Certificate in Paralegal Studies
While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal cases, they often delegate many of their tasks to paralegals. In fact, paralegals — also called legal assistants — are assuming a growing range of tasks in legal offices.
The Certificate in Applied Studies (CAS) in Paralegal Studies provides a credential for professionals changing careers into paralegal studies or for those preparing to apply to law schools. The CAS in Paralegal Studies requires 18 semester hours split into 15 hours of required courses and 3 hours of elective coursework.
The CAS is a post-bachelor’s credential that demonstrates your commitment to continuing education and learning, especially for existing paralegals seeking to advance in the field. Earning the CAS credential also helps prepare you for entering into the legal sector, either as a result of changing jobs or of entering law school.
Students in our CAS program get a feel for law as a general subject and gain valuable research and writing skills along with a foundation in the judicial system, litigation and Constitutional law.
Certificate Requirements
Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
An earned bachelor’s degree is prerequisite to enrollment in this certificate program.
Total: 18 semester hours
CORE
12 semester hours
LA301U Paralegal I
LA303U Legal Research and Writing I
LA304U Legal Research and Writing II
LA306U Litigation
ELECTIVE
6 semester hours from LA and LAW courses.
LA310U Real Estate
LA312U Family Law
LA315U Torts
LA316UContract Law
LA320U Environmental Law
LA321U Criminal Law
LA323U Elder Law
LA325U Wills, Trusts and Estates
LA398U Selected Topics
LAW300U Business Law
LAW303U Constitutional Law
LAW304U First Amendment Law
LAW315U Social Media Law and Ethics
LAW322U Employment Law and Policy
LAW325U CyberLaw
LAW398U Selected Topics