Paralegal

Mission Statement                                  

The mission of the Wilbur Wright Paralegal program is to offer students of diverse backgrounds, talents and abilities quality legal instruction leading to career advancement and transfer. We fulfill our mission through our courses and other activities which are designed to allow the students to develop effective listening, legal research, critical legal thinking, legal writing and technological skills. Our strategy encourages students to solve academic or job-related challenges in a manner that demonstrates proficiency in fundamental procedural and substantive law and in legal research and drafting techniques.    

Click Here to V​iew the Paralegal Program’s Goals & Student Learning Outcomes​​                         ​  

What Can Wright’s Paralegal Program Do for You?                              

• Prepare you for a lucrative and exciting new career, with employment security superior to most existing jobs. According to the Department of Labor, employment for paralegals is expected to grow through 2032. Chicago is home to some of the largest law firms in the United States, employing over 1200 paralegals. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median income for full time paralegals in the United States $60,970 in 2023.                      

• Provide you with practical, hands-on training. Through Wright’s internship, you can meet prospective employers and gain valuable “hands-on” experience to increase your marketability​. ​                           

• Offer you flexibility and affordability. The Paralegal Program was designed for a variety of individuals; those who are seeking a career change, as well as those who are entering the legal field as a paralegal as a first-time career. We welcome part-time and full-time students with classes at an extremely affordable cost per credit hour. We offer online and remote live (Zoom) courses. NOTE: Students must take at least 9 semester credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction (such as remote live Zoom courses).                            

What Will You Learn at Wright’s Paralegal Program?

Upon completion of Wright’s Paralegal Program, students will be prepared to successfully perform, under an attorney’s supervision, a wide range of paralegal tasks such as researching legal issues, interviewing clients/witnesses, preparing legal forms and documents, working on probate matters, or other related duties. In addition to studying legal concepts and learning paralegal skills, students gain experience using online legal research service, such as Westlaw, have access to a legal research library and can participate in activities hosted by Wright College’s Wright at Law Club.                             

Internship

A signi​ficant component of the College’s Paralegal Program is an optional internship during the student’s last semester. This internship provides the student an opportunity to take what they have learned in class and apply it in a realistic work environment. Students of this program will also have access to all of the student services Wright College offers such as job placement, career development and advising, and computer lab and library.                      

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

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