PARALEGAL INDUSTRY DESCRIPTION
Through formal education, training and
experience, paralegals have knowledge and
expertise regarding both the legal system
and substantive and procedural laws which
qualify them to do work of a legal nature
under the supervision of an attorney.
Paralegals work as members of legal teams
in law firms, business, government, and
social service organizations. They are
trained to prepare legal documents,
conduct research and investigations,
interview clients and witnesses, prepare
probate inventories, help attorneys in
litigation, and organize and index
documents.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
A program in this pathway aims to train the student in conducting legal research, developing trial notebooks and
supporting trial work, preparing legal documents, summarizing depositions, writing detailed procedures for law
office specialty areas, interviewing clients and performing investigative work, understanding procedures that involve
decision making, and performing administrative functions.
Graduates will develop skills in:
- Understanding the basic principles of the American legal system,
including the sources of law, jurisdiction, civil case procedure
(including Local, State, and Federal Rules), the structure of the state
and federal court systems, and the lawyers’ role in the legal
system. - Understanding the role and responsibilities of paralegals in
various specialized areas of law. - Learn how to conduct effective factual and legal research.
- Preparing legal correspondence, memoranda, documents,
exhibits, and in that content, properly interpret legal citation. - Developing discovery plans, preparing cases for trial, and capably assisting in all courtroom proceedings.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
- Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
- Legal Secretary
- Title Examiner, Abstractor, Researcher
- Court, Municipal & License Clerk