Finger Lakes Community College

Paralegal

The Degree

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

The Outlook

The paralegal profession has experienced dramatic growth since the 1960's as a direct result of the need for affordable legal services. The profession is one that is exciting as well as rewarding. Paralegals – although not attorneys themselves - assist attorneys in substantive legal work. On an average day, a paralegal might be involved in handling a real estate closing, interviewing clients and witnesses, drafting legal documents, performing legal research and conducting an investigation. All work is done under the supervision of an attorney and in compliance with strict ethical standards. By allowing a paralegal to handle such tasks, the attorney is available for other work and, at the same time, is able to provide the client with quality legal services at a lower rate.

The goal of the Paralegal program at Finger Lakes Community College is to provide students a quality paralegal education in order to prepare them to competently assist attorneys upon graduation. To this end, the Paralegal Program has sought and achieved American Bar Association (ABA) approval. ABA approval is a voluntary goal but one which signifies that an institution is providing the highest quality paralegal education. Further, the program is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education, which also maintains strict standards to obtain such membership status.

The Program

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Paralegal degree program at Finger Lakes Community College is designed to prepare you for entry into the job market immediately upon graduation. The curriculum was developed in accordance with the American Bar Association guidelines and in consultation with area legal practitioners. We emphasize practical skills and knowledge utilized in common legal specialties such as real property law, family law, and trust and estate law

Honors Courses: The College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

The Experience

FLCC's ABA-approved paralegal degree program emphasizes legal theory and practices as well as contemporary office skills and office management procedures. Students in the paralegal program receive individualized attention in small classes.

The Graduates

A student who successfully completes the Paralegal Program at Finger Lakes Community College is well prepared to find employment as a paralegal in law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate development companies, title insurance firms and banks. In addition, our graduates are prepared to find jobs with community legal service programs; consumer organizations; federal, state and local agencies; and other public organizations needing or providing legal assistance.

The Faculty

All paralegal faculty (whether adjunct or full-time) are either attorneys or experienced paralegals from both the private and public sectors. Collectively, they bring a wealth of real world experience and knowledge of law to the classroom. This combination creates lively discussions as well as practical and relevant lessons for today’s paralegal.

Paralegal

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
or
ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors

Social Science*

Minimum 3 credit hours in social science electives

Mathematics/ Science

Minimum 3 credit hours in mathematics
Minimum 3 credit hours in mathematics or science

Paralegal

PLG 100 Introduction to Legal Practice
PLG 115 Computers in the Law Office
PLG 125 Legal Research and Writing I
PLG 210 Real Property Law and Practice
PLG 225 Legal Research and Writing II
PLG 230 Family Law
PLG 235 Administration of Wills, Trusts and Estates
PLG 240 Courts and Litigation
PLG 250 Paralegal Internship
PLG 265 Law Office Practice
PLG Elective

Office Technologies

OFT 150 Basic Accounting
OFT 156 Office Communications**
BUS/OFT 200 Office Management

Health/Physical Education Elective

4 credit hours

*Electives

The remainder of required electives must be made up of approved electives and include a minimum of 6 credit hours of liberal arts electives***
2 credit hours of general electives
3 credit hours of professional electives.****

Note: A minimum typing competency of 35 WPM through testing or successful completion of OFT 100 & OFT 131 will be required to receive the A.A.S. Paralegal degree.

* Recommended Social Science electives are Psychology (PSY 100), Introduction to Sociology (SOC 100), and American Government (POL 100).

** Prerequisites for OFT courses are waived for Paralegal.

*** Liberal Arts electives are to be selected from any Humanities, Social Science, Math, or Science courses except BIO 101, ENG 226, MAT 110, PSY 124, PSY 150, SCI 100, and applied or performing arts.

****Professional electives must be chosen from courses with the prefixes PLG, BUS, OFT, or CJC.

Paralegal

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.A.S. Paralegal degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.A.S. Paralegal degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the A.A.S. Paralegal degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisor when they plan their schedule.

First Semester (16 Credit hours)

ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
PLG 100 Introduction to Paralegal Practice (3)
PLG 125 Introduction to Legal Practice (3)
OFT 156 Office Communications (3)
MAT 121 Statistics (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Second Semester (17 Credit hours)

ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
PLG 115 Computers in the Law Office (3)
PLG 225 Legal Research & Writing II (3)
BIO 111 Biology of Man I (4)
Liberal Arts Elective (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (19 Credit hours)

PLG 210 Real Property Law (3)
PLG 230 Family Law (3)
PLG 250 Paralegal Internship or PLG 265 Law Office Practice (3)
BUS 227 Business Law (suggested professional elective) (3)
OFT 150 Basic Accounting (3)
COM 110 Public Speaking (suggested) (3)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (18 Credit hours)

PLG 235 Administration of Wills, Trusts & Estates (3)
PLG 240 Courts & Litigation (3 )
PLG 245 Tort Law (Suggested PLG Elective) (3 )
OFT 200 Office Management (3)
Social Science Elective (3)
General Elective (2)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

This schedule is based on a student entering in the fall semester and attending full-time day classes.

Note: A minimum typing competency of 35 WPM through testing or successful completion of OFT 100 & OFT 131 will be required to receive the A.A.S. Paralegal degree.