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Legal Assisting (Paralegal Studies) (2299) |
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The legal
assisting program is for students who wish to seek employment in the
legal or criminal justice field as paraprofessionals or for legal secretaries
presently employed who wish to assume paraprofessional duties in their field.
Florida Community College's program is structured to meet the needs of the
legal profession in the state of Florida, as developed in response to a
survey of local attorneys, which showed a great need for trained paraprofessional
specialists in the field. Courses are taught by practicing attorneys or
other professionals skilled in their field. An advisory committee composed
of attorneys and other professionals meets periodically to make suggestions
and recommendations for the entire program. The program culminates in a
professional internship (PLA 1949 Cooperative Education Work Experience).
All other professional core courses must be completed prior to enrollment
in the internship. In this course, students will work not less than 120
hours in a law or law-related office. In addition, students will meet weekly
to share work experiences and receive final preparation for paraprofessional
practice. New students are required to attend an orientation with the Program
Director prior to enrolling in the PLA courses. Transfer of Legal Specialty
Courses from other institutions must be approved by the Program Director.
NOTE: While legal assistants/paralegals are not permitted by law to give
legal advice, they do work under the direct supervision of attorneys, performing
specifically delegated duties necessary in the effective delivery of legal
services to the client. The program supports these ethical guidelines against
the unauthorized practice of law by non-attorneys and students have extensive
training in legal ethics. |
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| This program is approved by the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org).
The Educational Goals of the Legal Assisting Program:
To offer an Associate in Science Degree or Associate in Applied Science Degree in Legal Assisting that will prepare legal assistants/paralegal graduates to assist attorneys in administrative agencies, insurance companies, private law firms, state agencies, corporations, government, and other legal environments. The technical curriculum has been designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in the areas of the role of a legal assistant, ethical requirements, legal research, analysis, the preparation of legal documents, litigation practice and procedure, real estate transactions, family law, administrative law, tort law, criminal law, and probate law and practice. Emphasis is on training students in both civil and criminal matters. Students are advised to be prepared in computer software and keyboarding skills.
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ENC 1101 English Composition I (prereq. of PLA 1104) (3) |
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SPC 2600 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3) |
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*Mathematics (3) |
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*Social and Behavioral Sciences (6) |
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*Humanities (3) |
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Credit Hours: 18 |
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Required Professional Courses |
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BUL 2131 Business Law I - The Legal Environment of Business (3) |
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CGS 1570 Microcomputer Applications (3) |
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****OST 2335 Applied Business Communications (3) |
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Paralegal Courses |
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PLA 1003 Introduction to Legal Assisting (3) |
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PLA 1104 Legal Research and Writing I (3) |
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PLA 2273 Tort Law (3) |
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PLA 1080 Legal Interviewing and Communicating (3) |
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PLA 2114 Legal Research and Writing II (3) |
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PLA 2763 Law Office Procedures (3) |
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PLA 2800 Family Law (3) |
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PLA 2200 Litigation (3) |
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**PLA 1949 Cooperative Education Work Experience I (3) |
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Credit Hours: 36 |
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***ACG 2021 Financial Accounting (4) |
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***CJL 2062 Constitutional Law (3) |
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***PLA 2433 Business Organization (3) |
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ORBSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) |
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BSC 2086C Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) |
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***BUL 2242 Business Law II (3) |
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CGS 1060 Introductory Computer Concepts (3) |
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CGS 1580 Introduction to Desktop Publishing (3) |
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CGS 2470 Computer Aided Drafting and Design (3) |
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CGS 2512 Spreadsheet Concepts and Practices (3) |
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CGS 2525 Introduction to Multimedia (3) |
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CGS 2542 Database Concepts for Microcomputers (3) |
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CIS 2401 User Support and Software Evaluation (3) |
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HSC 1531 Medical Terminology (3) |
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SBM 2000 Small Business Managment (3) |
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OST 1581 Professional Development in the Work Environment (3) |
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***PLA 2880 Constitutional Law (3) |
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***PLA 1931 Selected Topics in Legal Assisting (3) |
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***PLA 1933 Selected Topics in Legal Assisting (3) |
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***PLA 1303 Criminal Law and Procedure for Legal Assistants (3) |
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***PLA 1423 Contract Law (3) |
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***PLA 2240 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3) |
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***PLA 2263 Evidence for the Legal Assistant (1) |
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***REE 2430 Real Estate Law (3) |
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***PLA 2465 Debtor/Creditor Law (3) |
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***PLA 2483 Administrative Law (3) |
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***PLA 2600 Wills, Trusts and Estates (3) |
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***PLA 2732 Technology in the Law Office (3) |
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***PLA 2949 Cooperative Education Work Experience II (3) |
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(see Notes section below for additional courses) |
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Credit Hours: 10 |
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Total Credit Hours: 64 |
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*Refer to General Education Requirements |
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*Refer to A.S. degree General Education Requirements. |
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Other choices for electives: OST 2771, OST 2773, RMI 1522, RMI 1523, RMI 1612, RMI 1613. |
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**An approved elective may be substituted for this course if students have verifiable, related work experience of not less than 12 consecutive months. ***Students are required to select a minimum of six credit hours from these courses. ****ENC 1102 may be substituted with the permission of the Legal Assisting Program Director. |
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You have two options in this program: the associate in science (A.S.) degree, which can prepare you for employment or transfer to a state university, and the associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree, which is intended primarily for students who want immediate employment after graduation. If you choose the A.S. degree you must take MAC 1105, MGF 1106 or a higher level mathematics. The A.A.S. degree requires MAT 1033 or higher. Please see an advisor to determine the option that is best for you. |
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Application Procedures: |
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| Students desiring to enter the legal assisting program must have a personal interview with the legal assisting program director prior to enrollment.
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Total Tuition and Fees: |
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Estimated tuition is 3,700 (for Florida residents, as of 7/03)
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