COD’s Paralegal Studies program is thrilled to announce that it will have a dedicated classroom beginning this fall, thanks to the incredible generosity of program alumna Lori Swanson, ACP, and her husband Eric Swanson, Ph.D. They have endowed this gift through COD’s Foundation to ensure our students, faculty, and alumni have a special place to call “home” on campus. The room is BIC 3461.

The room will be used as the primary site for most Paralegal Studies program classes, Paralegal Club meetings and events, advisory council meetings, faculty meetings, new student orientation sessions, and paralegal student gatherings. It will provide opportunities for both formal and informal gatherings, as well as networking opportunities between program graduates and current students.

Lori graduated from COD’s Paralegal Studies program in May 2018. As a student, Lori was inducted into Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX). She served as president of Paralegal Club and as treasurer of LEX. As an alumna, Lori has contributed in multiple ways, including being a frequent speaker to Paralegal Club and a frequent presenter on the topic of professionalism for Program Chair Sally N. Fairbank’s Practicum classes. Lori also serves as a frequent evaluator at expos and as a member of COD’s Paralegal Studies program advisory council. In addition, she is a certified paralegal through NALA, and has an advanced certification in E-Discovery.

We are beyond grateful for the breathtaking generosity of Lori and Eric.

Paralegal Club secretary Elizabeth Hess has won the 2020-2021 COD Academic Excellence Award for the Paralegal Studies program! Elizabeth was selected by the Paralegal Studies faculty as this year’s outstanding student in the program. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Paralegal Club and LEX co-advisor Linda Jenkins has been nominated for the College of DuPage Student Life Outstanding Club Advisor award!

Congratulations to Paralegal Studies Program Coordinator Sally N. Fairbank, on her nomination for the NALA 2021 Founders' Award!

We wish Donna Bekas a happy retirement! Many of us remember Donna for her help on the DuPage County courthouse tours.

We will miss Donna, and we wish her all of the best!

Congratulations to Paralegal Studies Program faculty member, Linda Jenkins! Linda is the winner of the 2019-2020 COD Student Life Advisor of the Year Award!

Liz McGuan, who teaches Immigration Law in the Paralegal Studies Program, wrote an article for The Legal Educator, the AAfPE's peer-reviewed professional journal. Liz's article made the cover!

Read Liz's article here.

Congratulations to Paralegal Studies Program faculty member, Linda Jenkins! Linda was named one of COD's Outstanding Faculty Members/Advisors!

Linda teaches Bankruptcy Law, Drafting Legal Documents, and Advanced Legal Research and Writing. She is also one of the co-advisors of Paralegal Club and LEX Honor Society.

See the article in the Daily Herald here.

Congratulations to Paralegal Studies Program professor
Liz McGuan!

Liz and Keith were married December 28, 2019.

We wish them a lifetime of happiness together!