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Upcoming Event: Paralegal Open House on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Room 5190 of the University and College Center (UCC).

Nature of the work
What is taught in class
Hands-on experience
Objectives of the program
Acceptance into the Paralegal Program
Meeting my educational goals
Employment outlook
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program Links

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program is actually two curriculum programs, a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree career program and a Certificate Program which is available to those persons possessing a baccalaureate or an associate of arts degree from an accredited postsecondary institution. Both curriculums are designed to prepare a student to become a highly trained legal assistant. The program is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

What is the nature of the work?

As a highly trained legal assistant, the paralegal is prepared to work in a variety of settings including: government agencies, banks, insurance companies, and corporate legal departments, as well as traditional law offices. The increasing volume and cost of legal services has created a demand for legal assistants.

Though a paralegal/legal assistant cannot practice law, give legal advice, or represent clients in court, they can perform many tasks working under the direction and supervision of an attorney. Duties may include researching legal problems, interviewing clients, drafting documents, directing investigations, assisting in trial preparations, and searching public and court records.

What will I learn in class?

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant curriculums prepares students to work in a variety of legal environments including civil and criminal litigation, insurance, banking, public and governmental agencies, law offices and corporate legal departments. Emphasis is placed on the development of core skills in legal research techniques including compilation and analysis of data, understanding legal vocabulary, preparation of legal documents, and management of a law office. A student who is able to successfully complete the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate will have done so after demonstrating adequate skills in each of the following competencies:

• knowledge of the various functions and roles of a paralegal;
• knowledge of the ethics and professional responsibility of attorneys and paralegals;
• knowledge of legal terminology;
• knowledge of the various court systems;
• knowledge of evidence and investigations ;
• an ability in manual and computerized legal research;
• an ability for legal writing and analysis;
• familiarity with law office management;
• ability to successfully complete two approved internships;
• an appreciation and understanding for the importance of continuing legal education; and
• ability to apply paralegal skills in potential areas of practice, such as:
• Alternative dispute resolution,
• civil and criminal litigation,
• domestic relations,
• probate and estate planning,
• real estate,
• contracts and commercial transactions,
• law office management, and
• computer applications

Will I gain any hands-on experience?

Yes, hands-on experience is gained in the last two semesters of the program through two internships in a legal or law-related setting. Students who have met the necessary prerequisites volunteer for a minimum of 15 hours each week in a coordinator approved legal environment, for a total of 210 hours.

What are the objectives of the program?

• To provide a strong, flexible program for the quality education for the training of occupationally competent paralegals/legal assistants. This includes those new to the paralegal field as well as those who are already in the job marketplace and need either selective training or a degree for career advancement.
• To offer a curriculum which provides a balance of legal theory and practical experience which will result in highly trained paralegals qualified to work under the supervision of an attorney in a variety of legal and law-related environments.
• To provide students with supervised work experience in a legal setting via two internship requirements.
• To provide information, demonstrations and actual practice in resume writing, job search techniques and employment interviews to assist in making the adjustment from student to employee.
• To determine and respond to the changing needs of the legal and law-related community in relationship to the curriculum and to contribute to the advancement of legal professionals.
• To provide information regarding the importance of the American legal system via its history, relationship to other branches of government, the ethical responsibilities of paralegals, lawyers and judges, and the crucial role of paralegals in the delivery of legal services.
• Maintain equality of opportunity in the educational program without discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, and national origin or sex.

How these objectives are met?

• The curriculum provides a balance of legal-specialty courses and general education requirements which gives students a base upon which they can communicate effectively with clients, the public and people in the legal system. Legal specialty courses are offered primarily in the evening to accommodate those with daytime jobs and family responsibilities; however, as more students enter the program day classes have become more common.
• Legal theory and practical experience are extensively combined in each of the legal specialty courses. For example, in PLA 101, Fundamentals of Paralegalism, students conduct peer interviews. In PLA 209, Estate Planning and Probate, students draft a will and open an estate. In PLA 202, Litigation, the students draft pleadings.
• The internships, PLA 204 and PLA 206, each require 210 hours a semester as a volunteer in a law office or other legal environment. Actual cases are handled, involving all aspects of the practice of law, from confidentiality to public trials.
• The student then uses the internship experience as "work experience" when writing a resume and during classroom and real employment interviews.
• The curriculum is kept current by securing input from the legal community, via the Advisory Committee Meetings, the internship site visits made by the internship instructors, from student surveys and from the full-time and adjunct faculty. The legal specialty courses are taught almost exclusively by practicing attorneys and judges and they provide continuous input.
• The program adheres to the school's affirmative action policy which requires equality of opportunity in the without discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, and national origin or sex.

How am I accepted into the Paralegal Program?

Admission to the College does not necessarily guarantee acceptance into the Paralegal/Legal Assistant program. In order to gain admission to the degree program, the student must have successfully completed ENG 101, BLW 201 and PLA 101 by earning a minimum grade point average of 2.66 in those three classes. Once this criteria has been met, the student then schedules a personal interview with the coordinator to receive further curriculum counseling and to obtain an application packet. With the exception of the ENG 101 requirement, which is not required in the Certificate program, the admission requirements for the Certificate Program is the same as the degree program.

With my other commitments, how can I meet my educational goals?

If you are planning on entering into the legal profession or have worked in the profession for years, the South Suburban College the Paralegal/Legal Assistant program is structured to help you meet your goals. South Suburban College provides you with choices. You may

• Take one or more courses to advance your skills in a specific legal area,
• Pursue the Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies, or
• Go beyond your baccalaureate or A.A. degree and attain a Certificate in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies.

You will learn at your own pace, you may take either curriculum part-time or full-time. You may take one class a semester or up to six classes a semester. All paralegal classes are offered at night with some classes offered during the day. Currently PLA 101 and PLA 201 are offered through distance learning and some classes are available on-line.

What is the employment outlook?

According to the U. S. Department of Labor, the paralegal profession ranks among the fastest growing occupations in the economy through 2008. Employment growth stems from law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hiring paralegals to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services. The majority of job openings for paralegals in the future will be new jobs created by rapid employment growth; other job openings will arise as people leave the occupation.

Job opportunities are excellent in both the city and suburbs. According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, paralegals had an average salary of $38,085 in 1999. In addition to a salary, many paralegals received a bonus, which averaged about $2,225 in 1999. According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, starting salaries of paralegals with 1 year or less experience averaged $30,700 in 1997, as reported in the 2000-2001 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

A 1998 survey of salaries and benefits by the Illinois Paralegal Association reflects that 70 percent of respondents earn between $30,000 and $50,000 as their base salary. The median base salary is $39,000. Median total compensation which includes base salary, overtime pay, bonuses and monetary holiday gifts is $40,000.

Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program Links

Disclaimer: Links to non-SSC Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Legal Assistants

American Association for Paralegal Education

Department of Labor

Illinois Paralegal Association

National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.

National Federation of Paralegal Associations

Paralegal Employment Opportunity Links and References (PDF)
(Acrobat Reader is required to view this file.)

If you have met the above requirements for admission and wish to apply to the Paralegal/Legal Assistant program, present the completed application package to the program coordinator at the time of your interview.