Careers: Bachelor of Science in Law & Paralegal Studies

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the industries with the strongest job growth for paralegals over the next few years will be finance firms, insurance firms, consulting firms, and healthcare providers.

University of Cincinnati’s online Law & Paralegal Studies bachelor’s program is designed so that upon graduating from the program students are able to:

• Gather and analyze statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, documents and other data.
• Prepare briefs, wills, contracts, real estate closing statements, pleadings, appeals, and other legal documents.
• Analyze and evaluate the law and modify standardized forms found in for books, pleading files, form files, or computer databases.
• Investigate facts and laws of cases and searching public records and other resources to prepare cases and determine causes of action.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and ethical principles that guide paralegal conduct and demonstrate an understanding of the role of the paralegal in the delivery of legal services.

Employment Opportunities for Graduates

As law firms and other employers continue to cut budgets while the demand for legal services increases, employers are choosing to utilize paralegals whenever possible since paralegals can perform legal tasks at a lower cost per hour than attorneys. The legal studies profession is a fast growing career and graduates of our online program are employed in a variety of legal environments as broad as the law itself, including:

• Compliance
• Governmental Agencies
• Risk Management
• Corporate Law Departments
• Research Analyst
• Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
• Contract Manager
• Claims Adjuster/Investigator
• Tax Preparer

Paralegal Salaries

Because of the significant challenges inherent in many paralegal careers, as well as the vital importance of this field to the fabric our society, many paralegal disciplines tend to be well-compensated in terms of salary and benefits;  with some employers offering pay increases to those who earn an advanced degree. According to PayScale, individuals with a BS in Paralegal Studies earn an average annual salary of nearly $61,000.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.