Elgin Community College

Elgin Community College

Become a paralegal specialist at Elgin Community College

The Paralegal education program at Elgin Community College provides students with a broad based foundation in all major areas of the law to prepare them to explore and enter the job market before being required to choose an area of specialization. Practical and hands on applications are emphasized by all study options. Westlaw on-line legal research and a well-stocked law library are included in our facilities. Judges, attorneys and experienced paralegals serve as our instructors. The program has received the approval of the American Bar Association.

Attorneys in many cases are assisted with their duties by paralegals or legal assistants who often are asked to do all the work of an attorney, minus accepting clientele, deciding on fees, providing legal recommendations, and presenting cases in a court of law. According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor, there will an increase in the demand for legal assistants and paralegals as employment opportunities are likely to rise as much as 35 percent by the end of the decade. Paralegal work typically involves interview of clients and witnesses, investigation of case facts, research and analysis of information, writing reports, preparation of legal arguments, drafting of pleadings and contracts, and affidavit making.

Program Details

The Paralegal program utilizes hands-on, practical applications. A well-stocked law library, including an online legal research system, is part of the facilities. Judges, attorneys, and experienced paralegals teach classes. They all know how to bring learning alive. The American Bar Association has given approval to the paralegal program which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. Students from other community colleges can enroll in ECC's paralegal degree at in-district tuition rates as it is permitted by joint educational agreements.