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Paralegal Studies
About the program
With Platt College’s Paralegal programs, you will be trained to seek entry-level employment as Paralegal Assistants in the fast paced, exciting legal industry.
- Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies Degree
These programs will give you the training and skills to perform essential legal procedures in a law office setting. You will gain an overall understanding of the legal process and the law practices necessary to be an effective paralegal. Learn valuable organizational, research, communication, interviewing and investigative, and office management skills.
Externship
As part of the Bachelor program, you will have an externship experience that enables you to practice the skills you have been taught in a real-world setting with attorneys and other legal professionals in a law office of other legal environment.
Be part of the legal profession
The paralegal profession is projected to experience steady growth over the next decade.* Demand for qualified professionals is expected to increase, as a growing population requires more legal services. Entry-level employment will stem from law firms and other employers who will hire Paralegal Assistants to increase the availability of legal services.
Paralegals are projected to rank among the fastest-growing occupations in the economy through 2008. The number of new paralegals is projected to increase by 62%!
Many employers will choose qualified graduates of Bachelor programs over graduates of lesser certificate programs.
*U.S. Department of Labor, Occupation Outlook Handbook
The different roles of a Paralegal Assistant
Paralegals will have an expanding role in today’s law offices, as they assume many of the tasks normally performed by attorneys. In addition to preparatory work, paralegals also perform a number of other vital functions such as drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, and trust instruments. They also may assist in preparing tax returns and planning estates. Some paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records.
Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and government offices. They can work in different areas of the law, such as litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, labor law, bankruptcy, and family law.
- Duties of a Paralegal
- Investigate the facts
- Identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, articles, and materials
- Analyze and organize information
- Prepare written documents and reports
- Prepare for a trial
Enter the legal profession as a qualified paralegal.
You can get the training and skills to become an important part of a legal team. Assist lawyers with daily tasks by conducting important research, preparing legal documents and managing case files.
The Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies Degree program will provide you with the expanded technical knowledge and job skills necessary to be better qualified to seek entry-level employment as a Paralegal Assistant and start a new career in the legal profession.
Careers
What kind of training do I need?
Most employers will prefer graduates of formal paralegal programs. It is becoming increasingly important for paralegals to obtain an advanced degree to be competitive in the job market. The more education you get, the more qualified you will be to seek entry-level opportunities, and the more qualified you will be in your job to perform at the highest level.
Platt College can provide you with a solid foundation and advanced degrees to be successful as a Paralegal..
What are the working conditions?
Most paralegals find work in law offices and the justice system and are expected to work typical business office hours, however many Paralegals find that additional hours may be required to meet deadlines. As a Paralegal, you will perform most of your work at a desk in an office setting or at a law library, and you may be required to travel on occasion to perform various job-related duties in courts or other legal and justice facilities..
Platt College can prepare you to work in a legal environment in many different facilities.
What training will I receive?
Platt College has developed a comprehensive curriculum in the Paralegal Studies program that includes lower division courses in: Criminal Law, Research and Writing, Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy, Contracts, Family Law, Torts, Legal Writing, Legal Terminology, Paralegal Ethics, Computerized Office Environment and Real Estate/Landlord-Tenant Law. Upper division coursework includes: Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning, Criminal Law II / Advanced Trial Procedures, Civil Litigation II, Family Law II, Research and Writing II, Labor Law / Workers’ Compensation, Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law and a Paralegal Externship. Students are introduced to various legal-related computer programs and online research tools during their courses.
Platt College can give you the training and skills that will prepare you to seek entry-level paralegal positions in many legal and law-related professions.