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Paralegal Studies

Paralegal Studies

The Paralegal Studies program at Pellissippi State Community College is a two-year Associate of Applied Sciences degree ABA-approved program. Paralegals work in a law office under the direct supervision of an attorney doing legal work such as drafting legal documents, organizing files, conducting legal research and investigations, and managing the office. The Paralegal Studies program focuses on coursework and practical experiences designed to prepare students to successfully and ethically work in various legal settings.

The Paralegal Studies program offers a core of general education and a core of legal specialty courses designed for paralegals. Although paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law, they can, while working under the supervision of an attorney, perform many law office tasks once done solely by an attorney. 

Accreditation/Approval

American Bar Association
ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL  60654
1-800-285-2221

Curriculum

Degree: Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Accreditation. The Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Program description. A paralegal works in a law office under the direct supervision of an attorney doing legal work such as drafting legal documents, organizing files, conducting legal research and investigation, and managing the office. The Paralegal Studies program offers a core of general education and a core of legal specialty courses designed for paralegals. Although paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law, they can, while working under the supervision of an attorney, perform many law office tasks once done solely by an attorney.

Job Opportunities

Law firms, legal aid services, corporate law departments, insurance and accounting firms, real estate and title companies, government legal departments.

Program outcomes

Upon completion of the Paralegal Studies program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  • Apply ethical rules of attorneys and paralegals to given legal work environment situations.
  • Produce examples of legal communication.
  • Apply legal concepts to factual situations necessary to perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney.
  • Demonstrate legal and factual research using traditional and computerized legal research methods.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the technology necessary to meet employer needs in the legal community.

Courses and Course Sequence

Full Paralegal Studies (A.A.S.) Catalog Listing

Special note: Only students with college-level English skills (i.e., those eligible to enroll in ENGL 1010) may enroll in LEGL courses.

This sequence can be followed by students who begin college-level work in the fall semester. Prerequisites may apply to specific courses; it is the student’s responsibility to determine if prerequisites have been met. An academic advisor is provided for each student. Prior to registering each semester, the student is expected to consult with his/her assigned advisor.

All students must take at least nine (9) semester credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction. The maximum number of credit hours of legal specialty courses a student may transfer to the Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies is nine (9) semester credit hours. The legal specialty credit hours to be transferred must have been earned from an ABA approved paralegal program and must have been earned through synchronous instruction. When a request for credit by transfer is made by a student, the transcript of the institution where those credits were awarded must be presented to Pellissippi State’s student records office. The program director will then review the transcript, course description, and syllabus from the institution which awarded the credits and determine whether the credit appears to cover substantially the same material as the course at Pellissippi State. The Paralegal Studies program does not award legal specialty by examination.

Paralegal Resources