Major in Paralegal (PARA) Associate Degree in Applied Science

69 Semester Hours

The goals of the Paralegal program are to offer a concentrated program of study to:
 •  prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be qualified paralegals,
 • prepare students for careers as paralegals working under the direct supervision of attorneys in pubic and private sectors, and
 • prepare students who can perform effectively in a variety of legal settings and who can adapt to the changing legal environment.
 A paralegal/legal assistant may not practice law, give advice, or represent clients in a court of law.

The Paralegal program is designed to meet the following objectives to:
 • provide students with a general education that includes oral and written communications, computational skills, and an awareness and knowledge of the humanities and social sciences,
 • provide students with knowledge of the roles and functions of a lawyer, the roles and functions of the paralegal, and law practice methods in a variety of settings in which paralegals work,
 • give students an understanding of the court system and the process of civil and criminal litigation,
 • provide students with substantive knowledge in different areas of law practice,
 • prepare students with knowledge and procedures for conducting legal research and preparing legal documents in a minimum of three areas of law practice,
 • provide students with an understanding of the rules of professional conduct governing lawyers and paralegals and a thorough knowledge of ethical and professional conduct,
 • provide law office management skills which include computer, legal research, and client interviewing skills, and to ensure Paralegal program stays current with the needs of the paralegal community.

The Paralegal Program is approved by the American Bar Association as having met all curriculum requirements necessary for training qualified paralegals. 

Program Specific Residency Requirements
The Associate in Applied Science – Major in Paralegal program requires that at least 50% of the Legal Specialty Courses must be taken at Central Carolina Technical College.