Paralegal Studies

Award

Associate in Applied Science Degree

Length

Four-Semester (Two-Year) Program

Purpose

This curriculum is designed to provide an individual with a sufficient level of knowledge, understanding, and proficiency to perform tasks in meeting the needs of clients that can be performed by a training paraprofessional working under the direction and supervision of a lawyer. A paralegal will have a basic understanding of the general process of American law and will have the knowledge and proficiency to perform specific tasks under the supervision of a lawyer in the fields of criminal and civil law.

Occupational Objectives

Legal Secretary.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant.
Legal Support Worker.
Law Clerk.
Title Examiner and Abstractor.
Receptionist and Information Clerk.
Office Clerk.
Office and Administrative Support Worker.
Title Searcher.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission requirements established for the college, entry into the Associate in Applied Science degree program in Paralegal Studies requires English prerequisites as described in the college catalog. Additionally, students should have command of the fundamental processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.

Program Requirements

The two-year Paralegal Studies degree combines instruction in many subject areas required for competence as a legal assistant/paralegal. The curriculum will include 30 hours of legal courses with the remaining courses in related subjects, general education, and elective credits. Upon satisfactory completion of the four-semester curriculum, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college after completing A.A.S. degree requirements should inform their academic advisors at the beginning of studies to determine the appropriate courses to meet transfer requirements.

FIRST SEMESTER (Fall)

ENG	111	College Composition	3
LGL	110	Intro to Law and the Legal Assistant	3
LGL	115	Real Estate Law for Legal Assistants	3
MTH	120	Intro to Mathematics	3
SDV	106	Preparation for Employment	1
_____	_____	Social Science Elective 1	3
_____	_____	Health or PE	1
		Total Credits	17

SECOND SEMESTER (Spring)

AST	141	Word Processing I (Word)	3
ENG	116	Writing for Business	3
LGL	117	Family Law	3
LGL	130	Law Office Administration & Management	3
LGL	228	Real Estate Settlement Practicum	3
_____	_____	Health or PE	1
		Total Credits	16

THIRD SEMESTER (Fall)

AST	142	Word Processing II (Word)	3
AST	232	Microcomputer Office Applications	3
LGL	127	Legal Research/Writing	3
LGL	218	Criminal Law	3
_____	_____	AST/BUS/LGL Elective 2	3
		Total Credits	15

FOURTH SEMESTER (Spring)

AST	257	Desktop Publishing	3
LGL	215	Torts	3
LGL	216	Trial Preparation/ Discovery Practice	3
LGL	225	Estate Planning & Probate	3
SPD	137	Oral Interpretation	3
_____	_____	Social Science Elective 1	3
		Total Credits	18

Total Minimum Credits			66

Footnotes:

1 Students may choose from college approved Social Science electives.
2 LGL 235 recommended