The JCCC Paralegal program is an ABA-approved, selective admission program. This means that all applicants must meet the admission requirements to qualify for the program. Each step below contains links to action items, more detailed explanations, or both, so please review these carefully. If you have applied to the Paralegal program before and were not selected or did not enter the program for that semester, you must reapply for admission to the program.
Video walkthrough of application steps
If you have not attended JCCC before or have not attended JCCC in more than two years, you must complete a JCCC application for admission.
During this initial step, select Non-Degree Seeking or Liberal Arts as your major. Please select the Fall 2024 term.
It may take five business days for your application to be processed. If you submit a general admission application within 10 days of the Paralegal program application deadline, you may not receive your JCCC student ID in time to apply for the Paralegal program. In that case, please email Teresa Leland, tleland@jccc.edu, in the Admissions office.
Applicants who do not already have a qualifying degree*
If you do not already have an associate of arts, associate of science, bachelor’s, or graduate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution on the date you submit your application, you must complete (1) ENGL 121 (Composition I) or its equivalent OR ENGL 122 (Composition II) or its equivalent, (2) LAW 120 (Introduction to Paralegal Studies), and (3) LAW 121 (Introduction to Law) with grades of C or higher in each prior to admission into the program. If any of the courses are in progress at the time of application, you may still apply; however, the Admissions office will wait until grades are posted at the end of that semester to process your application so that it may verify successful completion of classes in progress and your final GPA.
Applicants who already have a qualifying degree*
If you do already have a qualifying degree on the date you submit your application, you must complete (1) LAW 120 (Introduction to Paralegal Studies) and (2) LAW 121 (Introduction to Law) with grades of C or higher either before or during your first semester in the program. Degree-holding students who do not receive a C grade or higher in both classes by the end of their first semester in the program will be placed on program probation—they must successfully complete the courses in the next semester; otherwise, they will be suspended from the program and must reapply to the program in a future semester if they want to continue.
* If you have not yet earned a qualifying degree when you submit your application, you will not be able to receive the Paralegal Certificate until you have earned a qualifying degree. Upon acceptance to the Paralegal program, you will be enrolled in a dual major of Paralegal Certificate and AA-Liberal Arts so that you may pursue the degree and the certificate at the same time. If you otherwise earn a qualifying degree after admission to the program, you can request to switch to only the Paralegal Certificate major after providing official transcripts that show your graduation.
Applying for Financial Aid?
Check in with Financial Aid to review your course eligibility, especially if you already have a qualifying degree and are taking LAW 120 or LAW 121 prior to your program’s first official semester.
Fall 2024 Paralegal Application
The online application is typically available in mid-February for Fall semester admission and in mid-September for Spring semester admission. The online application closes at 4:00 pm on the final deadline (July 1 for Fall semester admission; December 1 for Spring semester admission).
You will receive a personal admission plan on your MyJCCC account to verify receipt of materials in the Admissions office. In order to notify you of your file status, we strongly recommend that all materials be submitted well in advance of the deadline. Please call the Admissions office at 913-469-8500, Ext. 3438, if you have questions.
Your personal admission checklist will be updated periodically as the Admissions office processes application materials.
Access your Personal Admission Checklist and your JCCC email account through your MyJCCC account.
Official transcripts from all U.S regionally accredited institutions that you attended are due by the application deadline.
See Paralegal Program admissions requirements
It is not necessary to send JCCC transcripts or to request transcripts from previous colleges if JCCC already has them on file.
Please review your personal admission plan to check the status of your transcript submission. When JCCC receives transcripts, your personal admission plan will be updated automatically. If you notice any discrepancies, please email Teresa Leland, tleland@jccc.edu, in the Admissions office.
As an ABA-approved, selective admission program, the JCCC Paralegal program is required to establish minimum competency requirements for all applicants prior to admission. To demonstrate that your current skill level is appropriate for admission into the program, you must meet JCCC’s “college reading readiness” requirement, available here.
See Paralegal Program admissions requirements for a description of the college reading readiness requirement as it applies to Paralegal Program admission.
In order to be guaranteed consideration for admission to the Paralegal program during the fall semester, all admission requirements other than orientation must be met and all documentation received by the Admissions office on or before following dates:
- Preferential admission deadline: April 15
- Regular admission deadline: July 1*
In order to be guaranteed consideration for admission to the Paralegal program during the spring semester, all admission requirements other than orientation must be met and all documentation received by the Admissions office on or before following dates:
- Preferential admission deadline: October 15
- Regular admission deadline: December 1*
* Exception for applicants who are required to complete the 3 prerequisite courses prior to admission (those who do not yet have a qualifying degree): So long as you have met all other admission requirements and are still in process of completing the prerequisite courses, the Admissions office will hold your application for decision until after final grades are posted for the current semester.
Meeting all admission requirements by the preferential admission deadline provides potential paralegal students with the opportunity to enroll in classes earlier than those who do not meet the requirements until the regular admission deadline. Early applicants who do not meet all the admission requirements by the preferential deadline will be considered in July or December along with regular admission applicants.
Applications for admission will typically not be reviewed prior to the deadlines. You should monitor your personal admission plan to ensure all application materials have been received by the Admissions office. Please call the Admissions office at 913-469-8500, Ext. 3438, if you have questions.
If invited, you must participate in Paralegal Program Orientation.
During or following the orientation sessions, you will be provided a link to an online acceptance form. Accept your invitation to join the Paralegal program invitation by submitting the online acceptance form within five business days.
Once the Admissions office receives your acceptance form, your primary major will be changed to Paralegal Certificate. If you do not already have a qualifying degree, your secondary major also will be entered as AA-Liberal Arts.
Then you will be able to enroll in Paralegal program courses for the upcoming semester. Students who already have a qualifying degree but have not yet completed the prerequisite courses—LAW 120 and LAW 121—are required to enroll in those courses during their first semester in the program and complete them with a grade of “C” or higher.
Applications to enter the Paralegal program are semester-specific. If you are not admitted to the program for any reason in one semester, you will need to reapply to be considered for admission to the program in a subsequent semester.