Steps Toward a Paralegal Career in Kentucky
Follow the step by step process on how to become a paralegal below:
- Achieve Paralegal Education in Kentucky
- Obtain Work Experience as a Paralegal in Kentucky
- Become a Certified Kentucky Paralegal
- Discover Paralegal Jobs in Kentucky
- Now That You’ve Become a Paralegal in Kansas
Paralegal Job Description in Kentucky
According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, 2,800 paralegals and legal assistants worked in Kentucky in May 2022 and earned an annual mean wage of $51,020.Those working in certain parts of the state earned higher than average salaries. For example, paralegals working in the Louisville-Jefferson County metropolitan area averaged $54,520 per year. Paralegals who worked in the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area earned an average yearly salary of $53,570. To learn how you can become a paralegal in Kentucky, keep reading.
Achieve Paralegal Education in Kentucky
As a paralegal student in Kentucky, you have the choice of attending a paralegal program that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or one that is not. There really is not a clear advantage of attending an ABA-accredited paralegal program in Kentucky over a non-accredited one. Some employers of paralegals in Kentucky may prefer graduates of ABA-accredited programs, but if you prove that you are educated, professional, and highly motivated, this should not matter much.
Kentucky Paralegal Online and Campus Schools
These Kentucky paralegal programs do hold ABA accreditation:
- Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
- Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies
- University of Louisville, Louisville
- Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies
- Sullivan University – Louisville, Lexington
- Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
- Morehead State University, Morehead
- Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies
- Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond
- Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Science
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Science
- Minor in Paralegal Science
- Daymar College, Owensboro
- Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Work Experience as a Paralegal in Kentucky
Chances are, your paralegal program in Kentucky will offer you the opportunity to get valuable paralegal work experience through a required internship. If it does not, you should pursue volunteer paralegal experience on your own. Future employers will be looking for paralegals who have some on-the-job experience and skills. Ideas of where to gain such experience in Kentucky include:
- Legal Aid Society – Louisville
- Legal Aid of the Bluegrass – Covington
- Kentucky Legal Aid – Bowling Green
- Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky – Prestonsburg
Become a Certified Kentucky Paralegal
Once you have completed your paralegal education in Kentucky, you may wish to become a Certified Kentucky Paralegal (CKP). This certification was developed by the Kentucky Paralegal Association in conjunction with the Kentucky Bar Association to recognize and designate the most competent, motivated, and professional paralegals in the state. To take the exam to become a KPA Certified Paralegal, you must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a graduate of an ABA-approved paralegal program
- Be a graduate of a non-approved paralegal program that complies with ABA approval guidelines
- Be a graduate of an accredited institution and hold a bachelor’s degree in any field along with a year of paralegal work experience
- Have five years of paralegal work experience under the direction of a licensed Kentucky attorney
The Certified Kentucky Paralegal exam consists of 40 questions on professional responsibility and ethics. It is offered once a year in Bowling Green. You must get a score of 70 or better to pass. Once you earn the CKP designation, you must maintain it by completing eight hours of continuing legal education each
Discover Paralegal Jobs in Kentucky
You need not search only within law firms in Kentucky for paralegal jobs. Large and small businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions are just a few of the many employers of paralegals in Kentucky, such as the following:
- Humana – Louisville
- Commonwealth of Kentucky – Franklin County
- The Whaley Law Firm – Louisville
- Prestige Healthcare – Lyndon
- Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP – Louisville
- Dinsmore & Shohl – Lexington
- Stevenson Land & Tierney – Owensboro
You’ve Become a Paralegal in Kentucky
You need not search only within law firms in Kentucky for paralegal jobs. Large and small businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions are just a few of the many employers of paralegals in Kentucky, such as the following:
- Humana – Louisville
- Commonwealth of Kentucky – Franklin County
- The Whaley Law Firm – Louisville
- Prestige Healthcare – Lyndon
- Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP – Louisville
- Dinsmore & Shohl – Lexington
- Stevenson Land & Tierney – Owensboro
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2023.