Asian student in classroom

Paralegal Studies, A.A.S.

The Paralegal program prepares its graduates to perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Although paralegals cannot provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law, paralegals assist attorneys in a variety of legal environments by performing tasks such as drafting legal documents, performing legal research, maintaining corporate records and minutes books, interviewing witnesses and clients, and assisting in trial preparation. There is a separate admission process requiring students to be accepted into the program after completing initial prerequisites. To apply for admission, students complete a program application and submit it to the Program Coordinator. This degree program consists of a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements, program electives and general education.

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

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: PLGL.AAS

Program Requirements
PLGL 1100Introduction to Paralegal Studies3
PLGL 1150Drafting Legal Documents3
PLGL 1200Civil Litigation3
PLGL 1250Legal Ethics/Law Office Organization3
PLGL 1500Introduction to Legal Research and Writing3
PLGL 2100Advanced Legal Research and Writing3
PLGL 2425Law Office Technology3
PLGL 2500Personal Injury, Tort and Insurance Law3
PLGL 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 1200MS Office for Professional Staff3
OFTI 2600Professional Development3
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 Paralegal 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 Paralegal Studies courses can be found in the catalog.

General Education Requirements

For general education requirements for the A.A.S. degree, please visit the A.A.S. degree catalog page.

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
PLGL 1100 Introduction to Paralegal Studies 3
OFTI 1200 MS Office for Professional Staff 3
 Credits12-15
Second Semester
POLS 1101 American Politics 3
PLGL 1150 Drafting Legal Documents 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
Gen EdPhysical and Life Sciences 4
SPEEC 1100 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
 Credits16
Third Semester
PLGL 1200 Civil Litigation 3
PLGL 1250 Legal Ethics/Law Office Organization 3
PLGL 1500 Introduction to Legal Research and Writing 3
PLGL 2500 Personal Injury, Tort and Insurance Law 3
PHILO 1110
or PHILO 1114
 Ethics
or Business Ethics
 3
ElectiveProgram Elective 3
 Credits18
Fourth Semester
PLGL 2100 Advanced Legal Research and Writing 3
PLGL 2425 Law Office Technology 3
PLGL 2600 Paralegal Practicum 3
OFTI 2600 Professional Development 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.

Program Milestones

First Semester

  • Consider joining or visiting with a professional, cultural or interest-based Student Club.

Second Semester

  • If you have not done so yet this semester, it is important to make an appointment with a Faculty or Program Advisor to discuss your future academic progress.