LCCC's Paralegal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and, because of growth in the paralegal field, provides excellent opportunities for employment and advancement. Qualified graduates of the Paralegal Studies program can be hired by law firms, banks, title companies, real estate firms, and corporations. Career possibilities include paralegal supervisor, trust coordinator, title searcher, settlement clerk, litigation specialist, contract coordinator, and a variety of other positions. Individuals with legal skills take these skills into a multitude of positions in the business environment, including human resources, records management, legal support, and government. LCCC's Paralegal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and, because of growth in the paralegal field, provides excellent opportunities for employment and advancement. Qualified graduates of the Paralegal Studies program can be hired by law firms, banks, title companies, real estate firms, and corporations. Career possibilities include paralegal supervisor, trust coordinator, title searcher, settlement clerk, litigation specialist, contract coordinator, and a variety of other positions. Individuals with legal skills take these skills into a multitude of positions in the business environment, including human resources, records management, legal support, and government. Students will gain an understanding of what paralegals can accomplish, as well as the limitations imposed by the unauthorized practice of law statute. Internships provide students with practical experience in the paralegal field. Students may also transfer credits to various four-year colleges or universities toward a bachelors degree. The primary goal of the program is to educate students to become paralegals who perform effectively in a variety of legal settings and adapt to changes in the legal environment and law practice. The program prepares students for careers as paralegals working under the supervision of lawyers in either the public or private sectors, as well as striving to encourage and facilitate graduates to pursue advanced degrees. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to public except as permitted by law. Through a collaborative program of study between LCCC and Kutztown University, LCCC's Paralegal Studies graduates may transfer to Kutztown University to major in English, Political Science, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, History, and Psychology.
Program Objectives
Program Objective
Apply legal and business skills necessary for a position in a law office, bank, real estate office, government authority, or any position that uses the knowledge of law.
Apply soft skills, such as cooperative teamwork, communication skills, and ethical decision-making.
Demonstrate substantive knowledge and procedural knowledge of law.
Apply the rules of professional conduct governing lawyers and the application to paralegals
Advisor Notes
Required Electives
*The student must select three credits with a PLG prefix from the following list: PLG 125, 135, 225, 227, 228, 230, 235, 240, or 252. The other program elective must be selected from the above list or AOT 112, 113, 114, CJA 201, 240, ENG 107, 111; HIT 140, or any other credit course that is approved by the Paralegal Studies coordinator.
General Education electives a student must choose from
Recommended Electives
Program-specific electives a student may choose from
Social Science/Humanities electives: PSC 142, PSC 233, PSC 235, PSC 236, or ECO 201
Program Notes
Up to nine PLG credits will be accepted for transfer into LCCC’s PLG program from an ABA-approved program. PLG 200 must be completed at LCCC. PLG credit by assessment is limited to three credits. Total PLG transfer credit and credit by assessment is limited to nine credits.
Students entering the program should have basic keyboarding skills and the ability to type 40 wpm. If a student does not have these skills, the student should enroll in AOT 112, 113, and 114 in the first semester of admission to the program.
Admission Requirements
High school diploma or GED.
Submission of high school transcript or GED or a transcript from a post-secondary school. High school seniors who wish to participate in early admission should supply a transcript after high school graduation.
Transfer credits for any course that has a PLG prefix will be accepted from American Bar Association (ABA)-approved programs only. The student must have earned at least a “C” for the course to be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit for courses with a PLG prefix are limited to a total of nine credits. PLG 200 will not be accepted for transfer from another institution.
Credit for assessment for courses with a PLG prefix are limited to a total of three credits.
The combined number of transfer credit and credit by assessment for PLG-prefix courses is limited to nine.
Any student who has successfully completed, with at least a “C,” any PLG course or equivalent at LCCC or another ABA-approved college more than seven years before admission or readmission will be required to repeat these courses.
Paralegal Studies students are responsible for locating and selecting internship placement sites. Students are responsible for presenting credential levels required by the internship site. It is the sole discretion of the internship site and future employers as to what level of credentialing is required by the position roles. Students who possess a “record” status may experience limitations in available internship placements and future employment in the paralegal field.