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.

Online Degrees and Credit Certificates

This program can be completed fully online. Some online courses may require proctored exams or on-campus assessments at a testing center.

Statewide Tuition Reduction Program

This program of study is 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

To graduate with a certificate, students must have demonstrated eligibility for ENG 101  or ENG 101A . Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements .

Planning Tool: 1.5-Year Sequence of Courses

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Program Requirements: 31 credits

• 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 215 - Criminal Law 3 credit hours
• LGS 253 - Business Law 1 3 credit hours

• Electives (consult with an advisor and/or paralegal studies):  6 credits

  Students must have 6 credits of legal specialty electives, which excludes the following courses:  LGS 100, LGS 156, LGS 217, LGS 225, LGS 232, LGS 250, LGS 270 and LGS 271.  See the suggested electives below.  Suggested electives are based on student interest in a particular area of law.

  Suggested electives for each practice area:

  Civil:

  LGS 160  

  LGS 171  

  LGS 220  

  LGS 230  

  Criminal:

  LGS 205  

  LGS 216  

  Domestic:

  LGS 165  

  LGS 235  

  LGS 281  

  Transactional:

  LGS 200  

  LGS 235  

  LGS 236  

  LGS 254  

  LGS 260  

  LGS 281  

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.

Related Offerings

Students may wish to also review requirements for the related majors or programs linked below.

• Paralegal Studies (A.A.S.) 

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