Paralegal Studies

The successful student will:

• produce transactional and litigation documents of acceptable quality as determined using a grading rubric.
• demonstrate knowledge of the court system organization and the litigation process.
• demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ethical practice when given hypothetical scenarios.

Paralegals work in a variety of settings, including:

• Law offices
• Government agencies
• Community legal services programs
• Corporate offices
• Consumer organizations

Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or junior standing in a baccalaureate degree program.

Average hourly wage, Gulf Coast: $27/hr.
(Source: Texas Workforce Commission)

Education: Associate degree

Work environment: Law firms, corporate law departments, banks, insurance companies, criminal justice system. Graduates have skills that are attractive to employers outside of the legal field.

Job description:

• Interview clients and witnesses
• Draft legal documents
• Conduct legal research
• Assist attorneys at court hearings

• State Bar of Texas, Paralegal Division
• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook

Q: Is the program a degree program or a certificate program?
A: The program awards the Associate of Applied Science degree which requires 60 semester credit hours. In addition to paralegal courses, the degree requires core subjects like English Composition, Government, Speech, and Science or Mathematics. An associate degree typically takes two years of study for a full-time student.
The program also has an Advanced Technical Studies Certificate for students who already have a bachelor’s degree or junior standing for a bachelor’s degree program. Having the degree or junior standing is a prerequisite for the certificate so that a graduate with the certificate has the same academic grounding that an associate degree graduate would have.

Q: What is the tuition?
A: Tuition depends on whether the student resides within the Lee College District, or outside the district. Tuition each semester also depends on the number of credit hours the student takes. See the Tuition Calculator.

Q: Are the courses taught online?
A: Yes. The Paralegal Studies program is offered entirely online. The paralegal courses marked LGLA are offered only online.

Q: When are the paralegal courses scheduled?
A: Paralegal courses are scheduled in eight-week sessions, with two sessions during each fall and spring semester, and one eight-week session during the summer. This provides multiple start times for the program.

Q: Is the Paralegal Studies Program eligible for financial aid?
A: Yes, both the degree and the advanced technical certificate are federal financial aid eligible.

Q: Are courses transferable?
A: While the Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies is a technical degree and is generally not transferable into many bachelor degrees, there are some limited opportunities to transfer to upper level institutions.