About the Institute
Loyola University Chicago established the Institute for Paralegal Studies in 1991 as a continuation of the Legal Assistant Program begun in 1975 at Mallinckrodt College of the North Shore. Approved by the American Bar Association since 1977, Loyola's paralegal educational program adheres to both schools' traditions of academic excellence and respect for the individual student. In 2003, the institute became part of Loyola's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
The primary goal of the institute is to introduce students to the study of law and the legal profession. The institute's focus is on the role of paralegals in assisting attorneys. The three concentrations — Civil Litigation, Corporations and Real Estate — and various electives offer instruction in specific skills used by paralegals in each area of law. The institute is designed to train paralegals and not lawyers or legal administrators. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
The faculty and staff are qualified professionals experienced in the use of paralegals and committed to their education and promotion as essential members of the legal community. They impose rigorous standards on students to prepare them for this role. The full-time program director, Jean Hellman Ryan, holds J.D. and LL.M. degrees and has more than two decades of experience in paralegal education. She is an educational consultant to the ABA's Standing Committee on Paralegals and both the Standing Committee and the Committee's Approval Commission.
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.
Institute Mission and Goals
Mission Statement
The Institute for Paralegal Studies supports the University's mission of promoting knowledge in the service of humanity by educating students to work as competent, effective assistants to lawyers. While the Institute is oriented toward a specific career, its objectives indicate our belief that rigorous, comprehensive academic instruction, not merely vocational training, is essential for a legal assistant/paralegal to develop the proper capacity of critical and ethical judgment. We also seek to promote the professionalism of legal assistants and paralegals, thereby enlarging their capacity for service to the legal community and ultimately contributing to the advancement of justice in American society.
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Goal One: Students will develop an understanding of the law, the legal and paralegal professions, and the legal process, including the use of technology, appropriate to their expected role in the legal community. Students will demonstrate the acquisition of practical, technical skills as well as basic knowledge of legal theory, and specialized competency in at least one area of concentration.
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Goal Two: Students will demonstrate competence in legal research and writing, problem analysis, and critical thinking.
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Goal Three: Students will display an awareness of ethical, moral, and social issues that contain legal implications. Students will also demonstrate knowledge of the standards of conduct expected of the legal profession in general and the legal assistant/paralegal in particular.
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Goal Four:Faculty and staff will be committed not only to quality education of the students but also to the promotion of legal assistants and paralegals as essential members of the legal community.
Institute Students
Students at the Institute for Paralegal Studies come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are already working in law firms or corporate law departments, while others are seeking a career change. Recent graduates of undergraduate schools often choose paralegal studies as a practical application of their liberal arts education. Some students are considering law school or other graduate work in the future. Others are satisfying a long-standing interest in the law.
Whatever their motivation, institute students benefit from a comprehensive program of education under the guidance of experienced professionals. The flexible scheduling serves varying needs. Students may complete the program in just four 8-week terms (about eight months), or may extend their coursework over several terms. Students working part or full time appreciate the opportunity to plan their schedules to suit their needs and interests.
In recent terms, the ages of institute students have ranged from 22 to 76 years. The average age is 32 years old. Female students constitute 77% of the student population, and minorities about 33%. Student's undergraduate work has been done at universities throughout the United States and occasionally overseas. Undergraduate majors have typically been in the liberal arts, fine arts, sciences, business or education.
Loyola's Water Tower Campus
The Institute for Paralegal Studies is located at Loyola's Water Tower Campus just north of downtown Chicago. Situated on Chicago's famous North Michigan Avenue, the Water Tower Campus offers an academic environment in a dynamic urban setting. Chicago's architecture, parks, museums, theatres, concert halls, stadiums, restaurants, and ethnic neighborhoods make it a truly world-class city.
One of Loyola's three campuses in the Chicago area, the Water Tower Campus houses the School of Law, the School of Business Administration, the School of Social Work, the School of Education and other graduate and undergraduate programs. Facilities and services are available during the day and early evening for the convenience of working students. These include the student business office, financial aid office, registrar's office, bookstore and vending services. To view a map of the Water Tower Campus, click here.
The Water Tower Campus is easily accessible by public and private transportation from everywhere in the city and surrounding suburbs. Students who drive to classes may find discounted rates at several public parking lots near the Water Tower Campus. For more detailed information about parking at the Water Tower Campus, click here.
The University also provides free shuttle service (except during the summer) between the Water Tower Campus and the Lake Shore Campus on the far north side of the city. This service is also available to both Metra stations after weeknight classes in the fall and spring terms. For more detailed information about shuttle service, click here.
University housing is available on the Water Tower Campus. Off-campus housing may be found within walking distance of the Water Tower Campus. For more information about Water Tower Campus housing, click here .
Library and Computer Facilities
Paralegal students use the Loyola Law Library, a 300,000-volume facility housed on three floors of the 25 East Pearson Building. The library is open approximately 100 hours each week, from early morning to late evening and on weekends. A reference staff of professional librarians, who also hold law degrees, is available during all library hours to assist with research and other questions.
Paralegal students are trained to use the LEXIS and WESTLAW computerized legal research services in the Legal Research and Writing courses. Internet access is also available to all institute students, and many teachers include Internet-based resources in their classes.
Visit the Loyola Law Library home page.
