Paralegal Studies Certificate

Approved by the American Bar Association

HEGIS Code 5099 – 30 Credits

Suggested 2-Semester Course Sequence

First Semester

PLG 10100/LGS 10100	Introduction to Law	3
PLG 10200/LGS 10200	Legal Research & Writing	3
PLG 10300/LGS 10300	Civil Litigation	3
PLG 10600/LGS 10600	Computerized Legal Applications	3
PLG 10700/LGS 10700	Contract Law and Litigation	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Second Semester

PLG 10500/LGS 10500	Domestic Relations	3
PLG 10800/LGS 10800	Real Estate Practices	3
PLG 10900/LGS 10900	Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate	3
PLG 11000/LGS 11000	Torts/Personal Injury Law	3
PLG 11200/LGS 11200	Criminal Law and Procedures	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Total Credit Hours: 30

(21 of the 30 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.