By: Angela Mennecke
To meet growing local workforce demands, College of DuPage has launched a new Legal Administrative Assistant certificate designed to prepare students for entry-level administrative roles within the legal field. The 24-credit-hour program equips students with specialized skills to efficiently manage administrative tasks that support legal offices and professionals, including attorneys and paralegals.
Developed through a collaboration between COD’s Legal Studies and Office Technology Information (OFTI) programs, the certificate can be completed in two semesters and consists of eight courses. Graduates will be qualified for employment as legal administrative assistants in a variety of settings, including law enforcement, government, private practice and corporate environments.
Regional data shows strong demand for these roles. Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties are considered a hot spot for legal administrative positions, with earnings in these areas averaging 31 percent higher than the national median salary, according to a 2023 Lightcast Q1 2023 Data report.
The Legal Administrative Assistant certificate was designed with flexibility and career advancement in mind. Five courses from the certificate apply toward the Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS) in Legal Studies. Students earning the AAS also qualify for COD’s Paralegal certificate. In addition, five courses apply toward three AAS OFTI degrees and five OFTI certificates.
“The Legal Administrative Assistant certificate gives students multiple entry points into the legal field while also providing a pathway to further credentials,” said COD Dean of Business and Applied Technology Janice Kaushal. “Students can begin their careers after two semesters and later build on that foundation toward advanced degrees or paralegal certification.”
COD also maintains transfer agreements with Lewis University (3+1) and Roosevelt University
(2+2), along with a transfer guide with Southern Illinois University and the University
of Illinois-Springfield, offering students multiple options to continue their education.
For questions about the new Legal Administrative Assistant certificate, email COD Legal Studies Associate Professor Annie Knight at knighta@cod.edu or COD Office Technology Information Professor Casey Emerich at millerc308@cod.edu.