The University of Toledo

Paralegal Studies/Legal Specialties, Pre-Law - Bring the Law to Life!

 

AN EXCITING CAREER IN LAW CAN BE YOURS!

An exciting career in the legal profession can be yours as a Paralegal.  While not providing legal services directly to the public (except as permitted by law), paralegals do work with attorneys to conduct interviews and investigations, research cases and gather evidence, and assist at trial.

The Paralegal Studies Program at The University of Toledo is one of the top programs in the country.  For instance, UT’s program was recently named one of the top six programs in the country by Legal Assistant Today magazine.  The Ohio Board of Regents designated UT’s a “Program of Excellence.” 

Most importantly, UT’s Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).  This is a very prestigious designation – of the over 1,300 paralegal programs in the country, only about 20% have received the ABA’s approval.  Your graduation from an ABA approved program will set you apart!  (For a complete listing of the ABA approved schools across the country, go to the ABA’s website at http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/allprograms.html). 

Your paralegal program coursework here at UT will include the law courses in which you have an interest.  For instance, during your degree program, you will take Contracts, Mock Trial, Tort Law, and many other extremely interesting law courses.  Your law courses will be held in the state-of-the-art McQuade Courtroom.  UT’s Paralegal Program is the only paralegal program in the country to have its own electronic courtroom! 

While not a totally on-line program, you can take a number of your law courses online.  Full and part-time programs, and day and evening courses, are available.  There are three paralegal program options from which you can choose:

Bachelor degree students graduate with a four-year (124 semester hours) diploma. The Program also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (30 semester hours) for those students already holding a baccalaureate or masters degree. For registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing, our Nurse Paralegal Certificate (21 semester hours) provides exciting opportunities.

Students receiving a degree or certificate in Paralegal Studies from UT will find that there are wonderful jobs in that field.  Go to the “Breaking News” section of our website (www.utoledo.edu/eduhshs/legal) to learn more about them from a recent salary survey.

Pre-Law Preparation:  Some students decide that they want to go on with their education and become an attorney.  For those students, they find that UT’s Paralegal Studies Program is an excellent “Pre-Law” preparation.  In addition, graduates from UT’s Bachelor degree in Paralegal Studies, who meet certain criteria, have a guaranteed admission to UT's College of Law! 

Now, to particulars and what to do next:  If you’ve never taken courses here at UT, you will first have to apply for admission to The University of Toledo.  You can do that online by going to www.utoledo.edu and following the links for applying for admission.

New Bachelor Degree students have to attend one of the new student orientation sessions.  Once you’re admitted to UT you’ll get information with dates so that you can select the session that works for you.  There will be advisors at that orientation session to help you register for your Spring courses.  Or, once you’ve completed the orientation session, you can make an appointment to meet with the Paralegal Studies Program Advisor.  Her name is Staci Sturdivant and the number to call to make an appointment with her is 419-530-5360. 

For students going into the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or the Nurse Paralegal Certificate programs, once you receive notice that you’ve been admitted to UT, you can immediately make an appointment with the Program Advisor, Staci Sturdivant. 

Take advantage of this dynamic, changing, and growing field within the legal profession!