Paralegal Studies, Associate of Applied Science PS13

The Paralegal Studies program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for introductory positions in the paralegal profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement.

Purpose:  To prepare program graduates for gainful employment opportunities in paralegal services while working under the supervision of experienced attorneys in the public/private sector.  Graduates will employ knowledge, skills, values, ethics, and attitudes indicative of integrity, diversity, and equity while providing competent-quality services for clients, attorneys, and the community.     

Goal:   Provide optimal training and quality instruction for students to secure gainful employment in the paralegal profession.

 

Objectives:

-Develop oral and written communication skills to effectively work in a professional environment
-Construct and format legal documents for a wide range of legal processes
-Apply ethical principles governing conduct in a legal environment
-Demonstrate analytical, organizational, and critical thinking skills

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to produce legal documents.
  2. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to conduct legal research.
  3. Upon completion of the program, students will be able compose a legal argument based on factual information using appropriate legal terminology.
  4. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to demonstrate employability skills learned in the paralegal program in a professional setting.

 

*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law*

*students must take at least ten semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction*

The Paralegal  Studies Program is not approved by the ABA (American Bar Association)

Curriculum Outline

First Semester

SEMN 1000
First Semester Seminar

0

ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric

3

SPCH 1101Public Speaking

3

MATH 1111College Algebra

3

or

MATH 1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3

PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology

3

Second Semester

Humanities/Fine Arts

3

XXXX xxxx
General Core Elective

3

COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3

PARA 1100Introduction to Law and Ethics

3

Third Semester

PARA 1105Legal Research & Writing I

3

PARA 1115Family Law

3

PARA 1120Real Estate Law

3

PARA 1125Criminal Law & Criminal Proced

3

Fourth Semester

PARA 1110Legal Research & Writing II

3

PARA 1130Civil Litigation

3

PARA 1135Wills, Trusts, Probate & Admin

3

PARA 1140Tort Law

3

Fifth Semester

PARA 1145Law Office Management

3

PARA 1150Contracts, Commercial Law and Business Organizations

3

XXXX xxxx
Occupational Guided Electives

9

Sixth Semester

PARA 2210Paralegal Internship I

6

Guided Electives Options

PARA 1205Constitutional Law

3

PARA 1210Legal & Policy Issues in Health

3

PARA 1215Administrative Law

3

PARA 2205Advanced Legal Research and Writing

3

PARA 2215Paralegal Internship II

6

PARA 1200Bankruptcy/Debtor-Creditor Relations

3

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives Options

ARTS 1101Art Appreciation

3

ENGL 2130American Literature

3

HUMN 1101Introduction to Humanities

3

MUSC 1101Music Appreciation

3

Social/Behavioral Science Elective Options

ECON 1101Principles of Economics

3

ECON 2105Macroeconomics

3

ECON 2106Microeconomics

3

HIST 1111World History I

3

HIST 1112World History II

3

HIST 2111U.S. History I

3

HIST 2112U.S. History II

3

POLS 1101American Government

3

PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology

3

PSYC 1150Industrial/OrganizationalPsych

3

PSYC 2103Human Development

3

SOCI 1101
Introduction to Sociology

3

Total Credit Hours: 69