Major: Paralegal Studies
Hannah Ovcharchyn earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and was working as a crime reporter when she began thinking about another career.
“It takes a lot of patience and digging through legal documents to find good stories,” she said. “I spent hours and hours in courthouses scouring through criminal complaints, police reports and anything else I could get my hands on. As time went on, I began to enjoy the meticulous legal work and learning about our judicial system more than I enjoyed reporting. I decided to take one paralegal class to see if I liked it.”
She did so at College of DuPage, which was her first choice.
“I am thankful to have such a reputable college in my backyard,” she said. “After learning how highly regarded the Paralegal Studies program was, it felt silly to go anywhere else.”
What Ovcharchyn found at COD was a welcoming environment. Her professors were not only knowledgeable but also patient and caring.
Paralegal Studies Success Stories
“I was used to the distant and impersonal teaching from my previous Big 10 education, so it was quite a shock to work one-on-one with all of my COD professors,” she said. “I was intimidated at first, but I was ultimately thankful to connect with my professors on a deeper level. They encouraged me to come out of my shell and share more of my story with my peers. I also made many professional connections through COD and through the help of now-retired Professor and Program Coordinator Sally Fairbank. I still feel close to my former professors and peers, and know that if I needed anything today, I could still reach out to any of them.”
Having graduated with her Paralegal Studies certificate, Ovcharchyn began working as a paralegal at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office, where she interned during her practicum class at COD. She split her time between assisting with mental health cases (involuntary admissions, petitions to administer medical treatment and emergency petitions) and tackling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
She is now an investigative assistant specializing in trial support and handling evidence for court, having been trained as an evidence technician.
After learning how highly regarded the Paralegal Studies program was, it felt silly to go anywhere else.
Ovcharchyn wants to continue combining her love of journalism with her love of the law. While she enjoys working with FOIA requests, she can also see herself working with a law firm that specializes in First Amendment rights or working in-house with a news organization.
Her advice to anyone considering the Paralegal Studies program at COD is to not be afraid to try something new or change career paths.
“Even if you aren’t interested in becoming a paralegal, having a legal background will give you a ‘leg up’ on the competition. There are so many paths you can take in law, so don’t feel like you have to adhere to one track,” Ovcharchyn said.
“Even though I took the bulk of my classes online during the pandemic, I didn’t feel like my education suffered at all. My professors went above and beyond to ensure every class was full of meaningful work. That being said, they also knew when to give us a break and welcomed honest conversations about mental health. The past few years have been difficult during this pandemic, but I felt like my classes were safe spaces. I will never forget that!”
Learn more about the Paralegal Studies program at College of DuPage