Paralegal Certificate Program

The Hamline University Paralegal Certificate Program can prepare you to become a top-flight professional paralegal. Designed for students who have an undergraduate degree but want to further develop their skills and advance their careers, the Paralegal Certificate program offers innovation, flexibility, and the many benefits of a vibrant liberal arts university setting.

Join the Hamline University community for a stimulating intellectual environment, co-curricular opportunities, internship and practicum programs, professional faculty, and access to up-to-the-minute legal resources. 

  

We invite you to join us for an information session about the paralegal certificate program: Thursday, November 19 5:45 p.m. East Hall, Room 106   RSVP

Legal Studies Goals and Objectives
Graduates and certificate recipients from Hamline University’s Legal Studies Department will be able to:

• Produce reasoned analysis of the law.
• Demonstrate the English writing skills necessary to produce professional and legal documents.
• Demonstrate the mastery of legal citation practices necessary to produce legal documents.
• Demonstrate knowledge of computer programs common in the legal profession.
• Locate primary and secondary sources of law using print and electronic search tools.
• Fulfill legal and general ethical obligations in academic and professional settings.
• Evaluate legal issues in diverse cultural contexts.

Excellent Faculty
In the Paralegal program, courses are taught by College of Liberal Arts professors, practicing lawyers, School of Law faculty, experienced paralegals, who teach in teams with lawyers, and graduate-level instructors. This quality approach to education results in paralegal courses that are rigorous, challenging, and philosophical, yet meet the practical standards of today's paralegal profession.

Challenging Courses
As a liberal arts university, we offer our students the chance to explore the philosophical, political, and historical contexts of law. Examples of required and elective courses include Legal Research and writing, Litigation and Trial Practice, Estates and Trusts, Family and Gender Issues in the Law, Law of Real Property, Intellectual Property and Bankruptcy, to name a few.

Real-Life Experience
Our strong Practicum program provides crucial real-life experience for students while they work toward a certificate.  The Practicum, a required course, combines guest lectures and professional activities with a working paralegal internship.  Many of our students have turned their internships into employment.

Career Placement
Our students have a high rate of success. Many graduates work as paralegals, some continue their legal education in law school while others pursue other law-related careers.  Hamline has a full-service career development center to assist students in their career search.

ABA Approved Program
The Hamline University Postbaccalaureate Paralegal Certificate program is approved by the American Bar Association. Hamline University is also a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

Hamline University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.  The Commission is located at 30 North La Salle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504 and can be reached at 312-263-0456 or 800-621-7440.

Academic Requirements
To earn a Hamline University Postbaccalaureate Paralegal Certificate, you must take 2 credits of Post Baccalaureate orientation, 12 credits within a required legal specialty, 12 elective credits within a legal specialty and 6 credits of either legal specialty or law related classes for a total of 32 credits. The program can be completed according to your schedule; earn your certificate in as little as 9 months, or spread out your courses over several years.

View the Paralegal Certificate advising sheet >

Admission
Basic requirements include a four-year degree from an accredited institution and at least a 2.66 cumulative GPA in all prior college-level work. Students applying to the program need a personal statement of career and educational goals, official college transcripts, and a letter of recommendation.

Tuition
Tuition and financial aid information is available at the Student Administrative Services Office.  Financial aid is available based on individual eligibility.  Students must be enrolled in at least six credits to qualify for financial aid.  For required forms or more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 651-523-3000. 

Application Checklist

1. Complete the application and provide a personal statement outlining your career and educational goals. You may include any information which you feel may be of importance to the Admission Committee.

Complete the application and personal statement

2. Arrange to have official transcript(s) of previous course work and one letter of recommendation sent directly to:

Hamline University
Office of Graduate Admission
1536 Hewitt Avenue MS-A1710
St. Paul, MN 55104-1284

3. You will be contacted once your application file is complete and the Admission Committee has made a decision on your application status.

Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.