Paralegal/Legal Assistant, A.A.S.

Program Description

This program is also available completely online.

In the Paralegal/Legal Assistant, A.A.S degree, students develop an understanding of American criminal law, including the rules of evidence and their application in legal proceedings. They learn to gather and document information from clients, witnesses, and other sources critical to building a legal case. Students apply basic and advanced legal research methods to locate and use legal resources in a variety of formats. Additionally, they evaluate and compare legal precedents and learn how to apply these precedents to new fact patterns.  They also explore strategies for organizing effective trial preparation, including the practical and legal considerations necessary to support litigation efforts. Students draft legal documents, including pleadings, motions, and other materials commonly prepared by paralegals or legal assistants. Lastly, students examine the ethical responsibilities and professional standards expected in the legal field. This degree prepares students for entry-level positions as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant, A.A.S. will be able to:

1. Apply investigative techniques to gather information from clients, witnesses, and other sources.
2. Apply legal research methods to locate and use legal resources.
3. Apply legal precedents to new fact patterns.
4. Draft legal documents, pleadings, motions, and other writings typically assigned to paralegals.
5. Apply ethical considerations and responsibilities of the legal profession.
6. Analyze the practical and legal necessities for organizing successful strategies and tactics for trial.
7. Analyze American criminal laws and the rules of evidence.

General Education Courses

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

Sequence of Study

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include the English co-requisite course (EGL-0100S ) or any co-requisite MAT courses (MAT-0113C , MAT-0114C , MAT-0125C  and MAT-0135C  ). See Academic Preparation  for more information on College Readiness if applicable to you. 

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• PAR-1510 Introduction to Law for Paralegals Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement; Critical Course)
• CJT-2510 Criminal Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)

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• MAT-1130 Mathematical Ideas Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective) OR
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective)

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• PAR-2450 Legal Research Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• PAR-2510 Legal Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)
• PAR-2530 Tort Law Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) OR
• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• PAR-2540 Contracts Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)

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• 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
• BMT-2220 Business Law I Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science without Lab General Education Requirement)
• CJT-2540 Criminal Evidence and Procedure Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning Credits: 3 (Program Elective) OR
• PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• PAR-2610 Legal Ethics Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PAR-2650 Civil Litigation Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Program Elective) OR
• POS-1020 State and Local Government Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• PAR-2920 Paralegal Internship II Credits: 2 (Program Elective) OR
• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Elective) AND
• INT-1290 Beginning Microsoft Word Credits: 1 (Program Elective)

Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.