Paralegal Studies, Certificate
The purpose of the Paralegal Studies Program is to provide students with the skills necessary to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals and other non-lawyers are prohibited from practicing law.
The program consists of an associate degree (A.A.S.) and a certificate. The certificate is designed for students who already hold a degree (associate or bachelors) or who already have two years of college. All of the paralegal courses in the certificate program are included in the associate degree.
Students admitted to the paralegal certificate program must have earned at least 60 semester hours of college-level work from a regionally accredited college or university. The 60 hours must include at least 18 semester hours of general education credit.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Requirements | 30 | |
| PARA 1101 | Introduction to Law & Ethics 1 | 3 |
| PARA 2203 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| PARA 2205 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| PARA 2207 | Criminal Litigation | 3 |
| PARA 2209 | Business Organization | 3 |
| PARA 2211 | Computers in the Law | 3 |
| PARA 2213 | Real Estate Law | 3 |
| PARA 2225 | Family Law | 3 |
| Choose two from the following: | 6 | |
| Bankruptcy/Debtor-Creditor Rel | ||
| Occupational Internship | ||
| Wills, Trusts and Probate Law | ||
| Health Care Law | ||
| Intellectual Property Law | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Employment Law | ||
| Law Office Skills | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | Students who do not achieve a grade of C or higher in PARA 1101 Introduction to Law & Ethics must re-take PARA 1101 Introduction to Law & Ethics and achieve a grade of C or higher before taking any other PARA classes. |
Residency Requirements for Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Students must take at least 5 PARA classes (15 credits) at Clayton State in order to fulfill the residency requirements for the Certificate in Paralegal Studies.