Paralegal Studies, AAS

B&SC Code: PLEG
CIP Code: 22.0302
New York Hegis Code: 5099
Available online in all states

Program: PLEG

The Paralegal Studies program emphasizes practical hands-on applications and prepares students for careers in both traditional and non-traditional professions.  The program also emphasizes the ethical considerations for legal professionals as prescribed by the American Bar Association.  Coursework includes extensive training in case management, conducting legal research, conducting interviews, communicating professionally both orally and in writing, as well as drafting research documents used in a variety of legal venues.  Graduates are prepared to obtain entry-level positions working under the supervision of an attorney in private law firms or in other related areas of employment.

Graduates of this degree plan will achieve the following program and institutional outcomes:

• Describe and discuss the basic responsibilities, legal and procedural theories, and professional standards of a paralegal.
• Define, apply, and defend principles of legal ethics within a variety of settings.
• Utilize appropriate legal terminology and terms correctly in legal documents.
• Draft legal documents, including but not limited to correspondence, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda, that are relevant to different substantive areas of law.
• Utilize resources to locate primary and secondary law-related legal documents to research, summarize, and evaluate legal issues.
• Utilize appropriate current technology and resources to locate and evaluate information needed to accomplish a goal, and then communicate findings in visual, written and/or oral formats.
• Transfer knowledge, skills and behaviors acquired through formal and informal learning and life experiences to new situations.
• Employ strategies for reflection on learning and practice in order to adjust learning processes for continual improvement.
• Follow established methods of inquiry and mathematical reasoning to form conclusions and make decisions.
• Participate in social, academic, and professional communities for individual growth and to function as a citizen of a multicultural world.