Paralegal
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Recommended basic skills standards are
• AAA 090
• ENG 090
• MAT 060
• REA 090
Approved by the American Bar Association
The objectives of the program are to (1) train students for employment as paralegals in a variety of legal settings; (2) provide opportunities for students who wish to upgrade existing job skills; and (3) provide coursework and transfer information to students who are interested in continuing their education.
Graduates will be qualified to perform basic legal research, draft various legal documents, conduct client and witness interviews, participate in basic fact-finding and investigation, and assist in trial preparation. They will also be knowledgeable about the rules of professional and ethical conduct.
Graduates are not authorized to practice law. The Paralegal program provides training for paralegals who are authorized to perform substantive legal work only under the supervision of a lawyer.
General Education Courses Part I
| COM 115 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I: CO1 | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II: CO2 | 3 |
| MAT 107 | Career Math | 3 |
| or | ||
| MAT 109 | Geometry | (3) |
| or | ||
| MAT 120 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts: MA1 | (4) |
| or | ||
| MAT 121 | College Algebra: MA1 | (4) |
| POS 111 | American Government: SS1 | 3 |
| 15-16 |
General Education Part II
Select 2 courses (6-9 credit hours) from the following:
NOTE: Students may be allowed to substitute one or more of the courses from the General Education, Part II list below with one or more courses from the list of approved AAS General Electives, found in the College Catalog. Students wishing to take one or more courses other than those listed should consult with the Paralegal Program Chair.
| AST 101 | Astronomy I: SC1 | 4 |
| BIO 105 | Science of Biology: SC1 | 4 |
| CHE 101 | Introduction to Chemistry I (w/ Lab): SC1 | 5 |
| FRE 101 | Conversational French I | 3 |
| GEO 106 | Human Geography: SS2 | 3 |
| GEO 107 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEY 111 | Physical Geology: SC1 | 4 |
| HIS 101 | History of Western Civilization I: HI1 | 3 |
| HIS 102 | History of Western Civilization II: HI1 | 3 |
| HIS 201 | United States History I: HI1 | 3 |
| HIS 202 | United States History II: HI1 | 3 |
| HUM 121 | Early Civilizations: AH2 | 3 |
| PHI 111 | Introduction to Philosophy: AH3 | 3 |
| PHY 101 | Basic Physics | 4 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology I: SS3 | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology I: SS3 | 3 |
| SPA 101 | Conversational Spanish I | 3 |
Technology Requirement
Paralegal students are required to take CIS 118 or an alternate course as described herein. Students entering with strong computer skills are urged to request a waiver of CIS 118 by applying to the Division of Mathematics and Technology. Waiving will require proof of competency via completion of a self test and a structured interview with a faculty member from the CIS or CSC department. Waiver requires the credits be replaced by a computer course from the list below.
| CIS 118 | Introduction to PC Applications | 3 |
| CIS 135 | Complete PC Word Processing | 3 |
| CIS 145 | Complete PC Database | 3 |
| CIS 155 | PC Spreadsheet Concepts: Excel | 3 |
| CIS 165 | Complete Presentation Graphics: PowerPoint | 3 |
Other Course Requirements
NOTE: Students must successfully complete any College Preparatory (under 100 level) courses before enrolling in PAR 115 or subsequent PAR courses.
| PAR 114 | Computers and the Law | 3 |
| PAR 115 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| PAR 116 | Torts | 3 |
| PAR 118 | Contracts | 3 |
| PAR 125 | Property Law | 3 |
| PAR 127 | Legal Ethics | 3 |
| PAR 201 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| PAR 213 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| PAR 289 | Capstone | 3 |
| Electives | Choose twelve credit hours from list below | 12 |
| 39 |
Paralegal Approved Electives
Choose twelve (12) credit hours from the electives below. Students are encouraged, but not required, to choose courses from only one (1) of the tracks below.
Civil Law Track
| PAR 117 | Family Law | 3 |
| PAR 206 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| PAR 208 | Probate and Estates | 3 |
| PAR 218 | Bankruptcy | 3 |
| PAR 287 | Cooperative Education | 3 |
Criminal Law Track
| CRJ 111 | Substantive Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 112 | Procedural Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 210 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| CRJ 216 | Juvenile Law and Procedures | 3 |
| PAR 205 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| PAR 287 | Cooperative Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 63-67 |
Certificate
Paralegal
NOTE: The certificate program offering is only available to students who possess (at the time of entry into the program) an academic associate’s degree (Associate of Arts or Associate of Science) or HIGHER from a regionally accredited college or university. Students not possessing a degree must enroll in the Paralegal Associate of Applied Science degree program.
PAR 114
Computers and the Law
3
PAR 115
Introduction to Law
3
PAR 116
Torts
3
PAR 118
Contracts
3
PAR 125
Property Law
3
PAR 127
Legal Ethics
3
PAR 201
Civil Litigation
3
PAR 213
Legal Research and Writing
3
PAR 289
Capstone
3
Electives
Choose nine credit hours from list below
9
Total Credit Hours
36
Paralegal Approved Electives
Choose nine (9) credit hours from the electives below. Students are encouraged, but not required, to choose courses from only one (1) of the tracks below.
Civil Law Track
| PAR 117 | Family Law | 3 |
| PAR 206 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| PAR 208 | Probate and Estates | 3 |
| PAR 218 | Bankruptcy | 3 |
| PAR 287 | Cooperative Education | 3 |
Criminal Law Track
| CRJ 111 | Substantive Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 112 | Procedural Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 210 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| CRJ 216 | Juvenile Law and Procedures | 3 |
| PAR 205 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| PAR 287 | Cooperative Education | 3 |