Trade Schools
If you want to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
With an estimated job growth of 14 percent in the United States during the next decade, paralegals will continue to be hired in law offices to perform a variety of tasks, including:
- Drafting legal documents
- Investigating facts relevant to a case
- Organizing and maintaining documents on paper and in electronic formats
- Helping lawyers during trials
- File exhibits, briefs, and other documents
- And more
Before being ready for employment in this field, the first step is to earn a certificate or degree in paralegal studies.
If you live in Kansas, there are a variety of programs designed to prepare you for employment after graduation.
Online programs are an alternative for those who want to learn at their own pace, from colleges located in a different state.
1Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson Community College provides programs and courses in a variety of areas of study.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Paralegal Associate in Applied Science degree that prepares students for law-related employment.
After graduation, students may take the National Association of Legal Assistants examination to become certified.
Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The following career and technical options are available:
- Paralegal- Cert B
- Paralegal- Associate in Applied Science
Tuition and fees sum up to $2,640 based on typical enrollment for new incoming undergraduates of 12 credits for two terms, totaling 24 credits per year.
Kansas residents from other counties pay $2,880.
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 N Plum Street, Hutchinson, KS 67501
- Phone: 620-665-3568
- Website: https://www.hutchcc.edu
2Johnson County Community College
About the School
Johnson County Community College offers flexible course options, smaller class sizes, low tuition rates, and student resources.
Students can get a degree or certificate in two years or less.
Courses Offered
Johnson County Community College provides a Paralegal Program approved by the American Bar Association.
The program gives students the tools to begin careers in private law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies.
For students who have an associate of arts, associate of science, bachelor’s, or graduate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, the Paralegal Certificate option provides you with a practical approach to law and education.
The program teaches the fundamentals of the law and gives students the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice.
Learners have the opportunity to build an online portfolio to show to their future employers.
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- Introduction to Law
- Civil Litigation
- Introduction to Legal Technology
- Advanced Legal Technology
- Legal Analysis and Writing
- And more
The following paralegal electives are also available:
- Tort Law
- Contract Law
- Family Law
- Forensic Science and the Law
- Bankruptcy Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
- Phone: 913-469-8500
- Website: https://www.jccc.edu
3Kansas City Kansas Community College
About the School
Kansas City Kansas Community College provides a variety of hands-on learning options.
The college was created in 1923 with the goal of providing affordable, accredited, and local junior college-level classes for Kansas City college-bound students.
Tuition is $105 per credit hour for Wyandotte County residents and $114 per credit hour for other Kansas residents.
Kansas City Kansas Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate option that requires 33 credits.
The certificate prepares students for work in the legal field with classes in Business Law and Legal Terminology and Document Preparation.
The Certificate requirements include classes such as:
- Composition
- Business Law
- Occupational Internship
- Records Management
- Business English
- Proofreading
- Legal Terminology and Document Preparation
- Customer Service
- Microcomputer Business Software
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 7250 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas 66112
- Phone: 913-334-1100
- Website: https://www.kckcc.edu
4Newman University-Wichita Kansas
About the School
A Catholic university, Newman University-Wichita Kansas provides a variety of degrees and educational paths.
The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Scholarships and financial aid options are available for students who qualify.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Pre-Professional-Law program designed to prepare students with the skills and expertise necessary to enter law school.
This minor requires the following courses:
- Persuasion
- Logic
- Ethics
- 12 credit hours of electives selected from at least three disciplines such as Management and Organizational Behavior, Law Environment and Business, Business and Professional Writing, History of Political Thought, American Government, and more
Contact Information
- Address: 3100 W. McCormick, Wichita, Kansas 67213
- Phone: 316-942-4291
- Website: https://newmanu.edu
5Washburn University
About the School
Washburn University provides more than 200 academic programs.
The university has just under 7,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff.
Tuition for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023 is $322 for traditional undergraduate courses for residents of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Courses Offered
The School of Law provides the following credentials:
- Juris Doctor
- L.L.M. in Global Legal Studies
- Master of Accountancy
- Master of Business Administration
Master of Criminal Justice
- Master of Studies in Law
- Master of Social Work
Criminal Justice and Legal Studies programs at Washburn University engage students in a wide variety of topics, including:
- theoretical and practical aspects of law enforcement
- institutional and community-based corrections
- civil procedure and legal terminology
- loss prevention and risk management
- and more
A Pre-Law program that leads to a BA or BS is also available.
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 SW College Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66621
- Phone: 785.670.1010
- Website: https://www.washburn.edu
6CLS 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 different formats, including online, live lecture, and text-only.
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 need 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
7Fort Hays State University
About the School
Fort Hays State University offers hundreds of degrees, certificates, and course options at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Fort Hays State University provides a Paralegal program that leads to a certificate and can be completed as a stand-alone certificate or in combination with any degree program available on campus.
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
Students are required to complete the following 15 hours:
- Introduction to the Law
- Legal Research Methods
- Strategic Business Communications
- Business Law I
- Ethical Issues in the Professions and Business
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099
- Phone: (785) 628-4241
- Website: https://www.fhsu.edu
8Metropolitan Community College
About the School
Metropolitan Community College prepares students for work in law firms, courts, and government agencies.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
More than 120 degrees and certificates grouped into eight Academic and Career Pathways are available at Metropolitan Community College.
Tuition is $121 per credit hour for in-district students.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Courses Offered
The Paralegal curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Paralegal Practice
- Principles of Legal Technology
- Criminal Law and Procedures
- Torts
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Ethics for the Paralegal
- Internship in Paralegal Practice
- Special Topics in Legal Studies
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3200 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Phone: 816.604.1000
- Website: https://mcckc.edu
9Purdue University Global
Programs that can prepare you for a career in the paralegal profession are also available online at colleges and universities located in other states.
About the School
Purdue University Global provides programs designed to help working adults earn a degree.
The online university offers programs 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
10Liberty University
About the School
Online paralegal training programs are also 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
Regional Salary in Kansas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | 100 | $48,910 | $23.51 | $64,430 | $36,020 |
| Manhattan, KS | 50 | $50,360 | $24.21 | $75,020 | $35,630 |
| Topeka, KS | 310 | $49,030 | $23.57 | $67,580 | $35,990 |
| Wichita, KS | 750 | $47,920 | $23.04 | $65,970 | $33,410 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best paralegal schools in Kansas the next step is to continue the research and decide if this career path is a right fit for you.
Then, it’s time to choose an online program or one available near you that fits your learning style and career aspirations.
