Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate

Program Description

This program is also available completely online.

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant certificate 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.

Completion of this coursework results in an academic certificate. Students wishing to obtain a professional certification must pass an examination with an authorized certifying body. 

Program Outcomes

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

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.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• PAR-1510 Introduction to Law for Paralegals Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• PAR-2450 Legal Research Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• PAR-2530 Tort Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PAR-2510 Legal Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PAR-2540 Contracts Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• CJT-2510 Criminal Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• PAR-2610 Legal Ethics Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PAR-2580 Employment Law Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PAR-2590 Family Law Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• PAR-2570 Wills, Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• CJT-2540 Criminal Evidence and Procedure Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• PAR-2650 Civil Litigation Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 30 Credits