paralegal class

Legal Studies, A.A.S.

The Legal Studies program provides a foundational, practical, and empowering understanding of the American legal system and prepares its graduates to perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Students that complete this program are trained and qualified to seek employment as paralegals. Although paralegals cannot provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law, they are deeply involved in the daily, substantive work of attorneys. Paralegals assist attorneys in a variety of legal environments by performing tasks, including but not limited to, drafting legal documents, performing legal research, interviewing witnesses and clients, assisting in trial preparation, and creating, organizing, and maintaining legal files. Students must be accepted into the program after completing the initial prerequisite courses. 

For more information about Legal Studies, please visit the program page.

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: LGLST.AAS

Program Requirements
LGLST 1100Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies3
LGLST 1150Drafting Legal Documents3
LGLST 1200Civil Litigation3
LGLST 1250Legal Ethics/Law Office Organization3
LGLST 1500Introduction to Legal Research and Writing3
LGLST 2100Advanced Legal Research and Writing3
LGLST 2425Law Office Technology3
LGLST 2500Personal Injury, Tort and Insurance Law3
LGLST 2600Paralegal Practicum3
ENGLI 1101English Composition I3
Select one of the following:3-6
MATH 1218
General Education Mathematics
MATH 1100
& PSYCH 1100
Business Mathematics
and General Psychology
MATH 1100
& SOCIO 1100
Business Mathematics
and Introduction to Sociology
OFTI 1200Microsoft 365 for Business Professionals 3
OFTI 2600Professional Development3
or OFTI 1201 Advanced Microsoft 365
or OFTI 1203 E-Mail and Electronic Communication
or OFTI 1210 Word Processing I
or OFTI 1300 Virtual Office Assistant
PHILO 1110Ethics3
or PHILO 1114 Business Ethics
POLS 1101American Politics3
SPEEC 1100Fundamentals of Speech Communication3
Program Electives
Select 12 credits from any 1000- and 2000-level Legal Studies courses or the Criminal Justice courses listed below: 1,312
CRIMJ 1151
Constitutional Law
CRIMJ 1153
Courts, Evidence, and Mock Trial
General Education
Select a 4-credit, IAI-approved Physical and Life Sciences lab science course 24
Total Credits64-67
1

In addition to the courses listed above.

2

All other General Education requirements are listed within the program requirements.

3

A list of Legal Studies courses can be found in the catalog.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredits
ENGLI 1101 English Composition I 3
Select one of the following: 1 3-6
MATH 1218
 General Education Mathematics  
MATH 1100
& PSYCH 1100
 Business Mathematics
and General Psychology		  
MATH 1100
& SOCIO 1100
 Business Mathematics
and Introduction to Sociology		  
LGLST 1100 Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies 3
OFTI 1200 Microsoft 365 for Business Professionals 3
 Credits12-15
Second Semester
POLS 1101 American Politics 3
LGLST 1150 Drafting Legal Documents 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
Gen EdPhysical and Life Sciences 4
SPEEC 1100 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
 Credits16
Third Semester
LGLST 1200 Civil Litigation 3
LGLST 1250 Legal Ethics/Law Office Organization 3
LGLST 1500 Introduction to Legal Research and Writing 3
PHILO 1110
or PHILO 1114
 Ethics
or Business Ethics
 3
OFTI 2600
or OFTI 1201
or OFTI 1203
or OFTI 1210
or OFTI 1300
 Professional Development
or Advanced Microsoft 365
or E-Mail and Electronic Communication
or Word Processing I
or Virtual Office Assistant
 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
 Credits18
Fourth Semester
LGLST 2100 Advanced Legal Research and Writing 3
LGLST 2425 Law Office Technology 3
LGLST 2500 Personal Injury, Tort and Insurance Law 3
LGLST 2600 Paralegal Practicum 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
 Credits18
 Total Credits64-67
1

If the student takes MATH 1100 Business Mathematics, they must pair either PSYCH 1100 General Psychology or SOCIO 1100 Introduction to Sociology with MATH 1100 Business Mathematics to meet the American Bar Association requirement. MATH 1218 General Education Mathematics alone will satisfy this requirement.