Paralegal, Associate in Applied Science
Program Overview
Northampton Community College's Paralegal Associate in Applied Science program equips students with the knowledge and skills to work under attorney supervision in legal settings. The two-year program covers legal research, writing, procedure, and substantive law, culminating in an internship experience. Graduates are prepared for careers as paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal professionals.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Paralegal, Associate in Applied Science program at Northampton Community College prepares students for a career as a paralegal. The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work under the supervision of an attorney in a law office or other legal setting.
Objectives:
The objectives of the Paralegal program are to:
- Prepare students to perform legal research and analysis
- Draft legal documents
- Manage legal files
- Communicate effectively with clients and attorneys
- Understand and apply legal ethics
Description:
The Paralegal program is a two-year, 64-65 credit program. The program includes coursework in legal research, legal writing, legal procedure, and substantive law. Students also complete an internship in a law office or other legal setting.
Outline:
First Semester
- COLS101 College Success (1 credit)
- CMTH102 Introduction to Communication (3 credits)
- ENGL101 English I (3 credits)
- OFAD101 Keyboarding & Formatting Essentials I (3 credits)
- PARL101 Introduction to Paralegal Studies (3 credits)
- PARL153 Real Estate Law (3 credits)
Second Semester
- ENGL151L English II (3 credits)
- PARL150 Law Office Procedures (3 credits)
- PARL187 Litigation Practice & Procedure (3 credits)
- PARL205 Legal Research (3 credits)
- PARL Paralegal Elective (3 credits)
- General Education Elective (3 credits)
Third Semester
- ACCT101 Financial Accounting I (3 credits)
- CISC101 Introduction to Information Technology (3 credits)
- PARL210G Legal Writing (3 credits)
- PARL Paralegal Elective (3 credits)
- PARL Paralegal Elective (3 credits)
Fourth Semester
- PARL250 Internship (3 credits)
- General Education Elective (3 credits)
- General Education Elective (3 credits)
- Mathematics (QL) or Science (SCI) Elective (3/4 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Assessment:
Assessment in the Paralegal program is based on a variety of methods, including:
- Exams
- Quizzes
- Papers
- Presentations
- Case studies
Teaching:
The Paralegal program is taught by a team of experienced faculty, including attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals. The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Simulations
- Role-playing
- Hands-on exercises
Careers:
Graduates of the Paralegal program are prepared for a variety of careers in the legal field, including:
- Paralegal
- Legal assistant
- Trust coordinator
- Title searcher
- Settlement clerk
- Litigation specialist
