Curriculum
Students earn the Certificate in Paralegal Studies after successful completion of 12 courses (24 credit hours). Program requirements include seven foundation courses, three concentration courses and two elective courses. Students are welcome to take more than the 24 credit hours required for the certificate.
Students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies' undergraduate Management program may begin taking their Paralegal Studies courses when they have completed the required undergraduate coursework. These students take the same certificate courses as the post-baccalaureate paralegal students.
Paralegals who already have earned certificates from ABA-approved paralegal programs may apply for admission to take individual courses. If space permits, they will be allowed to register for any certificate courses other than PLST 332/333/334 Legal Research and Writing I/II/III and PLST 398 Internship. Course prerequisites may be waived by the director, depending on the student's work experience and previous education.
Required Foundation Courses (7 courses; 14 credit hours)
- PLST 331 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- PLST 332 Legal Research & Writing I
- PLST 333 Legal Research & Writing II
- PLST 334 Legal Research & Writing III
- PLST 335 Legal Ethics
- PLST 336 Basic Business Organizations & Contracts
- PLST 345 Law Office Computer Applications
Concentration Courses (3 courses; 6 credit hours)
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Civil Litigation
- PLST 340 Civil Litigation I
- PLST 341 Civil Litigation II
- PLST 342 Civil Litigation III
Corporate/Commercial Transactions
- PLST 337 Advanced Business Organizations
- PLST 338 Contracts & Commercial Transactions
- PLST 339 Secured Transactions & Bankruptcy
Corporate/Real Estate
- PLST 343 Real Estate Transactions I
- PLST 344 Real Estate Transactions II
- PLST 337 Advanced Business Organizations
Electives (2 courses; 4 credit hours)
Choose two of the following courses:
- PLST 346 Advanced Litigation Computer Applications
- PLST 348 Advanced Legal Research & Writing
- PLST 349 Torts
- PLST 350 Medical Malpractice
- PLST 351 Intellectual Property: Patents & Trade Secrets
- PLST 352 Intellectual Property: Trademarks & Copyrights
- PLST 353 Securities Regulation
- PLST 355 Estates, Trusts & Wills
- PLST 357 Family Law
- PLST 358 Criminal Law & Litigation
- PLST 359 Environmental Law
- PLST 360 Employment Law
- PLST 361 Immigration Law
- PLST 398 Internship
- Or any other course for which the student qualifies
Transfer Credit
Before You Apply: Transfer credit may be available for courses taken at another paralegal program, or at an ABA-accredited law school, before applying to the Institute. The courses must be comparable to specific Institute paralegal courses, including instruction in practical paralegal skills.
Transfer credit is limited to 6 semester hours. University policy requires that the institution offering the paralegal program be regionally accredited and that the student have earned a grade of C- or higher. The student must submit an official transcript confirming the grade, and may be required to provide documentation of the course content.
Current Students: Students currently enrolled in the Institute will not receive transfer credit for courses taken elsewhere except with the advance approval of the Director, which is granted only in unusual situations and at the Director's discretion.
Special Note: Students with transfer credit will have access to all career assistance services at the Institute once they have completed two-thirds of their required credit hours toward the Loyola Certificate.
