Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Work with the law to make a difference.

Equipping students with the fundamental knowledge and applied skills imperative for the paralegal profession and beyond.

Credits21

Sample Careers

Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Legal Analyst
Compliance Specialist

Financial Aid

The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.

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Program Overview

In addition to employment with law firms and corporate legal departments, paralegals and professionals with a paralegal education commonly use their skills in various legal and law-related careers, including criminal justice, compliance, corporate governance, human resources, real estate, health care, finance, public policy, public interest services, and more. The Paralegal Studies Certificate from Concordia enhances a student's undergraduate degree by blending traditional and simulation-focused experiential learning to develop the learner's legal acumen, analytical and critical thinking aptitudes, research and writing competencies, and strategic problem-solving skills.

This certificate program is available to:
- students enrolled in a traditional undergraduate or accelerated program at Concordia as an add-on certificate.
- students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and wish to earn this certificate without additionally enrolling in a separate degree program.
The curriculum is offered online as self-paced 16-week and 8-week courses.
Students must complete 21 credits with a minimum grade of "C" in each paralegal course.

Robust Growth in the paralegal profession

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the profession to grow "," with 14% job growth from 2021 to 2031 (compared to only a 5% average growth rate among all occupations during the same period).

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development currently designates the paralegal profession as one of the state's " "

Michigan, the home of our very own , expects , approximately twice the average growth rate (8.8%) across all occupations in the state during the same period.

Illinois projects in the paralegal profession between 2020-2030, in contrast to the state's expected overall job growth average of 8.25% during that time

Connect with us today to learn more about tapping into this in-demand profession!

What to Expect

In addition to those entering the paralegal field, this program will be advantageous for students who are interested in law school or want to complement their degree with a valuable set of skills attractive to a variety of employers. Students completing this program will be armed with foundational knowledge and practical tools for legal and law-related careers.

Note:

Paralegals and others completing this program may not provide legal services directly to the public unless expressly permitted by state law. Consult your state's laws regulating the practice and unauthorized practice of law.
Although this certificate can be taken regardless of degree level completion and as a standalone program, a bachelors or associates degree is strongly recommended in addition to this certificate for employment as a paralegal.

For current s�� students

For current traditional and accelerated students only

If you are interested in adding this certificate program to your studies while at Concordia, please see your academic and career advisor or add the certificate by using the "Major/Minor Change" form in the portal.

For students with a degree

For prospective students who already have a degree

If you are interested in this certificate program and already have an associates or bachelor's degree from Concordia or another accredited institution, you may apply at any point in the year. No need to wait!

Submit your non-degree
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be sent directly to admissions.

You will receive an email and phone call from your helpful Admission Counselor about next steps. When your application file is complete, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. With most programs students will be required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning.

**Exceptions to the above admission criteria may be granted through the conditional admission process. For additional information, please contact your Admissions Counselor.

Matthew Mac Kelly
J.D., Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Legal and Christian Ethics. Students will interpret and apply the ethical rules and concerns in the legal profession.

1.1 Students will be able to interpret and apply the rules of professional conduct, including the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct and those adopted by the States of Wisconsin or Michigan, as applicable.

1.2 Students will be able to evaluate ethical rules and concerns in the context of Christian legal professionals.

1.3 Students will demonstrate professionalism and civility through conduct consistent with the legal profession’s values and standards.

2. Critical Thinking and Reasoning. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills in performing legal reasoning, analysis, and problem solving.

2.1 Students will be able to critically read legal authorities (such as constitutions, statutes, regulations, and cases) to identify relevant legal rules and applicable public policies.

2.2. Students will be able identify relevant legal issues arising from factual scenarios and argue opposing positions on the identified issues.

2.3 Students will be able to apply legal thinking process to synthesis legal rules with facts to project likely outcomes.

3. Professional Language Skills. Students will be able to use appropriate legal language and terminology in procedural and substantive contexts competently and precisely.

3.1 Students will be able to discern and describe the American legal system, including sources of American law, the judicial system, and numerous areas of procedural and substantive areas of laws.

3.2 Students will be able to identify the functions of law in American society, how they relate to corresponding legal research material, the legislative process, and the judicial structure and system.

4. Legal Research and Communication. Students will be able to research and communicate effectively about legal matters both orally and in writing.

4.1 Students will be able to develop and apply legal research and writing skills incorporating fact gathering and issue identification.

4.2 Students will be able to locate primary and secondary legal authorities using various modes and methods.

4.3 Students will be able to recognize and compare various legal authorities for the preparation of legal memoranda of law, briefs, and forms in various writing styles.

4.4 Students will be able to cite applicable legal authorities appropriately.

4.5 Students will be able to design research plans and implement them in consideration of time and resource constraints.

4.5 Students will prepare a variety of practice-based and legal documents, accurately prepare legal forms, and summarize legal documents in an organized, reasoned, and professional manner.

5. Conflict Management and Resolution. Students will be able to collaborate with others for the promotion of formal and informal dispute resolution.

5.1 Students will be able to develop and implement plans for resolving client issues with consideration of the client’s goals, available legal options, and the client’s best interests.

5.2 Students will be able to identify and distinguish between forms of alternative dispute resolution with a comprehension of advantages and disadvantages of each.

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