Associate in Science/Associate in Applied Science

Legal Assisting (Paralegal Services) (2299)

Florida Community College’s Legal Assisting Program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Mission Statement: The Florida Community College at Jacksonville Legal Assisting Program affirms the comprehensive mission of fostering the effective integration of legal assistants/paralegals into the legal service delivery team. Its primary mission is to provide rigorous, high-quality instruction, designed and developed to conform to the standards set by the American Bar Association, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the State of Florida, in a climate respecting the worth and dignity of each individual. The Florida Community College at Jacksonville Legal Assisting Program affirms the student as the heart of that educational endeavor. As such, the Legal Assisting Program works vigorously to ensure its standards of excellence are maintained and that its students possess the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to meet the demands and challenges of a legal assisting profession. In the spirit of its philosophy, the Legal Assisting Program is relentlessly dedicated to developing and achieving excellence in its individual student goals so that our mission is carried out as a lifelong learning process in the thinking and through the lives of our students.

Educational Goals of the Legal Assisting Program

An associate in science degree prepares graduates to assist attorneys as legal assistants 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.

An associate in science degree in Legal Assisting is offered to students who complete a minimum of sixty-four (64) credits, which must include:

• Eighteen (18) general college credits
• All of the Legal Assisting Program’s required courses
• At least ten (10) credits of Legal Assisting Program electives
• A minimum grade-point average of 2.00

The program culminates in a professional internship program. 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-related office. In addition, students will meet weekly to share work experiences and receive final preparation for paraprofessional practice.

Graduates of the Legal Assisting Program shall be able to apply knowledge of the law and legal procedures in rendering direct assistance to lawyers. Note: While legal assistants 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.

Interested? You can learn more about a career in legal assisting and how we can help you achieve that goal at the Legal Studies Institute webpage. You’ll also find information on continuing education for legal professionals, internship information and links to other legal professional associations.

Accreditation
This program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Application Procedure
Students desiring to enter the legal assisting program must have a personal interview with the legal assisting program director prior to enrollment. New students are required to attend an orientation with the program director prior to enrolling in the PLA courses.

Cost
Estimated cost of tuition is $4,050 (for Florida residents, as of 7/05). Contact the program manager for additional costs (textbooks, materials, fees).

Curriculum

General Education Courses
ENC 1101	English Composition I (prerequisite to PLA 1104)	3
ENC 1102	English Composition II: Writing About Non-Fiction Prose	3
	*Mathematics	3
	*Social and Behavioral Sciences	6
	*Humanities	3
	Credit Hours	18

Professional Courses
BUL 2131	Business Law — The Legal Environment of Business	3
CGS 1570	Microcomputer Applications	3
or CGS 1100 Microcomputer Applications for Business and Economics (4)
SPC 2016	Speech Communication for Business and the Professions	3
Paralegal Courses
PLA 1003	Introduction to Legal Assisting	3
PLA 1104	Legal Research and Writing I	3
PLA 2273	Torts Law	3
PLA 2610	Real Estate Law	3
PLA 2114	Legal Research and Writing II	3
PLA 2433	Business Organizations	3
PLA 2800	Family Law	3
PLA 2200	Litigation	3
**PLA 1943	Internship (students must request permission from Program Direct to enroll)	3
	Credit Hours	36

Professional Electives
ACG 2021	Financial Accounting	4
CJL 2062	Constitutional Law	3
RMI 1522	Personal Insurance (INS-22)	3
RMI 1523	Commercial Insurance (INS-23)	3
RMI 1612	Principles of Casualty Insurance and Surety Bonding	3
RMI 1613	Principles of Property Insurance	3
BSC 2010C	Principles of Biology	4
BSC 2020C	Human Biology	4
BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BSC 2086C	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BUL 2242	Business Law II	3
CGS 1060	Introductory Computer Concepts	3
CGS 2512	Spreadsheet Concepts and Practices	3
CGS 2525	Introduction to Multimedia	3
CGS 2542	Database Concepts for Microcomputers	3
CGS 2554	Introduction to Eletronic Commerce	4
CGS 2555	Introduction to the Internet	4
HSC 1531	Medical Terminology	3
MAN 2021	Principles of Management	3
MAN 2300	Human Resources Management	3
MAR 1011	Principles of Marketing	3
OST 1581	Professional Development in the Work Environment	3
OST 2771	Word Processing for Windows I	3
OST 2773	Word Processing for Windows II	3
OST 1100	Keyboarding/Introduction to Word Processing	3
OST 1108	Keyboard Skills/Speed Building	3
OST 1336	Fundamentals of Business Communications	3
OST 1355	Introduction to Information and Records Management	3
OST 1384	Introduction to Customer Service	3
OST 2335	Applied Business Communications	3
OST 2402	Administrative Support Systems and Procedures	3
SBM 2000	Small Business Management	3
	Credit Hours	6

Law-Related Elective Courses
PLA 2880	Constitutional Law	3
PLA 1931	Selected Topics in Legal Assisting	1
PLA 1933	Selected Topics in Legal Assisting	3
PLA 1303	Criminal Law and Procedure for Legal Assistants	3
PLA 1423	Contract Law	3
PLA 2240	Alternative Dispute Resolution	3
PLA 2263	Evidence for the Legal Assistant	1
PLA 1080	Legal Interviewing and Communicating	3
PLA 2763	Law Office Procedures	3
BUL 2242	Business Law II	3
PLA 2465	Debtor/Creditor Law	3
PLA 2600	Wills, Trusts and Estates	3
PLA 2732	Technology in the Law Office	3
PLA 1941	Internship	1
PLA 1942	Internship	2
	Credit Hours	4

Total Credit Hours: 64

*Refer to A.S. degree General Education Requirements.
**An approved elective may be substituted for this course if students have verifiable, related work experience of not less than 12 consecutive months.

Notes
The final responsibility for meeting graduation requirements stated in your Degree Audit Report rests with the student.

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.