View Paralegal Studies AAS (G, TP/SS): 341
View Paralegal Studies Certificate (G, TP/SS): 156
View Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition (G, TP/SS): 804
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 wish 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 AAS in paralegal studies. A suggested course sequence for full time students follows; part-time students should consult an adviser.
First Semester
|
| CMAP 120 | Introduction to Computer Applications | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing * | 3 |
| POLI 101 | American Government (BSSD) | 3 |
| | Mathematics foundation | 3 |
| | Speech foundation
| 3 |
Second Semester
|
BSAD 101
| Introduction to Business
| 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading, Writings, and Research (ENGF) | 3 |
LGST 101
| Introduction to the Legal System | 3 |
| LGST 102 | Legal Research | 3 |
| LGST 103 | Legal Writing | 3 |
| | Health foundation | 1-3
|
Third Semester
|
| LGST 104 | Interpersonal Communications, Legal Interviewing, and Investigating Techniques | 3 |
| LGST 216 | Real Property | 3 |
| LGST 218 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| | Arts or humanities distribution | 3 |
| | LGST elective or CCSJ 221 | 3 |
Fourth Semester
|
| LGST 220 | Drafting Wills and Probating Estates in Maryland | 3 |
| | Behavioral and social sciences distribution | 3 |
| | Natural sciences distribution with lab | 4 |
| | LGST elective | 6 |
Total Credit Hours 62-64
|
* ENGL 101 if needed for ENGL 102/103 or general elective.
Program Outcomes for the Paralegal AAS 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.
- Demonstrate their knowledge of facts, evidence, and rules of law.
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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.
| Required Courses |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| LGST 101 | Introduction to the Legal System | 3 |
| LGST 102 | Legal Research | 3 |
| LGST 103 | Legal Writing* | 3 |
| LGST 104 | Interpersonal Communications, Legal Interviewing, and Investigating Techniques | 3 |
| Electives (Select three courses)† |
| CCJS 221 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LGST 106 | Ethics | 3 |
LGST 210
| Torts
| 3
|
| LGST 211 | Maryland Contract Law | 3 |
LGST 212
| Immigration Law
| 3 |
LGST 214
| Domestic Relations | 3 |
LGST 216
| Real Property | 3 |
LGST 218
| Civil Litigation | 3 |
LGST 220
| Drafting Wills and Probating Estates in Maryland | 3 |
| Total credit hours 24 |
| * A keyboarding skill of 35 wpm is required before enrolling in this course.
† Students may elect CCSJ 221 or any paralegal course above LGST 104. |
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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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 Requirements
|
LGST 101
| Introduction to the Legal System | 3 |
| LGST 102 | Legal Research | 3 |
| LGST 103 | Legal Writing | 3 |
| Total credit hours 9 |
Upon successful completion of this course of study, and application to the Admissions and Records Office, the letter of recognition in legal analysis will be issued by the chief enrollment services and financial aid officer.
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.