Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate

Program Description

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant associate of applied science degree helps students qualify as legal assistants aiding lawyers with procedural activities in the practice of law. These activities include research, alternative dispute resolution, interviewing witnesses, and drafting motions, interrogatories, and pleadings. Legal assistants may work in government agencies, in corporations that have in-house attorneys, and in private law firms, or they may prefer to freelance. The paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing occupations in Maryland, and the demand for legal assistants in the Washington Metropolitan Area is high. This certificate is well-suited for individuals who want to upgrade their skills or get a promotion, and credits earned may be applied toward the A.A.S. degree.

Graduates of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate will be able to:

• Apply investigative techniques to gather information from clients, witnesses, and other sources
• Analyze legal resources found in a law library, using manual methods, computer software, and  online research tools, such as Westlaw
• Apply critical thinking skills in the reading and interpretation of the law
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, motions, and other writings typically assigned to paralegals

Program Electives

• BUS-2220 Business Law I 3 Credits
• BUS-2240 Business Law II 3 Credits
• CAP-1050 Portfolio Development 3 Credits
• CAP-1310 Career Assessment and Planning 3 Credits
• Any CJT or COR
• FOS-2500 Forensic Science 3 Credits
• PAR-2550 Real Estate Law 3 Credits
• PAR-2560 Basic Mediation 3 Credits
• PAR-2570 Wills, Estate Planning, and Probate 3 Credits
• PAR-2580 Employment Law 3 Credits
• PAR-2590 Domestic Relations 3 Credits
• PAR-2610 Legal Ethics 3 Credits
• PAR-2910 Par Internship 1-3 Credits
• PAR-2920 Par Internship 1-3 Credits
• PAR-2930 Par Internship 1-3 Credits
• PSY-2010 Personality and Adjustment 3 Credits
• SPN-1010 Spanish for Beginners 3 Credits

Sequence of Study - Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Chapter 6 for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Program Total: 30 Credits