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Paralegal Studies

Approval

The Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Mission Statement

The Business and Public Service Division supports the mission of the College by offering business/public service-related courses and programs that prepare students for employment or advancement in Georgia's economy.

The mission of the Paralegal Studies program is to provide a high quality paralegal education that prepares each student to work in a variety of paralegal positions by developing professional competence in both general and legal specialty courses, including courses in substantive law, procedural law, and ethics, and doing this by stressing understanding and reasoning and the application of the same through practical legal applications.

Work Environment

Paralegals handle many routine assignments, particularly when they are inexperienced. As they gain experience, paralegals usually assume tasks that are more varied with additional responsibility. Paralegals do most of their work in offices and law libraries. Occasionally, they travel to gather information and perform other duties. Paralegals employed by corporations and government usually work a standard 40-hour week. Although most paralegals work year round, some are temporarily employed during busy times of the year. Paralegals who work for law firms sometimes work very long hours when they are under pressure to meet deadlines.

Nature of the Work

Although lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they often delegate many of their tasks to paralegals. In fact, paralegals-also called legal assistants-are continuing to assume new responsibilities in legal offices and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. Nevertheless, they are explicitly prohibited from carrying out duties considered to be within the scope of practice of law, such as setting legal fees, giving legal advice, establishing an attorney/client relationship, and presenting cases in court.

One of a paralegal's most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals might investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. They also identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases. After they analyze and organize the information, paralegals may prepare written reports that attorneys use in determining how cases should be handled. If attorneys decide to file lawsuits on behalf of clients, paralegals may help prepare the legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. Paralegals also organize and track files of all-important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys.

In addition to this preparatory work, paralegals perform a number of other functions. For example, they help draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements. They also may assist in preparing tax returns, establishing trust funds, and planning estates. Some paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records.

Computer software packages and the Internet are used to search legal literature stored in computer databases and on CD-ROM. In litigation involving many supporting documents, paralegals usually use computer databases to retrieve, organize, and index various materials. Imaging software allows paralegals to scan documents directly into a database, while billing programs help them to track hours billed to clients. Computer software packages also are used to perform tax computations and explore the consequences of various tax strategies for clients.

Employment

Paralegals and legal assistants held about 263,800 jobs in 2008. Private law firms employed 71 percent; most of the remainder worked for corporate legal departments and various levels of government. Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers.

Earnings

Wages of paralegals and legal assistants vary greatly. Salaries depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. In general, paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who work for smaller firms or in less populated regions. In May 2008, full-time wage-and-salary paralegals and legal assistants earned $46,120. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,080 and $59,310. The top 10 percent earned more than $73,450, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $29,260. In addition to earning a salary, many paralegals receive bonuses, in part to compensate them for sometimes having to work long hours. Paralegals also receive vacation, paid sick leave, a savings plan, life insurance, personal paid time off, dental insurance, and reimbursement for continuing legal education.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the associate degree program in Paralegal Studies will be able to complete the following tasks:

  • Conduct basic legal research of primary and secondary sources, validate research results, and cite primary and secondary sources using ALWD citation form
  • Use appropriate legal terminology that is common in written and oral legal communication
  • Apply non-complex legal concepts to factual situations
  • Compose basic legal arguments
  • Produce basic legal documents like pleadings, contracts, discovery, briefs, motions, HUD closing forms, and wills
  • Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace

Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.

To be successful in the Paralegal Studies program, students must meet these essential functions:

General Functions

  • Communication - The ability to read, write, speak, listen, and use nonverbal skills effectively with different audiences (has mastered necessary legal vocabulary)
  • Critical thinking - The ability to think using analysis, synthesis, evaluation, problem solving, judgment, and the creative process
  • Personal growth and responsibility - The ability to understand and manage self, to function effectively in social and professional environments, and to make reasoned judgments based on an understanding of the diversity of the world community
  • Information technology and quantitative literacy - The ability to locate, understand, evaluate, and synthesize information and data in a technological and data driven society

Specific Functions

  • Researches - The ability to research and analyze law sources (primary and secondary)
  • Validates - The ability to validate law using citatory (Shepardizes)
  • Drafts - The ability to draft correspondence, memorandums, pleadings, briefs, discovery, legal documents (e.g., wills, contracts, articles of incorporation, deeds, etc.)
  • Investigates - The ability to investigate facts of case, including witness interviewing, and drafts and delivers subpoenas
  • Communicates - The ability to conduct initial and subsequent interviews of clients and to maintain contact with clients
  • Documenting, recordkeeping, and case management - The ability to:
    • Maintain and organize client files and litigation documents
    • Index, synthesize, and summarize documents such as depositions
    • Document communication
    • Maintain billing and other records
    • Maintain docket control, calendars, etc.
    • Schedule matters such as court dates, depositions, etc.
  • Using technology - The ability to use appropriate technology to complete tasks set forth above, including, but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet applications, databases, computer-assisted legal research, litigation management, timekeeping, and client information

Program Expenses

The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):

  • Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
  • Registration fee ($39)
  • Student activity fees ($30)
  • Accident insurance fee ($6)
  • Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
  • Program supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact amounts)
  • Textbooks (Approximately $2,863 for entire program)

These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:

  • Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
  • Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)