Paralegal
The legal profession continues to grow. As a paralegal, you could work for a large private law firm; a public agency, such as the Department of the Attorney General; or a small office with one or two lawyers. Good paralegals are in high demand.
Our Paralegal associate degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to be practicing paralegals in law firms, government agencies, corporations and the courts.
A Key Member of Any Legal Team
As a student in our Paralegal program, you’ll learn to use legal terminology, principles and procedures… conduct legal research… draft briefs, memoranda and pleadings using proper legal formatting… prepare a case for trial… carry out tasks under the supervision of a lawyer… and much more.
Get the skills you need to pursue the career path you want!
ABA Approved
The Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Non-attorneys may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. The ABA approval requires that nine (9) credit hours of legal specialty courses be taken in the traditional (face-to-face) format.
Limitation on transfer of legal specialty credits: Effective Summer 2022, students transferring credits into the Legal Studies bachelor’s program may not transfer more than 12 credits of legal specialty courses. Legal specialty courses are:
- LGL100/LGS110 Foundations in Law
- LGL110/LGS130 Principles of Legal Research
- LGL210/LGS135 Legal Research and Writing I
- LGL211/LGS140 Civil Litigation I
- LGL270/LGS160 Wills and Estates
- LGL280/LGS190 Family Law
- LGL240/LGS200 Contracts
- LGL221/LGS230 Civil Litigation II
- LGL300/LGS260 Administrative Law
- LGL211/LGS280 Legal Research and Writing II
As required by the ABA, LGS135, LGS140, LGS230, and LGS280 may not be replaced with transfer credits unless the transferred courses were taken in a traditional classroom format.
A minor in legal studies is available to any student outside the paralegal associate and legal studies bachelor’s programs.
The minor in legal studies is not approved by the ABA and is not intended to prepare students to work as paralegals.
Click here to view Central Penn College’s Admissions Requirements
Courses
Foundations in Law
Principles of Legal Research
Legal Research and Writing I & II
Criminal Procedure
Contracts
Criminal Law
Civil Litigation I & II
Evidence
Administrative Law
Legal Seminar
Internship for Paralegals
Job Pursuit Seminar
Careers in this field include
- Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
- Law Clerk
- Title Examiner, Abstractor and Searcher
- Legal Support Worker
People who thrive in this field
- Highly organized
- Good communication skills
- Self-motivated
- Detail-oriented
- Methodical
- Critical Thinker
- Exhibits grace under pressure
- Persistent
- Empathetic
“Paralegals are the unsung heroes of the legal profession. They work behind-the-scenes, doing extremely valuable work that enable attorneys to successfully do their jobs.”
– Professor John DeLeo, Chair of Legal Studies