Paralegal Overview (2505)
Type of Award
AS - Associate in Science
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-business.aspx
Program Description
This degree program prepares the student for employment as a legal assistant/paralegal in law-related occupations, including public and private law practice and/or corporate or government law-related activities.
Course content includes legal concepts, court systems, tort law, business law, real estate law, immigration, estate law, bankruptcy and legal communications.
Program Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes.
Admission Requirements
Completion Requirements
Students must successfully complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program.
To comply with American Bar Association guidelines, all transfer students seeking the Paralegal AS or ATC certificate must complete a minimum of ten (10) credits of legal specialty courses in a traditional, on-ground course format at Palm Beach State College.
Program Length
The program can be finished in two years if you attend full-time or three years if you attend part-time.
Location
The program is offered at the Lake Worth and Palm Beach Gardens campuses.
For More Information
Dr. Cary High, highc@palmbeachstate.edu, (561) 207-5150
Paralegal Studies Academic Advisor, (561) 207-5340
Employment Opportunities
Graduation from this program will qualify a student to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants national exam to become a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA). Students are encouraged to take this exam.
Career Path Notes
Courses from this program may transfer into Palm Beach State’s Bachelor of Applied Science program in Supervision and Management. For more information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/Bachelors
In addition, courses from this program may transfer to other colleges and universities that allow students to transfer into a four-year program. For more information, contact the college or university to which you wish to transfer.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities, including job outlook and salary information, visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
General Education (Credits: 18)
| SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Any course from Social Science - Area V | 3 credits |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
| HSC2100 | Health Concepts and Strategies (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Any course from Mathematics - Area III | 3 credits |
| Or | |
| Any course from Natural Sciences - Area IV, Tier 1 & 2 | 3 credits |
Required Courses (Credits: 40)
| BUL2241 | Business Law 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1003 | Introduction to Paralegalism (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2611 | Real Estate Law and Property Transactions (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2229 | Court System: Procedures and Pleadings 2 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2465 | Bankruptcy Law and Procedure (AS) | 2 credits (2 lecture hours) |
| PLA2841 | Immigration Law and Procedures (AS) | 2 credits (2 lecture hours) |
| BUL2242 | Business Law 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1104 | Legal Writing and Research 1 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2630 | Real Estate Closing and Document Preparation (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2483 | Administrative Law (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2114 | Legal Writing and Research 2 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2209 | Court System: Procedures and Pleadings 1 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1273 | Tort Law (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2600 | Administration of Estates (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Electives - Choose 6 credits
| CJL2100 | Criminal Law (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1949C | Co-op Legal Assistant 1 (AS) | 3 credits (1 lecture hour, 10 lab hours) |
| PLA2800 | Family Law (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2762 | Law Office Management (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2303 | Criminal Litigation (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Total Credit Hours: 64
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 15)
| BUL2241 | Business Law 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1003 | Introduction to Paralegalism (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2611 | Real Estate Law and Property Transactions (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 18)
| BUL2242 | Business Law 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1104 | Legal Writing and Research 1 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2630 | Real Estate Closing and Document Preparation (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA1273 | Tort Law (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Any course from Social Science - Area V | 3 credits |
Term One - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 18)
| PLA2114 | Legal Writing and Research 2 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2209 | Court System: Procedures and Pleadings 1 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2483 | Administrative Law (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2600 | Administration of Estates (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| HSC2100 | Health Concepts and Strategies (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Electives | 3 credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 13)
| PLA2229 | Court System: Procedures and Pleadings 2 (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| PLA2465 | Bankruptcy Law and Procedure (AS) | 2 credits (2 lecture hours) |
| PLA2841 | Immigration Law and Procedures (AS) | 2 credits (2 lecture hours) |
| Any course from Mathematics - Area III | 3 credits |
| Or | |
| Any course from Natural Sciences - Area IV, Tier 1 & 2 | 3 credits |
| Electives | 3 credits |
Total Credit Hours: 64