Loyola University Chicago- Curriculum

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

Corporations

PLST 337 Advanced Business Organizations
PLST 338 Commercial Transactions I: UCC Articles 2 & 2A
PLST 339 Commercial Transactions II: Article 9 & Bankruptcy

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 Computer Applications for Litigation
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

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.

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.

academics