The primary purpose of NVCC's paralegal studies program is to educate competent and ethical paralegals. Paralegals (who are also called "legal assistants") are persons who are qualified by education, training, or work experience to perform specifically delegated legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals are employed or retained by lawyers, law offices, corporations, governmental agencies, and other entities. They are prohibited by law from offering legal services directly to members of the public.
NVCC's program leads to an AAS degree in paralegal studies. All students must complete at least 50% of their required paralegal studies courses at NVCC to earn the degree. The program strives to balance theory and practice, so that graduates are not only equipped to perform specific legal tasks, but also able to understand the principles of law such tasks involve.
Although the education and training of paralegals is the program's primary purpose, the program also seeks to serve community members who want to test their interest in a law-related career or learn about an area of law due to personal concern or interest, as well as to meet the needs of working paralegals who want to increase their skills in a particular area of practice.
The program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1988.