Trade Schools
If you want to start a non-lawyer career in the legal field, the paralegal profession is worth exploring.
Training programs are available at several Kentucky schools as well as online.
Most programs prepare students for entry-level employment and lead to an associate’s degree or certificate.
With an estimated job growth of 14 percent over 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
To help you choose the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations, on this page, we have compiled information about the best paralegal schools in Kentucky.
1Eastern Kentucky University
About the School
Eastern Kentucky University provides a variety of in-demand and nationally recognized academic programs that lead to a variety of credentials, from associate to doctoral degrees.
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, Eastern Kentucky University provides a Paralegal Studies A.A.S. that is available online.
An A.B.A. in Paralegal Science is also available as well as a Post-Baccalureate Certificate in Paralegal Science.
The A.A.S. program includes 64 credit hours.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Introduction to Law
- Legal Research and Writing
- Real Estate Practice
- Litigation: Complaint to Discovery
- Paralegal Internship
- Paralegal Seminar
- And more
Students also have to choose from nine hours of the following:
- Family Law Practice
- Criminal Law Practice and Procedure
- Will, Trusts, Estates, & Elder Law
- Corporations and Business Organization Practice
- Administrative Agency Practice
- Estate Planning & Procedure
Contact Information
- Address: 521 Lancaster Ave. Richmond, KY 40475
- Phone: 859-622-4455
- Website: https://ekuonline.eku.edu
2Kentucky Wesleyan College
About the School
Kentucky Wesleyan College provides more than 40 academic programs.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 13 to 1.
Kentucky Wesleyan College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Courses Offered
Kentucky Wesleyan College provides the following law and criminal justice courses:
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Criminal Investigation
- Global Perspective on Crime and Justice
- Practicum in Criminal Justice
- Courts and Procedures
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Criminal Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3000 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301
- Phone: 800-999-0592
- Website: https://kwc.edu
3Madisonville Community College
About the School
Madisonville Community College provides associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates to help students reach their goals.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Paralegal Technology program that prepares students to assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services.
The following certificates are available:
- Civil Litigation- a 15-credit hour program
- Family Law- a 12-credit hour
- Paralegal Technology- a 30-credit hour program
- Legal Nurse Consultant- for this credential, students must be Registered Nurses and earn three credit hours
The Paralegal Technology A.A.S. program includes the following technical courses:
- Legal Systems and Terminology
- Legal Research
- Law Office Management
- Family Law
- Wills and Estates
- Torts
- Ethics
- Paralegal Technology Capstone
The A.A.S. requires 64-67 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 300 North Main Street, Versailles, KY 40383
- Phone: (877) 528-2748
- Website: https://catalog.kctcs.edu
4Morehead State University
About the School
Morehead State University offers more than 140 undergraduate majors and other programs.
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Legal Studies, B.A., and a Legal Studies Minor.
The undergraduate minor requires 21 credit hours and is delivered face-to-face.
Students gain classroom knowledge in basic areas of law and courtroom procedures to prepare students for a legal career or law school.
This program requires the completion of the following courses:
- Introduction to Law and Ethics
- Legal Research and Writing
- Pretrial Practice
- Contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code
The following electives are also available:
- Legal Reasoning
- Property Law
- Family Law
- Employment Law
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Administrative Law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 354 Rader Hall, Morehead, KY 40351
- Phone: 606-783-2655
- Website: https://moreheadstate.edu
5Northern Kentucky University
About the School
Northern Kentucky University provides a variety of majors, minors, certificates, micro-credentials, and professional development programs.
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Legal Studies MLS program at Chase College of Law.
Students enrolled in this program complete 30 credit hours of courses.
Credits are earned primarily in face-to-face, in-person classes that are held at Chase College of Law.
The program has the following requirements:
- Legal Analysis and Problem-Solving
- Basic Legal Skills- Research
Other core courses include:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Property
- Torts
- Basic Legal Skills
- Elective courses
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099
- Phone: (859) 572-5100
- Website: https://www.nku.edu
6University of Louisville
About the School
The University of Louisville provides a variety of educational programs that can lead to certificates or degrees.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the University of Lousiville provides an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
This program includes classes such as:
- Criminal Behavior
- Criminal Procedure
- Quantitative Analysis
- Research Design
- Criminal Law and Evidence
This program requires completion of 121 credit hours.
The degree path usually requires:
- General Education- 31 credit hours
- Arts & Sciences- 13-15 credit hours
- Criminal Justice Core Courses- 54 credit hours
- Free Electives- 21-23 credit hours
Contact Information
- Address: 2301 S. 3rd St. Belknap Campus, Louisville, KY 40292
- Phone: 800.871.8635
- Website: https://louisville.edu
7Western Kentucky University
About the School
Western Kentucky University provides a variety of academic programs and applied learning opportunities.
More than 170 choices are available for undergraduate students and 125 graduate programs.
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Courses Offered
Among many other pathways, the university provides a Paralegal Studies Certificate that requires the completion of 21 hours.
This pre-professional certificate combines legal theory and professional skills that prepare graduates for immediate employment or advancement in the legal field.
The Legal specialty core courses include:
- Introduction to Law
- Legal Ethics
- Legal Research and Writing
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Civil Procedure
An Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies is also available and requires the completion of 66 credits.
Associate of Arts students also take classes such as:
- Business Communication
- Basic Accounting
- Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication
- General Mathematics
- Estate Planning and Administration
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, KY 42101
- Phone: (270) 745-0111
- Website: https://www.wku.edu
8CLS 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 via online, live lecture, and text-only classes.
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
9Purdue University Global
About the School
Purdue University Global provides programs designed to help working adults earn a degree.
Purdue Global provides an online university designed to fit into the students’ busy life.
Courses Offered
Among many other program pathways, the university offers 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.
This certificate requires that students complete 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
One such program is the online paralegal training program 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 if they decide to 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 Kentucky
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 140 | $50,370 | $24.21 | $63,960 | $36,730 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY | 80 | $54,150 | $26.03 | $80,620 | $37,690 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 510 | $56,920 | $27.36 | $77,120 | $43,150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 1,030 | $55,810 | $26.83 | $76,820 | $37,180 |
| Owensboro, KY | 50 | $45,010 | $21.64 | $56,270 | $35,940 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best paralegal schools in Kentucky, it’s time to continue the research and decide if this career path is the 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.
