The Paralegal studies program prepares students for careers as assistants or aides in the legal profession. Upon completion of this curriculum, the paralegal graduate will qualify to work under the supervision of a lawyer. Specific areas of training include legal research and writing, case screening and evaluation, civil litigation, probate administration, office management, accounting, servicing and filing of legal documents, and preparation of legal forms.
Students have the option of either an Associate of Applied Science degree which consists of 61 semester credit hours and takes approximately two years to complete, or a Beginning Legal Technician Certificate which consists of 19 semester credit hours and takes approximately one year to complete. A graduate from an accredited college or university holding a baccalaureate degree may receive an AAS Degree upon successful completion of approximately thirty (30) semester hours of specialty and any appropriate leveling courses as determined by the Division Dean.
The courses listed for this area of study (linked below) are the suggested sequence of courses for this degree and certificate. Please note that courses that require prerequisites are denoted by a plus sign (+) and those in bold are part of the approved general education curriculum. Courses with no prerequisite do not have to be taken in order, but the following general sequence should still be followed when possible. Part-time students may require more than four semesters to complete their degree.
Choose from the link(s) below for completion options for this area of study:
National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
In the semester prior to graduation, students become eligible to take the NALA Certified Legal Assistant Examination (CLA). Full-time students and/or those taking all legal assistant courses may qualify for student membership in national organizations and other professional paralegal associations. |
