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PRE-REQUISITES

Previous training in the law is not necessary.  The LSAT examination is also not required.  Applicants are considered as follows:

Certificate Program: This is a post-baccalaureate program. Students may hold their bachelor's degree in any discipline.  An overall GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 is suggested for admission to the program.  To apply to the Paralegal Studies Program, download and print the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Application Form (PDF, 45K).

Post-Baccalaureate Admission Process
Applicants to the Paralegal Studies Program must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions they have attended. The transcript from the institution issuing the bachelor's degree must indicate the degree was obtained. Applicants are responsible for arranging for the transmittal of all transcripts, including those issued by Roosevelt University. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Paralegal Studies Program. 

Foreign applicants may have additional requirements including, but not limited to, the need to have their transcripts translated and evaluated by an outside service. For more information on these services, contact World Educational Service at 312-222-0882 or Educational Credential Evaluators at 414-289-3400.

A personal interview and/or letters of recommendation may be requested after an application has been reviewed.

Applicants who disagree with an admission decision may appeal the decision. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the program director within 60 days of the date of the letter that informed the applicant of an admission decision. Appeals are reviewed by the program's appeal committee, which consists of members of the program's administration, faculty and the college Dean.

Combined Bachelor's Degree and Certificate Program Options: This is a program option available to Roosevelt University undergraduates seeking either a conventional bachelor's degree through the College of Arts and Sciences or an accelerated bachelor's degree through the Evelyn T. Stone College of Professional Studies, Bachelor of Professional Studies degree. Interested students should apply to Roosevelt University for undergraduate admission. If accepted, once all non-paralegal courses have been completed, students then submit an application to the Paralegal Studies Program. It is suggested that these students apply to the Paralegal Studies Program within one semester of the intended start date for the paralegal courses. These applicants must maintain an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 to be eligible for acceptance into the program. Students take classes in the Paralegal Studies Program for credit in their senior year after completing all other undergraduate requirements. To apply to Roosevelt University, download and submit the Application for Undergraduate Admission (PDF, 26K).

Admission for Non-Certificate or Non-Degree Seeking Students: Graduates of the Paralegal Studies Program are invited to take additional classes in the program. Graduates wishing to do so should contact the Paralegal Studies Program office for an Audit Application form. The cost for auditing a Paralegal Studies Program course is 25% less than the current post-baccalaureate tuition rate. This discount is not available for online courses.

All other individuals wishing to take classes in the program must submit an application to the program as described above.

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DEADLINES & START DATES

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and acceptance is subject to space availability. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible in advance of the semester in which they wish to start. An applicant may apply up to one year in advance from the date of intended enrollment. Students seeking financial aid are urged to apply as early as possible so that financing aspects are worked out prior to registration. Students may apply to enter the program in the spring (generally mid-January) or fall (generally late August or early September) semesters.

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SCHEDULES

The next semester students can apply for is the Fall 2008 semester. Full-time day classes begin on Monday, August 25, 2008 and part-time evening classes begin on Wednesday, September 3, 2008:

Click here for the Fall 2008 Full-time program schedule

Click here for the Fall 2008 Part-time program schedule-New Students Only

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TUITION, FEES & COSTS

Applicants pay a $40.00 non-refundable application fee and pay for the cost of obtaining and transmitting official transcripts. If transcripts require evaluation or translation, the applicant is responsible for the arrangements and the costs associated with the same.

Tuition is charged and paid by the semester hour. A student must successfully complete twenty-four (24) semester hours of coursework to earn their certificate. All students are required to take eight (8) courses. Each course in the program is three (3) semester hours for a total of twenty-four (24) semester hours.

• The tuition for post-baccalaureate certificate students is $350 per semester hour beginning with the Fall 2007 semester.  Tuition is subject to change and the Paralegal Studies Program reserves all rights in this regard.  
  
• Students enrolling in the program seeking academic credit through one of the bachelor degree program options will pay the university's undergraduate tuition rate. Contact the university's Admissions Office at 1-877-APPLYRU for undergraduate tuition information.

Additional costs for students include a $125 general fee to register each semester, textbooks, course supplement materials and other miscellaneous classroom items. Textbooks average $75-$100 per course. The program strives to provide its students with high quality course materials while keeping in mind costs.  A late fee of $200 is assessed by the university for anyone registering for classes after the late registration deadline.

Living expenses and transportation to and from campus are additional costs that applicants need to consider.

HOUSING
For information about university housing, please visit the Office of Residence Life online or call 312-341-2005.

FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid is available for qualified students through the Federal Stafford Loan Program. Applicants interested in financial aid can contact Roosevelt University's Financial Aid Office at 1-866-421-0935. Applicants can also submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA) online. The program does not directly handle financial aid, but does recommend having such arrangements in place well in advance of the first day of the semester.

TRANSFER CREDIT
With the approval of the program director, students may transfer as many as 12 semester hours, taken no longer than six years prior to the date on which the student starts taking paralegal courses, from ABA-approved paralegal programs.

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FRANKLIN & ELEANOR ROOSEVELT SCHOLARSHIP

Each year, the program sponsors two scholarship essay competitions for the benefit of prospective and enrolled students. Money awarded pursuant to our scholarship must be applied to tuition charges for the Paralegal Studies Program. The competitions require applicants to write a 2,000-word essay on selected topics. Through each essay competition, the program awards one $3,000 scholarship and three $1,000 scholarships.

Scholarship rules, deadlines, topics and winners will be posted on this website twice each year when they are announced.  Winning essays are available in our office and the first place essay is reprinted in the program's newsletter, In Brief.

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FIRST PLACE AWARD RECIPIENT
$3,000 TUITION SCHOLARSHIP

Johanna Ryan
“Driver's Certificates: A Step Out of the Shadows”

SECOND PLACE AWARD RECIPIENTS
$1,000 TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS

Sean Brown
“When the Smoke Clears: Public Health vs. Business Hardship”

Jennifer Rust
“Debating the Illinois Smoking Ban: Is Money More Important than Our Health”

Ban Youna
“Illinois' Smoking Ban: Can We Really Make a Difference?”

All of the winning essays are available for review in the
Paralegal Studies Program office.

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2008 NFPA/THOMSON-WEST SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

Thomson/West has again partnered with the National Federation of Paralegal Associations to award two scholarships. The first prize is a $3,500 scholarship and the second prize is a $1,500 scholarship. Please visit the NFPA's website for further details and to download the application by clicking on the following link: http://www.paralegals.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=13. . The deadline is August 1, 2008 so please be timely.

Also, the package submitted to NFPA must be complete or applicants will be disqualified. The two scholarship recipients will be contacted once the results are provided to the Education Coordinator by the judges and will have the opportunity to attend the NFPA Annual Conference in Rogers, AK in October and receive the scholarships.

 

 

True to its founding mission to provide exceptional educational opportunities to students from all walks of life, Roosevelt University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, handicap or disability in its programs or activities.