Legal Assistant, Certificate
Program Description
This program is offered completely online and will require that students work in the legal field to gain on the job training in their chosen career field. Learning of practical skills and responsibilities required in this profession will build each term.
Program Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the Legal Assistant Certificate will:
- Develop various skills and aspects of an entry-level legal assistant
- Use current technology to create and edit legal documents
- Develop professional and ethical standards required of legal assistants
Career Considerations
The legal assistant one-year certificate prepares students for entry-level jobs and future careers in the following areas: law firms, businesses, insurance companies, financial institutions, public agencies, title companies, and government offices.
Program Course Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Term | Credits | |
| BA 214 | Business Communications | 3 |
| LA 100 | Legal Procedures I 1 | 4 |
| LA 102 | Legal Terminology 1 | 3 |
| MTH 104 or BA 180 | Math Literacy (or higher) or Business Mathematics I | 3-4 |
| OA 128 | Editing for Business 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| COM 218Z or PSY 101 | Interpersonal Communication 3 or Psychology of Human Relations | 3-4 |
| LA 101 | Intro to Paralegal Studies | 3 |
| LA 128 | Legal Procedures II 1 | 4 |
| WR 121Z | Composition I | 4 |
| Program Elective 4 | 2 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Third Term | ||
| LA 105 | Civil Procedure 1 | 3 |
| LA 132 | Ethics for Legal Prof | 3 |
| LA 280 | CWE- Legal Assistant 2 | 2 |
| Program Elective 4 | 5 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Minimum Credits | 45-47 | |
- 1
See catalog for course co-requisites or pre-requisites
- 2
See instructor the term prior for information on cooperative work experience
- 3
Meets Human Relations requirement
- 4
Program elective
Approved Legal Assistant Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA 161 | Career Planning | 1 |
| BA 165 | Customer Service | 3 |
| BA 211Z | Principles Financial Acct | 4 |
| BA 213Z | Principles Managerial Acct | 4 |
| CIS 120 | Intro to Digital Literacy | 4 |
| CJ 105 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ 114 | Diversity Issues in CJ | 3 |
| CJ 120 | Intro to Judicial Process | 3 |
| COM 111Z | Public Speaking | 4 |
| COM 218Z | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| LA 280 | CWE- Legal Assistant | 1-6 |
| MED 111 | Medical Terminology I | 3 |
| PS 201 | United States Government I | 4 |
| PSY 101 | Psychology of Human Relations | 3 |
| PSY 201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| PSY 202Z | Introduction to Psychology II | 4 |
| SOC 204Z | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| SOC 206Z | Social Problems | 4 |
| SOC 207 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| WR 122Z | Composition II | 4 |
| WR 227Z | Technical Writing | 4 |
Advising Notes
- A grade of C or better must be attained in all courses or courses must be retaken
Academic Entrance Requirement
- Working knowledge of MS Word.
- Recommended Keyboarding speed of 45 WPM.
- Students with a criminal record are strongly urged to research employability before entering the paralegal program. If students enter the program with a felony conviction, they should disclose this information to their paralegal advisor and any Cooperative Work Experience (CWE) employer.