Paralegal Studies

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

NOTE: The Paralegal Studies courses were formerly designated as PLAW.

**A new college orientation requirement, completion of the one-credit ACDV 101 course, Transitioning to College, goes into effect spring 2010. If you are a credit student who is new to college in the spring 2010 semester (meaning you have not previously successfully completed college coursework at another institution(s)), you are required to take ACDV 101 during your first semester at CCBC, thereby increasing the number of credits required for the degree to 63-64 credits. PLEASE NOTE: If you are new to college and completed one or more credit courses successfully at CCBC in the fall 2009 semester, you are ENCOURAGED but NOT REQUIRED to take ACDV 101 in the spring 2010 semester.

Program Description:

This American Bar Association-approved program provides students with the essential knowledge and skills to find employment as paralegals or legal assistants. According to the American Bar Association, “[a] legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

Graduates of this program will possess a knowledge of the jurisdiction and function of legislative, judicial, and administrative bodies; the structure of the court system; and the roles of attorneys and paralegals as they pertain to the legal system. They will be knowledgeable in the following fields: estate administration, personal injury law, civil litigation, contract law, criminal law, and business organizations. They will possess the basic research and writing skills that apply to these fields. This combination of knowledge and skills will enable the graduate to fully assist the lawyer in the practice of law. Paralegals and other non-lawyers, however, are strictly prohibited from engaging in the practice of law themselves.

Program Goals and Objectives

1. To promote a basic understanding of legal concepts and terms on a broad range of subjects which are essential to the practice of law.
2. To develop and strengthen writing, research, analytical, and communication skills.
3. To develop a general understanding of the principles of ethical and professional responsibility as they apply to the roles of lawyers and paralegals.
4. To combine legal theory and practical skills so that the graduate can fully assist the lawyer in the practice of law. 

Transfer Credit Policy:

It is the policy of the Paralegal Studies program to accept legal specialty transfer credits from accredited institutions, provided the student completes the following procedure. First, the student must meet with the Paralegal Studies program coordinator. The student must provide a copy of the transcript listing the particular legal specialty course, the date the course was taken, the grade received, and the number of credits earned for the course. The student must also provide either a catalog description or a course syllabus and be able to discuss goals and objectives completed during the course. If the program coordinator determines that the course in question is sufficiently similar to one in the program, and if the student has received a “C” or better in that course, then the program coordinator will notify the Records and Registration Office that she will accept the transferred course as a substitute for the legal specialty course.

Department Chair/Coordinator
CCBC Dundalk
Donna S. Mandl, J.D.
443-840-3477 or dmandl@ccbcmd.edu

Program Coordinator
CCBC Essex/Catonsville
Meisha Grimes, J.D.
443-840-1734 or mgrimes@ccbcmd.edu