About the CareerASSOCIATE IN PARALEGAL
CERTIFICATE IN PARALEGAL
About the CareerA paralegal is a skilled professional who assists attorneys in preparing their cases. Paralegals investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. They also identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases. After they analyze and organize the information, paralegals may prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases should be handled. Should attorneys decide to file lawsuits on behalf of clients, paralegals may help prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. Paralegals also organize and track files of important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys. While paralegals continue to assume a growing range of tasks in the nation’s legal offices and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers, they are still explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties which are considered to be the practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice and presenting cases in court.
The duties of a paralegal vary widely based on the type of organization in which they are employed. Employment opportunities include law firms, insurance companies, real estate offices, mortgage companies, government agencies, courts and banks.
In this program students will find courses in business law,
torts, legal bibliography, property law and title examination procedures, legal
writing, workers compensation, wills, trust and probate, law office management,
family law and internships with law offices. The curriculum also addresses the
core general education competencies adopted by the college: communications,
math, science and technology, individual and social behavior, research,
computing, ethics and humanities.
A certificate program is offered for those students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to become a paralegal. Graduates of the Paralegal program earn an associate degree in Public Service. This program is approved by the American Bar Association and has been since 1982.
