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Program: Paralegal
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| Key: | New Content |
(Associate in Applied Sciences Degree)
El Centro only
- Students pursuing this award program are required to meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards and course prerequisites.
- Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.
Degree Plan Code: AAS.PARALEGAL.10
The Paralegal Studies Program is an Associate in Applied Sciences Degree program designed to prepare the student to function as a technically qualified assistant to the lawyer.
Upon completion of the program, graduates should be able to accomplish these program goals:
- Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate information in various substantive areas of law.
- Demonstrate the ability to draft legal documents with minimum supervision.
- Demonstrate written and oral communication skills, teamwork, critical thinking, computer proficiency, and legal research relevant to their work as a paralegal.
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate legal theory and related practical applications.
- Demonstrate the ability to manage practical ethical dilemmas commonly encountered by working paralegals including how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers.
| CREDIT HOURS |
FIRST YEAR
SEMESTER I
| LGLA 1301 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| LGLA 1311 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LGLA 1313 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra | 3 |
| 15 |
SEMESTER II
| LGLA 1355 | Family Law | 3 |
| LGLA 2309 | Real Property | 3 |
| LGLA 2311 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| SPCH 1311 | Introduction to Speech Communication OR | 3 |
| SPCH 1315 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | (3) |
SECOND YEAR
SEMESTER III
| LGLA 1345 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| LGLA 1351 | Contracts | 3 |
| LGLA 1353 | Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration | 3 |
| GOVT 2305 | Federal Government OR | 3 | GOVT 2306 | Texas Government | (3) |
| +Elective | Paralegal Elective | 3 |
| ++Elective | Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| 18 |
SEMESTER IV
| LGLA 2303 | Torts and Personal Injury Law | 3 |
| LGLA 2307 | Law Office Management | 3 |
| LGLA 2331 | Advanced Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| +Elective | Paralegal Elective | 3 |
| +++Elective | Social/Behavioral Science | 3 |
| 15 |
| Minimum Hours Required |
+Paralegal Electives - SIX credit hours must be selected from the following:
| LGLA 1343 | Bankruptcy | 3 |
| LGLA 1359 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LGLA 1380 | Cooperative Education - Legal Assistant/Paralegal | 3 |
| LGLA 2313 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
| LGLA 2315 | Oil and Gas Law | 3 |
| LGLA 2335 | Advanced Civil Litigation | 3 |
| LGLA 2380 | Cooperative Education - Legal Assistant/Paralegal | 3 |
++Humanities/Fine Arts Elective - must be selected from the AAS Core Options for Humanities/Fine Arts.
+++Social/Behavioral Science Electives - must be selected from the AAS Core Options for Social/Behavioral Science.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.