Paralegal Studies AAS

Approved by the American Bar Association

HEGIS Code 5099 – 63 Credits

Suggested 4-Semester Course Sequence

First Semester

ENG 101College Writing I

3

MCS 140/PLG 140Civil Liberties and Multiculturalism

3

PLG 101Introduction to Paralegalism

3

PLG 106Computerized Legal Applications

3

Math General Education course required

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Second Semester

ENG 102College Writing II

3

PLG 102Legal Research & Writing

3

PLG 103Civil Litigation

3

SPE 101Fundamentals of Speech

3

Natural Science General Education course required

3

Exercise and Human Performance

1

Total Credit Hours:16

Third Semester

PLG 105Domestic Relations

3

PLG 112Criminal Law and Procedures for Paralegals

3

Social Science Elective

3

Two Electives

6

Exercise and Human Performance

1

Total Credit Hours:16

Electives: ACC 101, BUS 101, BUS 108, BUS 204, BUS/PHL 260, any INT course, OFT 111, OFT 112, or PLG 273

Fourth Semester

PLG 107Contract Law and Litigation

3

PLG 108Real Estate Practices

3

PLG 109Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate

3

PLG 110Tort Law

3

Elective

3

Exercise and Human Performance

1

Total Credit Hours:16

Elective: ACC 101, BUS 101, BUS 108, BUS 204, BUS/PHL 260, any INT course, OFT 111, OFT 112, or PLG 273

Total Credit Hours: 63

(21 of the 30 Paralegal credits must be taken at RCC) A minimum of 10 credits of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction are required.

According to the American Bar Association, “a legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by education, training, or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work, for which the lawyer is responsible.” Paralegals are not licensed and always work under the supervision of an attorney. The goal of both the degree and certificate program is to prepare students to become entry-level paralegals.