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 to analyze cases and to prepare legal forms and documents required in litigating law suits, prosecuting crimes, closing real estate transactions, and drafting documents used in custody, separation, and divorce proceedings.

The program also emphasizes the ethical considerations for legal professionals as prescribed by the American Bar Association and the National Federation of Paralegal Associates.

Graduates are prepared to obtain entry-level positions working under the supervision of an attorney in private law firms or in other related occupations in government, legal departments of banks, corporations, insurance companies, accounting firms, and real estate development or property management firms.

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

• Describe and discuss the basic responsibilities, legal and procedural theories, and limitations of a paralegal.
• Define, apply, and defend principles of legal ethics within a variety of settings.
• Distinguish appropriate legal terminology and utilize terms correctly in legal documents.
• Design and compose legal documents, including but not limited to correspondence, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda, that are relevant to different substantive areas of law.
• Utilize electronic and print resources to locate primary and secondary law related legal documents to research, summarize, and evaluate legal issues.
• Identify and utilize information technology tools and skills in both general and law related office practices.
• Apply appropriate paralegal specific knowledge, skills and behaviors to analyze and interpret primary and secondary law sources and related legal documents.
• 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.