Loyola University Chicago

Institute for Paralegal Studies

Career Assistance

Career Assistance

Frequently Asked Questions

Institute staff meet with students and alumni to make recommendations regarding their paralegal job search. Loyola’s Career Development Center also provides extensive resources to current students and alumni. Resume revision, cover letters, interviewing, and online search tips are the types of things you can expect to receive assistance with.

Beginning within their first class, students are given the tools to write resumes emphasizing the skills legal employers expect of paralegals.

The Institute also maintains an electronic bank of resumes for distribution to interested employers. Students and alumni can submit their resumes to the office at any time for inclusion in this bank.

Institute students and alumni have exclusive access to our password-protected Job Board.  Email us if you need access to the job board or have questions on any postings.

We only post positions from employers who have reached out to our office directly.  All posted positions require the skills, knowledge, and experience that are earned through our program.  We will mark administrative roles as "student appropriate" as they can be good roles for those who are new to the legal field while completing their certificate.

Loyola's Institute for Paralegal Studies has a large population of alumni in Chicago and across the country.  Many of our posted positions are shared by alumni of our program who want to help extend an opportunity to a fellow graduate.  Loyola's Law School also has many lawyers who prefer to hire within the Loyola network.  We encourage students and alumni to use the job board as a starting place when looking for new positions as we post many high quality roles.

Annually we offer a speed mock interview event for those students who are interested in practicing their interviewing skills and in receiving a critical assessment of these skills.

Loyola's career development staff provides additional interview resources.

The institute is an active member of the Illinois Paralegal Association, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the International Paralegal Management Association and the American Association for Paralegal Education. The director, faculty and students participate in various association activities, seeking to encourage the sharing of resources and expertise and to enhance the professionalism of paralegals and legal assistants.

Loyola's Alumni Relations Office offers many professional development and networking events, all of which are available to Institute alumni.‌

The Illinois Paralegal Association hosts a spring and fall education conference, networking events and monthly committee meetings.  There is a discounted membership for current students.  Participating in IPA events is an excellent way to meet working paralegals and develop your personal network.

Loyola's Institute for Paralegal Studies has developed certificate programs that prepare you for today's dynamic workplace. Apply now or contact us for more information about ABA approved paralegal programs.