May 10, 2025  
2025-2026 College Catalog 
  
2025-2026 College Catalog

Legal Assistant, Certificate


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Program Code: 261

The Certificate in Legal Assistant program may lead to entry-level positions in a general practice law firm or as a legal assistant with a trial-work concentration depending upon the selected electives.

Students must take at least three courses (LGL 125, LGL 126 and LGL 216) through synchronous instruction.

Program note: The Certificate in Legal Assistant is not an ABA Approved program option. It is designed to provide education for workers in positions that provide support to paralegals and attorneys. Those students without previous degrees are encouraged to continue their education to the AAS Degree and beyond. 

Legal assistants and paralegals cannot give legal advice to members of the public. Most jurisdictions impose significant penalties for the unauthorized practice of law. This program is not intended to give legal advice to students or to educate or train students to give legal advice or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law.

Program Objectives: 

1. All Paralegal AAS degree students will demonstrate requisite skills involved in assisting attorneys with trial preparation. 

2. All Paralegal Studies graduates will demonstrate knowledge of computerized legal software and databases.

3. All Paralegal Studies graduates will demonstrate knowledge of legal research.

4. All Paralegal Studies graduates will demonstrate knowledge of legal writing.

5. All paralegal studies students will demonstrate an ability to analyze ethics issues and apply principles of legal ethics to resolve them.

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