Overview
Study for an in-demand career. A paralegal can work with attorneys, government agencies, courts, real estate firms, and more.
The Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program is a 61-credit-hour program that prepares students to assist lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities. Working under the direct supervision of an attorney, the paralegal does research, prepares documents, and interviews clients. Employment opportunities are available in diverse areas such as insurance, real estate, mortgage companies, government agencies, courts, and banks. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
This program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Learning experiences for students in the Paralegal Studies program are provided in classrooms as well as online.
Paralegal Program Legal Specialty Course Transfer Policy
Upon a student’s admission to Midlands Technical College (MTC) and enrollment in the Paralegal program, we review transfer credits and may accept up to two-thirds of the requisite number of legal specialty credits from regionally accredited, ABA-approved schools. This translates to as many as five legal specialty courses in the certificate program and seven legal specialty courses in the associate degree program.
Each legal specialty course submitted for transfer consideration is evaluated by the program director. Transferability is based on course content, hours of instruction, and the grade earned in the course by the student. College transcripts are reviewed to determine whether acceptance of transfer credits is appropriate. In addition, each student must complete a minimum of 10 credit hours of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction.
Legal specialty courses cannot be accepted from a college that does not have regional accreditation. We may accept credits from non-ABA approved schools if adequate evidence is provided to document that the course meets an appropriate level of academic rigor and compliance with ABA guidelines for paralegal education.
Basic typing skills are required for the successful completion of the program.
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all of the courses offered within the Business and Public Services Department for the grade to be counted toward graduation. Specifically, these include courses with the following prefixes: ACC, BAF, BUS, LEG, MGT, and MKT.
How to Enroll
To pursue this degree, you must apply to MTC using our online application.
Questions?
Sample Program Plan and Costs
Class Delivery Methods
View current courses offered via our online course directory.
On-Campus | Traditional. Classes meet on campus. |
---|---|
Virtual | 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom. |
Hybrid | Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual. |
Online | 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time. |
Full Time
Semester | Course ID | Course Title | Classroom | Online | Hybrid | Virtual | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 (16 Credit Hours) |
COL-101 |
College Orientation College Orientation ID: COL-101 Credit Hours: 1 This course may include selected topics such as career planning, study skills, stress management, tutoring, group guidance, and other subjects to facilitate student success. |
• | • | • | • | 1 |
LEG-121 |
Business Law I Business Law I ID: LEG-121 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the basics of commercial law, with emphasis on the formation and enforcement of contracts and the rules particular to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and sales of goods. |
• | • | 3 | |||
LEG-135 |
Introduction to Law and Ethics Introduction to Law and Ethics ID: LEG-135 Credit Hours: 3 This course provides a general introduction to law, including courts, legal terminology, procedures, systems, and laws of society. Emphasis is on ethics and the role of the paralegal in the legal system. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
CPT-101 |
Introduction to Computers Introduction to Computers ID: CPT-101 Credit Hours: 3 This course covers basic computer history, theory and applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, data bases, and the operating system. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
ENG-101 |
English Comp I English Comp I ID: ENG-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: a study of composition in conjunction with appropriate literary selections, with frequent theme assignments to reinforce effective writing. A review of standard usage and the basic techniques of research are also presented. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
MAT-155 |
Contemporary Mathematics Contemporary Mathematics ID: MAT-155 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
Semester 2 (15 Credit Hours) |
LEG-120 |
Torts Torts ID: LEG-120 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the various classifications and functions of tort law, including intentional and negligent torts, causation, proximate cause, and defenses. |
• | • | 3 | ||
LEG-122 |
Business Law II Business Law II ID: LEG-122 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an in-depth study of the Uniform Commercial Code with special emphasis on the essentials of Article 3, Commercial Paper, and Article 9, Secured Transactions. Business partnerships and corporations and their formation are studied. |
• | • | 3 | |||
SPC-205 |
Public Speaking Public Speaking ID: SPC-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
ENG-102 |
English Comp II English Comp II ID: ENG-102 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: development of writing skills through logical organization, effective style, literary analysis and research. An introduction to literary genre is also included. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
PSY-201 |
General Psychology General Psychology ID: PSY-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes the following topics and concepts in the science of behavior: scientific method, biological bases for behavior, perception, motivation, learning memory, development, personality, abnormal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and social psychology. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
Semester 3 (15 Credit Hours) |
LEG-132 |
Legal Bibliography Legal Bibliography ID: LEG-132 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the methods of legal research, proper citation of authority, use of legal treatises, texts, reporters, and digests. This course introduces students to the techniques and procedures of legal writing and analysis. |
• | 3 | |||
LEG-201 |
Civil Litigation I Civil Litigation I ID: LEG-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the principles of litigation and the rules of procedure for each court in the South Carolina system, including pleading, practice, and discovery procedures. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
LEG-232 |
Law Office Management Law Office Management ID: LEG-232 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the basic principles of office management, including administrative procedures, client relations, and office operating procedures. |
• | • | 3 | |||
LEG-233 |
Wills, Trusts, and Probate Wills, Trusts, and Probate ID: LEG-233 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes a detailed study of testacy and intestacy, preparation of wills and codicils, and fundamentals of trust and probate administration. Students probate a simple estate. |
• | 3 | ||||
Approved LEG Elective | 3 | ||||||
Semester 4 (15 Credit Hours) |
LEG-213 |
Family Law Family Law ID: LEG-213 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an examination of the laws of marriage, divorce, annulment, separation, adoption, custody, and the juvenile. |
• | 3 | |||
LEG-214 |
Property Law Property Law ID: LEG-214 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an overview of South Carolina property law, including the mechanics of various commercial and private property transactions and mortgage foreclosures. Students are introduced to techniques and procedures examining titles to real property. |
• | • | 3 | |||
LEG-242 |
Law Practice Workshop Law Practice Workshop ID: LEG-242 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes the application of substantive knowledge in a practical situation as a paralegal. |
• | 3 | ||||
Approved HUM Elective | 3 | ||||||
Approved LEG Elective | 3 | ||||||
Total Credit Hours | 61 | ||||||
Estimated Cost Financial Aid |
$11,468.00 Not including fees and equipment |
Part Time
Semester | Course ID | Course Title | Classroom | Online | Hybrid | Virtual | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 (7 Credit Hours) |
COL-101 |
College Orientation College Orientation ID: COL-101 Credit Hours: 1 This course may include selected topics such as career planning, study skills, stress management, tutoring, group guidance, and other subjects to facilitate student success. |
• | • | • | • | 1 |
LEG-121 |
Business Law I Business Law I ID: LEG-121 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the basics of commercial law, with emphasis on the formation and enforcement of contracts and the rules particular to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and sales of goods. |
• | • | 3 | |||
LEG-135 |
Introduction to Law and Ethics Introduction to Law and Ethics ID: LEG-135 Credit Hours: 3 This course provides a general introduction to law, including courts, legal terminology, procedures, systems, and laws of society. Emphasis is on ethics and the role of the paralegal in the legal system. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
Semester 2 (9 Credit Hours) |
CPT-101 |
Introduction to Computers Introduction to Computers ID: CPT-101 Credit Hours: 3 This course covers basic computer history, theory and applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, data bases, and the operating system. |
• | • | • | • | 3 |
ENG-101 |
English Comp I English Comp I ID: ENG-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: a study of composition in conjunction with appropriate literary selections, with frequent theme assignments to reinforce effective writing. A review of standard usage and the basic techniques of research are also presented. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
MAT-155 |
Contemporary Mathematics Contemporary Mathematics ID: MAT-155 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
Semester 3 (9 Credit Hours) |
LEG-120 |
Torts Torts ID: LEG-120 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the various classifications and functions of tort law, including intentional and negligent torts, causation, proximate cause, and defenses. |
• | • | 3 | ||
LEG-122 |
Business Law II Business Law II ID: LEG-122 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an in-depth study of the Uniform Commercial Code with special emphasis on the essentials of Article 3, Commercial Paper, and Article 9, Secured Transactions. Business partnerships and corporations and their formation are studied. |
• | • | 3 | |||
SPC-205 |
Public Speaking Public Speaking ID: SPC-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
Semester 4 (6 Credit Hours) |
ENG-102 |
English Comp II English Comp II ID: ENG-102 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: development of writing skills through logical organization, effective style, literary analysis and research. An introduction to literary genre is also included. |
• | • | • | 3 | |
PSY-201 |
General Psychology General Psychology ID: PSY-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes the following topics and concepts in the science of behavior: scientific method, biological bases for behavior, perception, motivation, learning memory, development, personality, abnormal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and social psychology. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
Semester 5 (9 Credit Hours) |
LEG-132 |
Legal Bibliography Legal Bibliography ID: LEG-132 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the methods of legal research, proper citation of authority, use of legal treatises, texts, reporters, and digests. This course introduces students to the techniques and procedures of legal writing and analysis. |
• | 3 | |||
LEG-201 |
Civil Litigation I Civil Litigation I ID: LEG-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the principles of litigation and the rules of procedure for each court in the South Carolina system, including pleading, practice, and discovery procedures. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
LEG-232 |
Law Office Management Law Office Management ID: LEG-232 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the basic principles of office management, including administrative procedures, client relations, and office operating procedures. |
• | • | 3 | |||
Semester 6 (6 Credit Hours) |
LEG-233 |
Wills, Trusts, and Probate Wills, Trusts, and Probate ID: LEG-233 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes a detailed study of testacy and intestacy, preparation of wills and codicils, and fundamentals of trust and probate administration. Students probate a simple estate. |
• | 3 | |||
Approved LEG Elective | 3 | ||||||
Semester 7 (6 Credit Hours) |
LEG-213 |
Family Law Family Law ID: LEG-213 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an examination of the laws of marriage, divorce, annulment, separation, adoption, custody, and the juvenile. |
• | 3 | |||
LEG-214 |
Property Law Property Law ID: LEG-214 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an overview of South Carolina property law, including the mechanics of various commercial and private property transactions and mortgage foreclosures. Students are introduced to techniques and procedures examining titles to real property. |
• | • | 3 | |||
Semester 8 (9 Credit Hours) |
LEG-242 |
Law Practice Workshop Law Practice Workshop ID: LEG-242 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes the application of substantive knowledge in a practical situation as a paralegal. |
• | 3 | |||
Approved HUM Elective | 3 | ||||||
Approved LEG Elective | 3 | ||||||
Total Credit Hours | 61 | ||||||
Estimated Cost Financial Aid |
$11,468.00 Not including fees and equipment |