March 1, 2007
Pellissippi State receives donation for Paralegal Studies
Pellissippi State Technical Community College’s Paralegal Studies program has received a monetary boost from the Association of Legal Administrators. The Knoxville chapter of ALA presented a check for $3,500 to the Pellissippi State Foundation that will be used to enhance the two-year-degree program’s lab.
“Pellissippi State’s paralegal lab strives to simulate a realistic law office environment,” said Arlene Cleveland, program coordinator and associate professor of Paralegal Studies.
The grant will pay for computer software that is typically used in law offices. Of most benefit is software that assists with timekeeping, case management and billing.
“There are so many types of software, but none that are universal,” said Cleveland. “Our goal is to install various types of software on the computers in our paralegal lab for training our students. The skills they learn in the lab will be easily transferable and adaptable to all software they may encounter when they join the workforce.”
After finding out that the program could use better software for the lab, KALA formed a committee to begin applying for the grant from the national ALA Foundation. The ALA’s mission is to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of all members of the legal management team.
“It was personally very rewarding to be involved in this worthwhile project for the college,” said Beth McDowell, president-elect of KALA, “and it was exciting to actually present the grant check to faculty and staff.”
McDowell is the legal administrator for Paine, Tarwater, Bickers and Tillman, LLP in Knoxville, a law firm established in 1987 that represents a variety of clients in civil litigation matters.
The goal of the grant application was twofold. First, KALA used it to describe the need for a continuing partnership with Pellissippi State to prepare paralegal students for area internships and careers.
Second, the application was meant to be used as a blueprint by other ALA chapters in helping to create or enhance similar labs and in fostering positive relationships with their own colleges.
The application package includes a lab floor plan, a list of materials, estimated costs and a suggested sample curriculum. It also contains a brief video produced by Pellissippi State students, as well as before-and-after photos and student success stories from the Paralegal Studies program. The video shows the paralegal lab in action and includes interviews.
“The national ALA Foundation was favorably impressed with the hard work put into the application,” said McDowell, “and it is their hope that more chapters will develop similar partnerships in other cities.”
Related Information:
Search Pellissippi State News Releases.
Contact Information:
Julia Wood
Marketing and Communications Director
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
10915 Hardin Valley Road
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
Phone: (865) 694-6405
Fax: (865) 539-7088
E-mail: jwood@pstcc.edu
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
2000 - 2007©