Students Value Stature, Flexibility, and Career Connections

Gladys Rodriguez has worked as a paralegal and legal assistant at Cooney & Conway, an established Chicago law firm, while preparing to take the LSAT in the spring and apply to Loyola University Chicago School of Law in the fall. She credits Loyola’s Institute of Paralegal Studies with setting her on this path to success – by providing a strong legal foundation and giving her the confidence to seek the career she was meant to have.

Rodriguez did not always believe in herself or have a clear direction. She became interested in the legal field at a young age, but it seemed out of reach, so she pursued other work. Then, a few years ago, she realized she wanted a better future for herself and her young children, so she enrolled in community college and obtained an associate degree. Rodriguez then was accepted to Loyola’s Paralegal Studies program, receiving a certificate in Litigation and Corporate Practice and graduating with a bachelor’s in May 2025.

Today, Rodriguez is grateful for her legal job and the opportunities that lie ahead. “The more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized this is the right path for me,” she says. “In addition, I now know I can balance work, school, and family, and, most importantly, I’ve shown my boys it’s never too late to keep going and achieve more for yourself.”

Rodriguez is not alone in seeing the promise of a paralegal career. More than 15,000 people work as paralegals and legal assistants in Illinois alone, and that’s expected to remain stable for several years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Chicago area, in particular, has ample opportunity, thanks to the high concentration of law firms, corporations, and government entities.

The demand for paralegals and the salary potential have fueled interest in Loyola’s Institute for Paralegal Studies, part of the top-ranked School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). Enrollment has grown steadily and is currently at its highest level in a decade, according to Marie Harrigan, director of the Institute. She says students of all ages and backgrounds are drawn to Loyola’s reputation, the flexibility of the SCPS model, support from accomplished legal faculty, and the professional connections once the job search begins. 

Loyola’s Paralegal Studies program has been around for nearly 35 years and is ABA (American Bar Association) approved, meaning it has met rigorous criteria around curriculum, faculty, resources, and student services.

Students can obtain a bachelor’s (40 paralegal hours toward 120 required for a degree) or paralegal certificate (22 or 28 hours). The degree program targets students who already have an associates, and the certificates are for those who earned a bachelor’s in another area and want a paralegal credential.

Both options focus on writing, research, procedure, and the latest legal technology. The degree and certificate greatly expand career potential, according to Harrigan, because larger employers prefer a paralegal bachelor’s or certificate from an ABA-approved program.

“Our students range from recent college graduates to people who are already working in firms to those changing careers,” Harrigan says. Many are non-traditional students who are juggling multiple responsibilities, so they value how quickly they can complete the program (certificates can take less than a year), as well as the flexibility. Classes are offered full time or part time, in person and online, weekday evenings and Saturday mornings, and in eight-week sessions throughout the year.

Students also appreciate the knowledgeable faculty, most of whom are working lawyers with impressive reputations in their fields. Matt Lombardi, who graduated in December 2025 with a bachelor’s in paralegal studies and is now working at Anthony J. Peraica & Associates, Ltd., says the professors “are accommodating and genuinely want students to learn and succeed.”

For some, like Rodriguez, the program is a bridge to law school, with graduates often serving as paralegals for a few years before taking that next step. But others participate with the singular goal of working as a paralegal.

That was the case for Destiny Evans, who obtained her Corporate Practice certificate in January 2026, after receiving a political science degree from Loyola. She loved her experience as a Rambler, including a year at the John Felice Rome Center, so Loyola was the obvious choice when she decided to become a paralegal.

Evans says a highlight of the program is the extensive support with resumes and the job search process. In fact, it was Harrigan who connected Evans with an internship opportunity at Corboy & Demetrio. She has since obtained a full-time paralegal position at the Chicago firm.

William Powers, a current student who will obtain his Corporate Practice certificate in July 2026, agrees that Loyola connects paralegal students with opportunities that are a great fit. “I obtained my role at Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. thanks to Loyola connections. This is a big city where reputation matters, and Loyola’s reputation precedes itself,” Powers says.

Harrigan does extensive outreach to establish and maintain relationships with Chicago-area law firms, so she can continue to help students and graduates find paralegal work.

“Our students often come in uncertain about working in the legal field. But they build their skills and confidence and eventually go on to these exciting roles,” she says. “It’s rewarding to be part of that process and see them do so well.”

Prospective students can learn more about the Paralegal Studies program and find information about scholarships and financial aid by visiting https://www.luc.edu/paralegal-studies/ or attending an upcoming information session.