The Paralegal Certificate prepares students, in the broadest sense, for careers in the legal profession. Traditionally called legal assistants or paralegals, the program prepares students for four key employment areas: employees of attorneys, self-employed individuals who work for attorneys, employment in a corporation or governmental organization, or as self-employed individuals who provide their services directly to the public with attorney supervision.

Students learn the structure and working of the U.S. legal system as well as substantive and procedural law, concentrating on the most prevalent areas of legal practice, such as domestic relations, general criminal law and civil litigation practice. In addition, students will become proficient at legal research, document drafting and persuasive writing. The Paralegal Certificate offers a comprehensive, well-rounded legal assisting education.

Graduates will be prepared to:
• assist with legal research
• prepare and analyze documents
• interview client and witness
• gather facts and retrieve information
• conduct investigations
• perform case planning, development and management

Job Titles for Graduates:
Paralegal
Legal Assistant

Employment Outlook:
Paralegals have become an indispensable asset to the legal community with numbers now approaching 100,000 nationally.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that the paralegal job market will grow much faster than average, increasing 36 percent or more. In fact, the paralegal profession is expected to rank among the 20 fastest growing occupations through the year 2006 as employers recognize that paralegals perform many legal tasks at lower salaries than lawyers.

Graduate starting salary:
$25,000 annually