Paralegal Job Description in Kentucky

According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, 2980 paralegals and legal assistants worked in Kentucky in May 2012 and earned an annual mean wage of $41,540.Those working in certain parts of the state earned higher than average salaries. For example, paralegals working in the Cincinnati-Middletown Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana metropolitan area averaged $47,090 per year. Those working in the Bowling Green metropolitan area averaged $46,120 annually. Paralegals who worked in the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area earned an average yearly salary of $44,530. To learn how you can become a paralegal in Kentucky, keep reading.
 

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
• 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
• Beckfield College, Florence
• Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice
• Legal Nurse Consultant Certificate

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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

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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

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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
  

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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
  

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