.loyno.edu