Diploma in Law (Paralegal Studies)
The Diploma in Law, also known as Paralegal Studies, is offered by the Kenya School of Law and, as of the 2026 intake, is processed through KUCCPS for the first time, opening national access to this previously direct-application programme.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 136,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 272,000 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C plain or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, evening, online, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 8 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cybersecurity Data Lawyer, at 9 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study legal knowledge foundations, professional legal ethics, and practical paralegal skills, preparing them to support advocates, judicial officers, and other legal practitioners across various fields of law. Skills RequiredLegal Research BasicsLegal DocumentationProfessional Legal EthicsCase Preparation SupportClient Service in Legal SettingsKey SubjectsIntroduction to LawLegal EthicsLegal Documentation and DraftingCivil and Criminal Procedure BasicsParalegal PracticeCertificationsCouncil of Legal Education recognitionSpecializationsCorporate Legal SupportFocus on supporting corporate legal departments and business law matters. Litigation SupportFocus on supporting advocates with case preparation and court documentation. Skills RequiredCase Preparation SupportClient Service in Legal SettingsLegal DocumentationLegal Research BasicsProfessional Legal EthicsKey SubjectsIntroduction to LawLegal EthicsLegal Documentation and DraftingCivil and Criminal Procedure BasicsParalegal PracticeResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsCorporate Legal SupportFocus on supporting corporate legal departments and business law matters. Litigation SupportFocus on supporting advocates with case preparation and court documentation.
Kenya's law firms, corporate legal departments, and courts rely on trained paralegals to support case preparation, documentation, and client services, complementing the work of qualified advocates.
Training is offered through day classes at Karen Campus or Town Campus, or via evening virtual courses, combining legal theory with practical skills training.
Graduates work as paralegals in law firms, corporate legal departments, and courts, with the diploma also serving as a foundation for further legal studies.
The programme suits KCSE graduates with a C plain mean grade and strong English or Kiswahili who want a structured, professionally recognised entry point into legal support work.
What you study
6 subjects- Introduction to Law
- Legal Ethics
- Legal Documentation and Drafting
- Civil and Criminal Procedure Basics
- Paralegal Practice
- Research Methods
Modules
11 in the programmeConstitutional Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenyan constitution and government structure for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Law of Contract
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Contract law principles and enforcement including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Introduction to Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational legal concepts and the structure of Kenya's legal system for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Legal Ethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Professional ethics for legal support practitioners for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Criminal Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Criminal law and procedure in Kenya including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Legal Documentation and Drafting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparing and drafting standard legal documents, including contracts and for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Law of Torts
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Civil wrongs and liability including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Civil and Criminal Procedure Basics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Foundational procedures in civil and criminal legal matters for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Paralegal Practice
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical skills for supporting advocates and legal practitioners for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Legal Research and Writing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Legal research methods and drafting including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Conveyancing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Property transfer and land law as applied to law (paralegal studies) principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Specialisations
Corporate Legal Support
Focus on supporting corporate legal departments and business law matters, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Litigation Support
Focus on supporting advocates with case preparation and court documentation, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Property and Conveyancing
Focus on property law, conveyancing procedures, land transactions, title transfers, and property documentation within Kenyan land and property legal frameworks.
Family Law Practice
Focus on family law procedures, divorce proceedings, child custody, succession, and family dispute resolution within Kenyan family law and court systems.
A day as a student
Days combine legal theory lectures with practical skills training in legal documentation and drafting, delivered either as in-person day classes or evening virtual sessions for working students.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Professionally recognised route into legal support work without requiring a full law degree. | Very limited annual capacity (around 500 places against 800+ applicants) makes admission competitive. |
| Newly opened to national KUCCPS placement, broadening access beyond direct application. | Does not qualify graduates to practise as advocates; a full LLB and further training remain necessary for that path. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 12 law coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
KSL 131K-136K/yr (ksl.ac.ke, kuccps.net). Private: unverified.
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some law firms sponsor employees pursuing this diploma part-time.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
6 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
At least one principal pass in KACE, a certificate of law course from an accredited legal education provider, or a certificate of experiential learning issued by the Council of Legal Education.
When it next starts
Taught at 8 institutionsIncluding Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kisii University, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kisii University, Technical University of Kenya.
Including Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kisii University, Technical University of Kenya.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across legal theory and documentation units.
Practical Skills Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed legal drafting and paralegal practice exercises.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Council of Legal Education
Legal education regulatory recognitionRequired
The Kenya School of Law operates under the Council of Legal Education's regulatory framework.
Offered by the Kenya School of Law; processed through KUCCPS starting the 2025/2026 admission cycle, with limited annual capacity (around 500 places).
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesConveyancing Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Assists with property transactions, prepares conveyancing documents, and supports land transfer processes within Kenyan property law frameworks.
Paralegal
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports advocates with case preparation, research, and documentation at a law firm.
Corporate Legal Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Supports a company's legal or compliance department.
Court Support Officer
Low demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000
Supports administrative and documentation functions within the court system.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as paralegals in law firms, corporate legal departments, and courts.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Cybersecurity Data LawyerLaw9Low exposure
- In-House CounselLaw11Low exposure
- Commercial Mediation SpecialistLaw15Low exposure
- Data Privacy CounselLaw17Low exposure
- Clinical Trial BioethicistLaw18Low exposure
- Commercial Arbitration CounselLaw18Low exposure
- Constitutional Litigation CounselLaw18Low exposure
- Human Rights LawyerLaw18Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Kenya Law Reports (eKLR)
Legal research databasePrimary
Official online database of Kenyan legislation, case law, and legal resources for legal research.
Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Drafting legal documents, conveyancing instruments, and managing case files.
LexisNexis
Legal research database
International legal research platform for case law, statutes, and legal precedents.
Council of Legal Education Guidelines
Reference
Regulatory framework and standards for legal education and paralegal practice in Kenya.
Legal Aid Act Database
Reference
Reference for legal aid procedures and pro bono case management under Kenyan law.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
A Diploma in Law makes someone an advocate.
Practising as an advocate requires a full Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and completion of the Kenya School of Law's Advocates Training Programme; this diploma trains paralegals, a distinct support role.
This diploma has always been widely accessible.
It was only opened to national KUCCPS placement for the first time in the 2025/2026 admission cycle, having previously been direct-application only, with limited capacity (around 500 places against 800+ applicants).