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PARALEGAL STUDIES

View Paralegal Studies A.A.S. (G, TP): 341
View Paralegal Studies Certificate (G, TP): 156
View Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition (G, TP): 804

Paralegal Studies A.A.S. (G, TP): 341
Revised: Effective Semester Fall 2009

This curriculum provides the student with the basic skills in legal research, legal writing, and legal interviewing.  The student will learn to prepare and interpret legal documents and analyze procedures and processes.  This curriculum is designed for those interested in a career in a law office as a paraprofessional.  It is also designed for legal secretaries presently employed in attorney's offices who whish to improve their skills for career advancement.  A legal assistant is trained specialist who can manage a law office operation under the supervision of an attorney, relieving a practicing attorney of those routine components of managing legal cases that require knowledge of the legal process and assisting the attorney with handling of complicated legal problems.  The legal assistant also assists the attorney in legal research and in the design and development of new procedures, techniques, services, and processes for the law office.  The legal assistant can also prepare and interpret legal documents and analyze procedural problems through the selection, compilation, and use of technical information from various legal references.  Completion of all requirements for this curriculum will lead to the award of the A.A.s. in paralegal studies.  A suggested course sequence for full time students follows; part-time students should consult an adviser.

First Semester
BA 101 Introduction to Business 3
EN 101 Techniques of Reading and Writing I 3
HE 100 Principles of Healthier Living 1
LA 101 Introduction to the Legal System 3
PS 101 American Government 3
  Speech foundation 3

Second Semester
CA 120 Introduction to Computer Applications 3
  English foundation 3
LA 102 Legal Research 3
  LA elective 3
Behavioral and social sciences distribution 3

Third Semester
LA 103 Legal Writing 3
LA 118 Civil Litigation 3
  LA elective 3
  Mathematics foundation 3
  Natural sciences lab distribution 4

Fourth Semester
LA 104 Interpersonal Communications, Legal Interviewing, and Investigating Techniques 3
LA 116 Real Property 3
LA 120 Drafting Wills and Probating Estates in Maryland 3
  LA elective or CJ 221 3
  Arts or humanities distribution 3


Total credit hours  62

Program Outcomes for the Paralegal A.A.S. Degree

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Prepare and interpret legal documents.
  • Analyze legal problems and procedures in at least three areas of substantive laws.
  • Perform legal research.
  • Draft simple legal documents.
  • Demonstrate their knowledge of facts, evidence, and rules of law.

Paralegal Studies Certificate (G, TP): 156

Revised: Effective Semester Spring 2006

The curriculum provides the student with basic skills in legal research, legal writing, and legal interviewing techniques. Competency is developed in at least three areas of substantive law selected by the student.

Required Courses
EN 101 Techniques of Reading and Writing I 3
LA 101 Introduction to the Legal System 3
LA 102 Legal Research 3
LA 103 Legal Writing* 3
LA 104 Interpersonal Communications, Legal Interviewing, and Investigating Techniques 3

Electives (Select three)†
CJ 221 Criminal Law 3
LA 106 Ethics 3
LA 110 Maryland Contract Law 3
LA 114 Domestic Relations 3
LA 116 Real Property 3
LA 118 Civil Litigation 3
LA 120 Drafting Wills and Probating Estates in Maryland 3
LA 122 Law Office Administration 3
LA 125 Introduction to Corporate Law and Practice 3
LA 210 Torts 3
LA 212 Immigration Law 3


Total credit hours  24

* A keyboarding skill of 35 wpm is required before enrolling in this course.

† Students may elect CJ 221 or any paralegal course above LA 104.

Program Outcomes for the Paralegal Certificate

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Locate and interpret legal statutes.
  • Locate and interpret legal cases.
  • Draft simple legal documents.
  • Interpret the legal concepts in three areas of substantive law.
  • Interpret the concepts of procedural law.
  • Interpret citations of the law.

Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition (G, TP): 804

This sequence of three courses is designed for persons who wish to develop skills in legal analysis. To complete each course in this sequence, students must demonstrate skills in the following areas: identifying the kinds of law books and their components, using the various indexes and digests, evaluating the role of key facts in issue development, and organizing materials and writing them in a clear style. A grade of C or better is required in each course.

LA 101 Introduction to the Legal System 3
LA 102 Legal Research 3
LA 103 Legal Writing 3


Total credit hours  9

Program Outcomes for the Legal Analysis Letter of Recognition

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Locate legal legislation.
  • Locate legal cases.
  • Draft simple legal documents.

Refer to course description pages to identify courses with prerequisites.
Courses in italics meet General Education requirements.