General Law courses, which carry a "LAW" designation (e.g., LAW 205), generally transfer to four-year institutions. These courses can be taken as Core Requirements (GER) credits in the Social Sciences by students pursuing the College's AAS degree. The courses frequently are taken by students transferring in business in order to help fulfill the course requirements for junior-level standing in business at many four-year institutions.

The Paralegal Studies program enables currently employed law office personnel to upgrade their skills, and individuals with college degrees or substantial work experience to retrain, in order to work as assistants to attorneys in law firms, corporations, and the public sector. Paralegals, working under the supervision of attorneys, typically prepare legal forms, perform legal research, and assist in trial preparation by conducting interviews and organizing materials; however, paralegals cannot accept legal cases or give legal advice.

The Paralegal Studies curriculum is carefully designed to impart the specialized knowledge and develop the rigorous communication, computer, and critical thinking skills necessary to success in this expanding profession. The program's Legal Specialty courses cover the broad range of law practice specializations most in demand and feature "hands-on" instruction by attorneys practicing full-time in those areas. Inasmuch as most paralegal positions require work experience relevant to the legal field, where necessary students should plan to obtain such experience by successfully preparing for, and completing, an internship as part of the program.

The Paralegal Studies program is an Institutional Member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. Prospective students must submit a Paralegal Studies Application for Admission to the program director before enrolling as a paralegal major.

Associate In Paralegal Studies

General Requirements (10 credits)

• LAW 205 American Legal System (5)
• *LEGAL 160 Career Orientation and Ethics 3
• LEGAL 161 Paralegal Workplace 2 or
• LEGAL 280-282 Paralegal Internship

Communication Requirements (15 credits)

• *BUS 250 Business Communications (5)
• *ENGL 101 Composition – Exposition (or ENGL 121) (5)
• *SPCH 100 Speech Communication (5)

Computer Requirements (15 credits)

Complete the following three courses OR earn either the Associate in Administrative Assistant: Legal Office or the Certificate in Office Assistant - Legal degree.

• CIS 121 Intro to Computer Information Systems (5)
• CIS 130 Microcomputer Applications (5)
• OFFCE 260 Computer Application for the Law Office (5)

General Electives (12 credits)

At least 12 credits total, selected from courses numbered 100 and above and transferable wherever possible, designed to give the student a broadly based liberal arts education; must be approved by program director. This general education requirement is satisfied if the student has earned a baccalaureate or an Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree from an accredited postsecondary institution.

Computational Requirement*

Do one of the following:

1. Complete a GER Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills course as part of the General Electives; or
2. Complete BUS 107 (Business Math) prior to entering the Paralegal Studies program; or
3. Earn either the Associate in Administrative Assistant: Legal Office or the Certificate in Office Assistant – Legal.

Legal Specialty Electives (40 credits)

Prerequisite: Typing at a minimum of 40 wpm. Prior to taking any of the following courses, the students must have completed LAW 205, LEGAL 160, ENGL 101 (or ENGL 121), SPCH 100 and the General Electives.

Each student shall take eight of the following courses:

• LEGAL 260 Administrative Law (5)
• LEGAL 262 Criminal Procedure (5)
• LEGAL 263 Environmental Law (5)
• LEGAL 264 Torts (5)
• LEGAL 265 Civil Litigation (5)
• LEGAL 266 Estate Planning and Probate (5)
• LEGAL 267 Research and Writing (5)
• LEGAL 268 Real Estate Transactions (5)
• LEGAL 269 Domestic Relations (5)
• LEGAL 270 Business Organizations (5)
• LEGAL 271 Bankruptcy and Collections (5)
• LEGAL 273 Legal Interviewing & Investigation (5)
• LEGAL 275 Alternative Dispute Resolution (5)

Total Credits Required 92

*Meets related instruction requirements for professional/technical programs.

Pre-Law

There is no formal pre-law program or curriculum at Pierce College or at most other undergraduate institutions; thus, the pre-law designation normally is used only until the pre-law student selects a suitable major field of study. In most instances, the later study of a specialized area of law in law school is not related directly to the law student's undergraduate major field of study. However, students contemplating a career in law should emphasize the development of strong communication (especially writing) and critical thinking abilities while studying at the undergraduate level.

With few exceptions, individuals becoming lawyers earn the Juris Doctor (JD) degree by attending law school for the equivalent of three academic years of full-time study. Prior to entering law school students must have been awarded the bachelor's degree and taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Inasmuch as admission to law school is highly competitive, pre-law students should earn the best grades possible. The LSAT, a one-day national examination offered several times each year at numerous testing sites, usually is taken early during the senior year of undergraduate study.

The pre-law advisor can share information about law schools and provide direction, from a pre-law perspective, concerning baccalaureate institutions as well as Pierce College courses and programs of study.