Program Coordinator Rebecca Gockel
The Paralegal program will prepare individuals for employment as paralegals. Paralegals are persons who are qualified, through education, training, or work experience, to perform substantive legal work requiring a sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, under the direction and supervision of an attorney. Paralegals enjoy a wide variety of employment opportunities including private law offices, corporations, real estate and title companies, bank and trust agencies and government and judicial offices.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, paralegals assume a growing range of tasks in law offices. Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. Paralegals can work in many different areas of law, including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate. The duties of paralegals differ widely based on the type of organization in which they are employed. Computer use and technical knowledge has become essential to paralegal work.
In order to prevent a course being taken or a degree being granted where the student would be disadvantaged by a lack of awareness of recent developments in the relevant field of study, we may refuse to accept a course or courses to meet course prerequisites or program requirements if there has been a lapse of eight years or more since the credit was earned and there has been significant advance in the field of study.
Program Learning Objectives
Describe the American legal system, the practice of law, and the paralegal’s role in the legal profession
Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills, and the knowledge and skills needed to do legal research and work in civil litigation
Apply the ethical rules and regulations applicable to paralegals and other legal professionals to given situations
Demonstrate knowledge and abilities based on the balanced education received from the integration of general education, legal theory, and practical legal course work
Demonstrate skills needed to function in the areas of practice offered as electives in the program
Associate in Applied Science A.A.S. Degree Students who wish to pursue a two-year curriculum leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal will be required to satisfy general education requirements including Communications (6 credit hours), Mathematics/Physical & Life Sciences (6 credit hours), Humanities & Fine Arts (3 credit hours), Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours), in addition to courses in ten paralegal core skills areas (Critical Thinking, Organizational, General Communication, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Interviewing /Investigation, Profession, Ethics, and Law Office Management. Students are required to complete an internship for the A.A.S. degree. Students who wish to enroll in the A.A.S. degree should contact an academic advisor. Paralegal program requisites include placement in ENGL 125 /READ 125 (or by appropriate L&C placement test score).
In order to successfully complete the A.A.S. degree requirements for the Paralegal Program, a student must earn a grade of C or better in all courses with a PLGL prefix.
Certificate of Proficiency: This certificate is designed to enhance the paralegal skills/knowledge of a student and/or working professional who is already proficient in math and office technology/software applications but does NOT currently have a two- or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. The objective of the C.P. is to provide a short-term option for upgrading skills and producing competent, well-rounded individuals who are able to work under the supervision of an attorney in many areas of law. Students pursuing the C.P. are typically working in law offices or other business environments and wish to formally retrain or refresh their paralegal skills. Students are not required to complete an internship for the Certificate of Proficiency. Students who wish to pursue the C.P. must meet the same prerequisites as the A.A.S. degree. The Certificate of Proficiency is NOT equivalent to a two-year paralegal degree as required by most employers therefore it is not advisable for students wishing to transfer. Students should contact an academic advisor to enroll in the C.P. program.
30 and Out A.A.S. Degree Program Option: Anyone who has already earned an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Paralegal by completing 30 semester hours of approved business courses. Students interested in this program option must contact the program coordinator to receive written approval detailing the specific courses required for this degree option. Students must meet all institutional requirements for the Associate in Applied Science Degree.
Paralegal - PARALEGAL.AAS
Associate in Applied Science Degree
First Semester
ENGL 131 - First-Year English I 3 credit hours
MATH 129 - Business Mathematics 3 credit hours
PLGL 130 - Introduction Paralegal Studies 3 credit hours
PLGL 135 - Technology For Paralegals 3 credit hours
PSYC 131 - General Psychology 3 credit hours
or
SOCI 131 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Second Semester
BUSN 141 - Business And The Legal Environment 3 credit hours
PLGL 140 - Legal Research And Writing I 3 credit hours
PLGL 150 - Tort Law 3 credit hours
PLGL 160 - Litigation 3 credit hours
POLS 131 - American Government 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Third Semester
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 3 credit hours
MGMT 242 - Human Resource Management 3 credit hours
PLGL 180 - Elder Law 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 220 - Bankruptcy Law 3 credit hours
PLGL 190 - Electronic Discovery 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 230 - Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning 3 credit hours
PLGL 240 - Legal Research And Writing II 3 credit hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours
Fourth Semester
Mathematics or Physical/Life Science Elective 3-4 credit hours
Approved Paralegal Elective (see list) 3-4 credit hours
PLGL 170 - Family Law 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 200 - Immigration Law 3 credit hours
PLGL 260 - Paralegal Internship 3 credit hours
SPCH 131 - Public Speaking 3 credit hours
or
SPCH 145 - Public And Private Communication 3 credit hours
Paralegal Internship may be taken concurrently with any PLGL courses after earning a C or better in PLGL 130, PLGL 135, and PLGL 140. Students are responsible for finding an intern host for 240 hours during one complete semester.
Total: 15 - 17 Credit Hours
Approved Paralegal Elective List
ACCT 130 - Accounting For Small Business 3 credit hours
ACCT 234 - Tax Accounting 3 credit hours
BIOL 120 - Medical Terminology 3 credit hours
BUSN 131 - Introduction To Modern Business 3 credit hours
BUSN 161 - Issues in E-Commerce & Social Media 3 credit hours
CRMJ 131 - Intro To American Criminal Justice 3 credit hours
CRMJ 148 - Criminal Law 3 credit hours
CRMJ 249 - Criminal Court Procedures 3 credit hours
CRMJ 252 - Constitutional Law-Criminal Justice 3 credit hours
ECON 131 - Introduction To Economics 3 credit hours
HIMC 270 - Medical Billing and Coding 3 credit hours
MKTG 131 - Introduction To Marketing 3 credit hours
MKTG 240 - Social Media Marketing 3 credit hours
POLS 132 - State And Local Government 3 credit hours
REAL 136 - Real Estate Transactions 3 credit hours
Total credit hours required for the A.A.S. in Paralegal: 60
Paralegal - PARALEGAL.CP
Certificate of Proficiency
First Semester
ENGL 131 - First-Year English I 3 credit hours
PLGL 130 - Introduction Paralegal Studies 3 credit hours
PLGL 135 - Technology For Paralegals 3 credit hours
PLGL 180 - Elder Law 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 220 - Bankruptcy Law 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Second Semester
BUSN 141 - Business And The Legal Environment 3 credit hours
PLGL 140 - Legal Research And Writing I 3 credit hours
PLGL 150 - Tort Law 3 credit hours
PLGL 190 - Electronic Discovery 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 230 - Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours
Third Semester
PLGL 160 - Litigation 3 credit hours
PLGL 170 - Family Law 3 credit hours
or
PLGL 200 - Immigration Law 3 credit hours
PLGL 240 - Legal Research And Writing II 3 credit hours
Paralegal Elective (see list) 3 credit hours
Total: 12 Credit Hours