PARALEGAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Due to the explosive growth of legal services now being requested in all sectors of our economy, there is a continuous demand for well trained personnel in all facets of the legal assisting process. The need for Paralegals is so great that it is estimated that one paralegal will assist every three or four attorneys and in some areas of practice, such as corporate legal departments, there will be one Paralegal hired for every attorney.

The nature of the Paralegals position in the legal community requires individuals with a well rounded educational background. Critical thinking and excellent communication skills are essential competencies of a Paralegal.

The technical curriculum has been designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in the areas of:

The Paralegal Certificate (Post Baccalaureate or "Certificate" Program) is designed for persons who currently possess a Bachelors, Masters or Ph. D. degree.  Students with an associate degree and work experience in a legal environment will be considered after an interview with the department chairperson. 

Students enrolled in the Certificate program are required to complete only courses in the the technical curriculum for a Paralegal Studies student.  These courses allow the student to gain knowledge and skills in the areas of: the role of a Paralegal, ethical requirements, legal research, analysis, the preparation of legal documents, litigation practice and procedure, real estate transactions, family law, administrative law, criminal law, and probate law and practice.

A Certificate program student is only required to complete one internship.

Paralegals have traditionally been utilized in legal environments that are intensive in both client contact and document preparation. Workers' compensation is an example of a legal arena that has a history of Paralegal employment. The workers' compensation system processes and adjudicates claims, as well as investigates abuses in the system, establishes premiums, and works with self-insured and state fund employers. The Columbus State Community College Legal Studies Department offers a Departmental Certificate designed to teach Paralegals the skills they need to obtain employment from state agencies, third party administrators, attorneys, and employers. In order to enroll for the Workers' Compensation Certificate, the student must have completed an Associate or Bachelor Degree in Legal Assisting, or apply to the Legal Studies Department Chairperson for permission to take courses based on legal assisting work experience.

Upon completion of the Post-Baccalaureate Program at CSCC, the student will be able to: