The objective of the Paralegal Studies Program is to produce qualified paralegals who will be able to work either as generalists or specialists under the supervision of an attorney in a private law firm, bank, public interest and legal aid organization, governmental agency, or corporate law department. The Program is designed to help the student meet the requirements of legal employers and to prepare students for career opportunities.

Basic legal concepts, rules of professional ethics, as well as exposure to various substantive fields of law are incorporated into the program. The program strives for a balance between theory and practical application in its curriculum. The program responds to the changing requirements of paralegals by keeping a close association with the local legal community, as well as with paralegal associations, locally and nationally.

A graduate of the program should be able to assist attorneys in performing a wide variety of legal tasks encompassing the bulk of a firm's daily activities. Examples of such tasks are drafting legal documents, assisting in civil or criminal trial preparation, preparing articles of incorporation, and conducting legal research in a law library or in a computerized-assisted legal research program.

Upon completion of the program, the successful student, under the supervision of an attorney, will be able to:

• Employ legal terminology competely and generally define the major legal systems and the functions of the law in American society;
• Describe the role of paralegals in our system as well as the role of other legal personnel in our system;
• Understand the ethical rules and concerns in the legal profession;
• Locate and effectively use legal reference material;
• Utilize legal research techniques including fact gathering and issue identification;
• Draft a variety of office memorandum and legal documents, accurately prepare legal forms, and summarize legal documents;
• Function effectively on a computer, including familiarity with word processing applications and computerized legal research; and
• Understand and perform the entry legal functions of a paralegal in such practice areas as real estate, probate, litigation, administrative law, and corporate law.