Purpose: The curriculum is designed to provide an individual with a sufficient level of knowledge, understanding and proficiency to perform the tasks in meeting a client's needs which can be performed by a trained, non-lawyer assistant working under the direction and supervision of a lawyer. A legal assistant will have a basic understanding of the general processes of American law, and will have the knowledge and proficiency to perform specific tasks under the supervision of a lawyer in the fields of civil and criminal law. The occupational objectives include: employment in public and in private, both individual and corporate, law-related activities, organizations and agencies.
Recommended Preparation: Proficiency in high school English.
Completion Requirements: To remain in the program, students must complete each of the legal courses in the program with a "C" or better.
Cooperative Education: Students in this curriculum will participate in at least 3 semester hours of Cooperative Education unless they already have equivalent experience. For further information, contact the Cooperative Education Office.
Special Accreditation Status: The Legal Assisting program is accredited by the American Bar Association.
Credits First Year 1st Semester 2nd Semester ________________________________________________________________________________ ENG 111 College Composition I ................... 3 LGL 110 Intro. to Law & the Legal Asst. ......... 3 LGL 116 Domestic Relations & Consumer Law ....... 3 LGL 125 Legal Research .......................... 3 (1) PED 116 Lifetime Fitness & Wellness ............. 1 PHI 115 Practical Reasoning ..................... 3 STD Elective .................................... 1 ENG 112 College Composition II .................. 3 LGL 126 Legal Writing ........................... 3 LGL 215 Torts ................................... 3 LGL 218 Criminal Law ............................ 3 MTH 151 Math for the Liberal Arts I ............. 3 (1) PED /RPK ........................................ 1 _________________________ Total Credits 17 16
Credits Second Year 1st Semester 2nd Semester ________________________________________________________________________________ ___ Approved elective ........................... 3 CIS 150 Intro. to Microcomp. Software ........... 3 LGL 115 Real Estate Law ......................... 3 LGL 217 Trial Pract./the Law of Evidence ........ 3 LGL 235 Legal Aspects of Business Org. .......... 3 PSY 201 Intro. to Psychology I or SOC 201 Intro. to Sociology I ................... 3 ___ Approved elective ........................... 2 LGL 227 Admin. of Decedents' Estates ............ 3 LGL 230 Legal Transactions ...................... 3 PSY 202 Intro. to Psychology II or SOC 202 Intro. to Sociology II .................. 3 SPD 110 Intro. to Speech Communication .......... 3 _________________________ Total Credits 18 14
Total minimum credits for the Legal Assisting major (A.A.S. degree) = 65.
(1) The PED requirement may be met by one of the following options: PED 116, 2 cr.; PED 116, 1 cr. plus a PED activities course, 1 cr.; or PED 116, 1 cr. plus RPK 205, 207, 208, 216, or 225. PED 116 is offered as both a 1-credit and a 2-credit course.