Paralegal A.A.S.
HEGIS Code 5099
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Paralegals act as assistants to attorneys or provide routine services that would otherwise require an attorney. They may work inside law offices, financial institutions, or government offices, or may operate businesses of their own. Paralegal employment is an excellent place for students who wish to pursue law school admission. Future law students can use their legal employment to defray the high cost of law school and network with numerous law firms. While Paralegals may not practice law, they are a key and growing part of the legal industry. Common tasks include:
- Preparing legal documents for attorneys' review
- Taking depositions and preparing legal case materials
- Processing legal forms and records
- Conducting legal research
- Speaking with clients and managing the marketing, financial, or other aspects of legal practice
Paralegal is one of the top ten fastest-growing occupations in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the demand for legal services in the US continues to grow, Paralegals are in demand in government, business, banking/finance, real estate, and other fields. Large law firms are increasingly turning to Paralegals to extend their attorney staff and keep legal rates affordable yet widely available.
THE PROGRAM
The Paralegal program at JCC is an Associate in Applied Science Degree designed to prepare graduates as paraprofessionals in law related occupations, and as a foundation for future law school study. Graduates are prepared in a broad section of legal work, including family law, business law, property law and civil litigation. A strong emphasis is placed on legal research skills and general business management skills. All classes are taught by practicing attorneys, which enables students to be well positioned to seek a variety of paralegal positions in various sectors. In addition, students wishing to go on to law school will experience the "case method" approach, which is the preferred teaching method in many law schools. Most law courses or topics within a course are similar to those taught in law school.
The program includes an optional internship experience to allow qualified students to gain real-world experience and make contacts in the field for future career networking.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
All degree requirements and courses listed are effective Fall of 2006 and are subject to change.
| Credit Hours | |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts Requirements (21-23 Credit Hours): | |
| ENG 101: Research and Composition | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | 3-4 |
| Science Elective | 3-4 |
| POL 121: Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 |
| Business Requirements (20 Credit Hours): | |
| ACC 101: Accounting Principles 1 | 4 |
| ACC 102: Accounting Principles 2 | 4 |
| BUS 127: Management Communications or PLA 275: Paralegal Internship |
3 |
| BUS 206: Legal Information Management and Technology | 3 |
| BUS 211: Business Law 1 | 3 |
| BUS 212: Business Law 2 | 3 |
| Paralegal Requirements (21 Credit Hours): | |
| PLA 101: Introduction to Law and Paralegalism | 3 |
| PLA 112: Legal Research & Writing | 3 |
| PLA 201: Business Organizations Law | 3 |
| PLA 211: Civil Litigation | 3 |
| PLA 221: Family and Domestic Relations Law | 3 |
| PLA 232: Property Law | 3 |
| PLA 242: Estates, Wills and Trusts Law | 3 |
| Physical Education | 2 |
| TOTAL | 64-66 |
The curricula offered by the College require certain Liberal Arts core courses in the area of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science or Mathematics. The following indicates areas of study acceptable in meeting these requirements.
| Humanities: | American Sign Language, Art, English, Journalism, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy, Speech, and Theater Arts. |
| Social Sciences: | Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology |
| Science and Mathematics: | Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Science, and Mathematics |
TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES
As a graduate of Jefferson, you will have many transfer opportunities to consider and be able to choose from a wide variety of Colleges and Universities to pursue your baccalaureate degree. Jefferson has partnered with some selected Colleges and Universities to develop agreements that help students transfer smoothly. Below please find a link to an agreement that has been developed with California University of Pennsylvania.
This agreement is designed to help students select courses in their academic program that will transfer effectively and will allow students to complete the Bachelor of Science degree at California University of Pennsylvania.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For further information regarding this program, please contact any of the following faculty:
Larry Covell, Associate Professor of Business
(315) 786-2261 lcovell@sunyjefferson.edu
For application and admissions information please contact:
admissions@sunyjefferson.edu
Admissions Office (315) 786-2277
(or Toll Free 1-888-435-6522. Ask for Admissions.)
Jefferson Community College
1220 Coffeen St.
Watertown, NY 13601
www.sunyjefferson.edu
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Copyright©, Jefferson Community College, 2007
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Last Update: Friday, 24-Aug-2007 15:12:24 EDT