Prospective Students

Dear Prospective Students:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Paralegal Studies Program in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) at the University of Cincinnati. The Paralegal Program is a well-established program having begun in 1980. This material is provided to assist you in answering your most common questions.

Under the supervision of a lawyer, the paralegal may perform such varied functions as investigating cases, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing legal documents, and legal research. These tasks may be performed in a variety of legal areas that include probate, domestic research, litigations, family law and tax matters.

The employment opportunities for program graduates are excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics categorized the paralegal profession as growing faster than the average for all occupations through 2024. Graduates of UC's program are currently working as paralegals in large and small firms, corporate legal departments, governmental agencies, banks, and legal publishing companies. Salaries for paralegals are very competitive.

The program prepares graduates at two levels- Bachelor Degree or a Professional Post-baccalaureate Certificate. The Certificate is limited to those students who possess or are enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree and have obtained at least a 2.75 GPA in that degree. The Certificate students will complete 10 legal specialty courses for a total of 30 hours.

The Bachelor Degree in Paralegal Studies is offered through CECH only. Students may apply through Admissions to the Bachelor Program. Students with a criminal conviction should contact the program coordinator.

The faculty is comprised of all practicing attorneys. Instructors are selected on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in the area of law taught, their experience working with paralegals, as well as their demonstrated commitment to the education of paralegal students.

One of our program goals is to integrate substantive knowledge of the law with practical legal skills so that our students will be ready to enter the job market upon graduation. Students may begin the program at any semester and choose day or evening classes, along with online course offerings. However, Fall semester is the preferred semester to begin. Not all legal courses are offered every semester and some are sequential. Students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisors. Students must complete a minimum of 9 semester credit hours of legal specialty classes in a traditional classroom format to graduate from the program.

A unique feature of the program is a 15-week internship that gives students the opportunity to apply their classroom instruction to a legal work environment. Students are placed in their preferred legal setting and obtain actual work experience under the supervision of a practicing attorney.

Admission Applications for Bachelor Degree
Application forms and admission information may be obtained from:

The Office of Admission
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Email: admissions@uc.edu|Web Site

Click here for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Application.

There is no application fee for the certificate.

Student Financial Aid Assistance: UC's Office of Financial Aid assists students in obtaining scholarships, grants and loans.
Students are urged to contact:

Student Financial Aid |
One Stop Center
2nd Floor University Pavilion
PO Box 210125
Cincinnati OH 45221-0125
Phone: 513-556-1000
Fax: 513-556-9171
Email: Financeaid@uc.edu | onestop@uc.edu |Financial Aid Web Site

Any additional questions
Please contact the Program Coordinator:

Emma Fletcher
University of Cincinnati
660A Teachers-Dyer Complex
PO Box 210389
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0389
Phone: 513-556-1731
Email: Emma.Fletcher@uc.edu