Business and Public Services

Paralegal

The Paralegal program prepares students to assist lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities.  Working under the direct supervision of the attorney, paralegals must be mindful of prohibitions against lay persons practicing law.  The paralegal does research, prepares documents and interviews clients.  Employment opportunities are also available in such diverse areas as insurance, real estate, mortgage companies, government agencies, courts and banks.

This program is approved by the American Bar Association.

 

Special Requirements

Basic typing skills are required for successful completion of the program.

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all of the courses offered within the Business and Information Systems Technology Departments for the grade to be counted toward graduation.  Specifically, these include courses with the following prefixes: ACC, BAF, BUS, CPT, CRP, IST, LEG, MGT, MKT and OST.

 

Major:  Paralegal (60 credit hours)

Degree:  Associate in Public Service

A. General Education Course Requirements (18 credit hours)
     

Credit Hours

  ENG 101 English Composition I

3.0

  ENG 102 English Composition II

3.0

  MAT 155 Contemporary Mathematics

3.0

  PSY 201 General Psychology

3.0

  SPC 205 Public Speaking

3.0

    Approved Humanities Course

  3.0

   

Subtotal

18.0

       
Major courses meeting other college general education course requirements are starred (*) below.
       
B. Major Course Requirements (30 credit hours)
     

Credit Hours

  LEG 120 Torts

3.0

  LEG 121 Business Law I

3.0

  LEG 122 Business Law II

3.0

  LEG 132 Legal Bibliography

3.0

  LEG 135 Introduction to Law and Ethics

3.0

  LEG 201 Civil Litigation I

3.0

  LEG 213 Family Law

3.0

  LEG 214 Property Law

3.0

  LEG 233 Wills, Trusts and Probate

3.0

  LEG 242 Law Practice Workshop

  3.0

   

Subtotal

30.0

       
C. Additional Course Requirements (12 credit hours)
     

Credit Hours

  CPT 179 Microcomputer Word Processing

3.0

  CPT 101 Introduction to Computers*

3.0

    Approved LEG Electives

  6.0

   

Subtotal

12.0

     

 

   

Total Credit Hours:

60.0

       
Approved LEG electives include the following:
       
  LEG 212 Workers’ Compensation  
  LEG 215 Bankruptcy Law  
  LEG 220 Intellectual Property Law  
  LEG 230 Legal Writing  
  LEG 231 Criminal Law  
  LEG 232 Law Office Management  
  LEG 234 Title Examination Procedures I  
  LEG 244 Special Projects for Paralegals