Paralegal Studies

View Paralegal Studies A.A.S. (G, TP/SS): 341
View Paralegal Studies Certificate (G, TP/SS): 156
View Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition (G, TP/SS): 804

Paralegal Studies A.A.S. (G, TP/SS): 341

Revised: Effective Semester Fall 2009

This curriculum provides the student with the basic skills in legal research, legal writing, and legal interviewing. The student will learn to prepare and interpret legal documents and analyze procedures and processes. This curriculum is designed for those interested in a career in a law office as a paraprofessional. It is also designed for legal secretaries presently employed in attorney's offices who whish to improve their skills for career advancement. A legal assistant is trained specialist who can manage a law office operation under the supervision of an attorney, relieving a practicing attorney of those routine components of managing legal cases that require knowledge of the legal process and assisting the attorney with handling of complicated legal problems. The legal assistant also assists the attorney in legal research and in the design and development of new procedures, techniques, services, and processes for the law office. The legal assistant can also prepare and interpret legal documents and analyze procedural problems through the selection, compilation, and use of technical information from various legal references. Completion of all requirements for this curriculum will lead to the award of the A.A.S. in paralegal studies. A suggested course sequence for full time students follows; part-time students should consult an adviser.

*  EN 101 if needed for EN 102/109 or general elective.

Program Outcomes for the Paralegal A.A.S. Degree

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

• Prepare and interpret legal documents.
• Analyze legal problems and procedures in at least three areas of substantive laws.
• Perform legal research.
• Draft simple legal documents.
• Demonstrate their knowledge of facts, evidence, and rules of law.

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Paralegal Studies Certificate (G, TP/SS): 156

Revised: Effective Semester Spring 2006

The curriculum provides the student with basic skills in legal research, legal writing, and legal interviewing techniques. Competency is developed in at least three areas of substantive law selected by the student.

Program Outcomes for the Paralegal Certificate

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

• Locate and interpret legal statutes.
• Locate and interpret legal cases.
• Draft simple legal documents.
• Interpret the legal concepts in three areas of substantive law.
• Interpret the concepts of procedural law.
• Interpret citations of the law.

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Gainful Employment Disclosure

Institution OPEID:  006911
Program CIP: 22.0302

Program Length: 2 semesters (this does not include time for developmental or AELP courses)

Related Occupations:  Paralegals and Legal Assistants  |  Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers 

Cost:

• Cost for entire program completed in 2 semesters:  $3,504
• Total estimated costs for books and supplies for the entire program: $1,200
• More cost information

Montgomery College does not offer on-campus housing

Debt at Program Completion:

Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012:

• 25 students completed this program; 4 of them had student loan debt upon completing the program
• Median cumulative debt for all students (both borrowers and non-borrowers): 
  $7,650 Federal student loan debt
  $0 Private loan debt

Program Completion in Normal Time:  0 of 25 students completed the program within 2 semesters

Job Placement: This program is not required to collect job placement information by the college's accrediting agency.  This information will be updated as it becomes available.

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Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition (G, TP/SS): 804

This sequence of three courses is designed for persons who wish to develop skills in legal analysis. To complete each course in this sequence, students must demonstrate skills in the following areas: identifying the kinds of law books and their components, using the various indexes and digests, evaluating the role of key facts in issue development, and organizing materials and writing them in a clear style. A grade of C or better is required in each course.

Program Outcomes for the Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

• Locate legal legislation.
• Locate legal cases.
• Draft simple legal documents.

This program is not approved for federal or state student financial aid.

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Refer to course description pages to identify courses with prerequisites.
Courses in italics meet General Education requirements.