Special Conditions

Financial Aid: This program has not been approved by the U.S. Department of Education for eligibility for federal student aid. Students enrolled in this program may not be eligible to receive financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education (Pell Grants, SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Direct Loans or PLUS loans) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (Educational Assistance Grants, Senatorial Scholarships or Delegate Scholarships). For current information on eligible programs, contact Financial Aid by calling 410-777-2203, emailing finaid@aacc.edu or stopping by a Financial Aid office.

Statewide Tuition Reduction Program

This program of study may be designated a Statewide Tuition Reduction Program. This means that some residents of Maryland (refer to the Tuition, Fees and Payments  section of this catalog) enrolled in this program of study by the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that this program still maintains a Statewide Program status before enrolling. Please refer to the college’s Accounts Receivable Office to confirm this designation.

Certificate Graduation Requirements

Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements .

Entrance Requirements

Students entering the Paralegal Studies certificate program must hold prior to enrollment either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university whose program included at least 18 hours of general education courses, including ENG 101  and ENG 102 , as well as courses in at least two other disciplines, such as social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, humanities and foreign language. Students are required to forward to the college prior to enrollment an official transcript from the institution where their bachelor’s degree or associate degree was obtained.

Program Requirements: 22 credits

These are the common program requirements for all three areas of concentration.

• LGS 111 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies 3 credit hours
• LGS 112 - Law Office Practice and Technology 3 credit hours
• LGS 141 - Electronic Legal Research 1 credit hour
• LGS 143 - Legal Research and Writing 1 3 credit hours
• LGS 144 - Legal Research and Writing 2 3 credit hours
• LGS 170 - Civil Procedure 3 credit hours
• LGS 210 - Legal Ethics 3 credit hours
• LGS 253 - Business Law 1 3 credit hours

Area of Concentration Requirements: 9 credits

• LGS 171 - Tort Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 254 - Business Law 2 3 credit hours

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• Choose one of the following courses:  3 credits

• LGS 138 - International Law and Human Rights 3 credit hours
• LGS 160 - Domestic Relations 3 credit hours
• LGS 165 - Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) 3 credit hours
• LGS 200 - Real Estate Law for Paralegals 3 credit hours
• LGS 205 - Cyberlaw 3 credit hours
• LGS 215 - Criminal Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 216 - Criminal Evidence and Procedure 3 credit hours
• LGS 220 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 230 - Employment Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 235 - Estates and Trusts 3 credit hours
• LGS 236 - Intellectual Property Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 260 - Bankruptcy Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 271 - Civil Rights Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 275 - Paralegal Internship 3 credit hours

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Explain basic legal concepts, issues, and terminology in subject matter areas that are essential to the practice of law.
   
2. Apply critical thinking skills to identify, analyze, and interpret legal and factual issues and effectively interface with clients and attorneys.
3. Strengthen legal research, writing, and oral communication skills.
4. Apply general principles of ethical and professional responsibility to the role of paralegals and attorneys in the practice of law.
5. Apply practical legal skills and legal theory to assist attorneys in the practice of law.
   

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

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