Paralegal Studies (A.A.S.)

The goal of the Paralegal Program is not only to train students in the practical application of legal theory, but to fine tune their analytical, communication and organizational skills, while always being aware of the unauthorized practice of law prohibition. Paralegals must always work under the supervision and direction of a licensed attorney.

In order to achieve these goals, the program has the following specific objectives:

1. to implement and maintain a diverse and strong program for the quality education of competent paralegals;
2. to give our students not only a broad knowledge of numerous areas of law, but also specific legal skills;
3. with the knowledge and skills provided by our program, to enable our graduates to find employment by a wide range of employers in their chosen field;
4. to prepare our students to work effectively and efficiently with attorneys, clients, and the public;
5. to strengthen and enhance the skills of our students who are already employed in law-related positions;
6. to enable students to think critically, reason abstractly, use oral and written language effectively;
7. to be sure our students understand and value the important concepts of legal ethics, confidentiality, professional responsibility, and the boundaries of and prohibition against the unauthorized practice of law by laypersons; and
8. to encourage and improve the role of non-lawyers in the delivery of legal services.