Best online masters programs in Legal Assistant/Paralegal

A degree in Paralegal Studies from Genesee Community College can open the doors into a fascinating career in law. One of the fastest-growing occupational categories in the country, the paralegal profession offers a wide range of employment opportunities. Taught by attorneys, program courses prepare students to execute key paralegal duties, such as legal document preparation, researching law, public records searches and trial preparation.

As a SUNY Community College, we respond to the educational need of all people and their local, state, and global communities. We offer certificate programs and associate degrees, as well as transfer and career services. You will benefit from flexible course scheduling and affordable career exploration.

Let put your mind at ease online learning.

Courses are semester based and classwork can be completed around your work and family commitments. There is no set time where you are required to log in to attend class.

Participate in field experiences such as internships, clinical placements, and service learning to apply your academic knowledge in the world.

Degrees ProgramsLawAssociate of Applied Business in Law Paralegal StudiesCurriculum at a Glance.

Curriculum: Associate of Applied Business in Law Paralegal Studies.

Associate of Applied Business in Law Paralegal Studies.

Bachelor of Science in Law Paralegal Studies.

Global Regulatory Affairs in Drug Development Graduate Certificate.

Master of Education in Foundations in Behavior Analysis.

Master of Science in Community Health Prevention Science.

Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management.

Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Leadership.

Program requires the completion of an associate degree program.

In addition to our online Associate of Applied Business in Law Paralegal Studies degree, the University of Cincinnati also offers a Bachelor of Science in Law Paralegal Studies, a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Law Paralegal Studies, and a post-associate Certificate in Law Paralegal Studies.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Law and Paralegal Studies Core CoursesGeneral Education CourseworkParalegal Electives.

This course offers an introduction to the United States legal system, the concept of legal reasoning, and the ethical considerations arising in the practice of law. The course examines the structure and functions of the state and federal judicial systems, civil and criminal procedure andthe substantive areas of contractual law and tort law. The course will focus on the history of our judiciary and its impact on our society. Students will be encouraged to analyze legal theories and make applications of research findings to their lives. Critical analytical skills will be developed by focusing on concepts such as liberal or conservative bias, and judicial activism.

This course provides an understanding of the law library, including computer assisted legal research. Students will learn to use a variety of primary and secondary research material, as well as their organization, and inter-relationships. Skill in researching various legal problems will be developed and students will learn basic legal writing skills.

This course includes hands-on computer assignments utilizing various legal software packages commonly used in the legal and business community. It is designed to train paralegals with the theoretical and practical skills to enable them to work in legal environments that utilize computers.

This course will provide an introduction to the principles of Family Law including the history of marriage, and the rights and obligations arising from a marital relationship. Consideration will begiven to validity of marriage, divorce, cohabitation, the financial consequences of the ending of a family relationship, the resolution ofdisputes involving children and protection from domestic violence. Theoretical questions such a what is a 'family' will be examined with a focuson human behavior, society values, and overall policy goals. Students will analyze statutes and apply them to factual situations. This will include the determination of child support and spousal support awards, valuation of property, property division and settlement.

Students will learn the various components of the civil trial process, and the paralegal role in that process, in a hands-on, skills-based approach. The course will focus on the traditional discovery process, electronic discovery, the evidentiary rules, trial preparation and process and the appellate process. The course will address the role of paralegals in the civil litigation process, the ethical considerations and skills needed by litigation paralegals.

This course will provide an introduction to the civil litigation process from the initial investigation through its completion. Students will be introduced to the functions of the federaland state court systems and to the concepts of jurisdiction and venue. Students will gain experience reading and understanding the Ohio and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the local rules of several courts. Students will learn how, when, where, and why a civil lawsuit may be initiated. During the course, the role of paralegals in the civil litigation process and theskills needed by litigation paralegals will be discussed. Students will be introduced to pleadings and to motion practice, and will have the opportunity to draft pleadings used in civil litigation.

This course covers Ohio real estate law, including basic contract law as it applies to real estate transactions, estates and interests in real estate, types of ownership, documents required and used to facilitate real estate transactions, real estate purchase and sale financing, proof of title, agency license law, control and regulation of land, landlord-tenant law, fair housing, control and regulation of land, and decedents.

This course reviews the substantive law and practical implications for paralegals of agency, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships in a business environment. The course is designed to acquaint the student with the formation, formal structure, processes, and operations of corporations and other business entities.

An introduction to basic wills and trusts conceptsand an examination of the law and procedure of preparing wills, administration of estates and general probate procedure. There will be a discussion and practice exercises in the areas of wills, living trusts, testamentary trusts, and taxplanning topics involving the marital deduction and the annual exclusion. The drafting of wills and trusts, preparation of probate documents, filing procedures, asset collection, estate management, and closing procedures will be covered. In addition, the course will introduce the student to patients' rights in health care decision making, entitlement programs, managed care and long-term care insurance, living facilities for the elderly, financial planning, social security, and elder abuse.

This course presents concepts of administrative law and procedure in governmental agencies with emphasis on the paralegal role in the process. Students will be introduced to the classifications of government agencies, how agencies get their authority to make and adjudicate rules, the limits of government agency authority, and the procedures for appealing agency decisions. Particular emphasis is placed on the following administrative agencies: Social Security, Immigration Ohio Workers Compensation, and the Ohio Job Family Services.

English Composition 1001 is a writing-centered course that emphasizes the careful reading, analytical thinking, and persuasive strategies inherent in researching and writing within an academic community. Students learn that rhetorical knowledge is the basis of composing while learning to write with purpose, audience, context, and conventions in mind. Students develop rigorous academic research practices: locate and evaluate primary and secondary sources relevant to their line of inquiry and position their own ideas in conversation with public writing. Students also engage in regular self-reflection: articulating what they know, what they can do, and their knowledge and skills in various contexts.

This course introduces the principles of and practice in composition and presentation of speeches. Topics include speaker and audience relationship, organization of speeches, active listening skills, use of appropriate language, use of technology as an enhancement of speech, managing speech anxiety and developing a natural verbal and nonverbal delivery style.

Attention on theoretical underpinning of how meaning is made, understood, and communicated within and across various discourse communities and genres. The course emphasizes critical reading and writing, advanced research and analysis skills, and rhetorical sensitivity to differences in academic, professional, and public composing. This course challenges students to engage in substantive projects drawing on primary research and source analysis methods and asks students to document, communicate, and reflect on their research.

Project-based course, emphasizing problem-solving, model-building, and basic data manipulation in real world contexts. Topics include: problem-solving, statistical reasoning, linear and exponential modeling, and modeling with geometry. Prerequisite: at least 30 on the ALEKS Math test or 420 on the Math Placement Test (MPT) is recommended.

In this course, students perform basic business and academic tasks on a PC running the Windows operating system. Students learn work with a word processor, spreadsheet, data tables, and presentation software.

Students will select 3 paralegal electives throughout their completion of the associate degree.

This course examines the development, interpretation and application of substantive criminal and procedural law and the impact it has on our society. Students will learn the elements of major crimes and defenses. Students also will examine the constitutional aspects of criminal procedure and how societal norms and perceptions influence the interpretation of the constitution. The course will focus on constitutional changes inareas such as searches, seizures and arrests interrogation sentencing and appeal. The course will focus on fundamental individual constitutional protections.

This course will provide a basic understanding of the principles of bankruptcy law. It will include an introduction to the substantive and procedural law of consumer and business bankruptcy. It will provide practical, hands-on instruction as to local bankruptcy practice and the paralegal role.

This course covers the full range of federal employment law and other federal laws effecting employment, and some areas of state employment lawsuch as workers' compensation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of critical thinking the effect of these laws on the conduct of business. Landmark legal cases will be studied and discussedwith the goal of illustrating the impact of employment law and the pitfalls which they pose. Real time issues from newspapers and magazines will be discussed in order to illustrate the prevalence of employment law issues in the conductof business.

Special Topics in the Law is an elective course inthe Paralegal Program. Topics covered and the particular configuration of assignments will vary from semester to semester. Students will be equipped to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various research methods usedin the selected topic field. Students will be encouraged to analyze social theories and make applications of research findings to their lives. All writing assignments are required to be clear, well organized, and to demonstrate appropriate English language usage. Formal writing assignments will utilize memorandum format style for citations and references taught in PARA1012 1013.

Study Abroad: Cultural and Legal Systems of the World.

No previous Language knowledge is required as the classes will be tailored to individual needs. The course will allow studentsthe opportunity to truly engage in the culture of living in a foreign country as well as experience the intricacies of the Legal System in the target country.

This course will provide the student an opportunity to gain practical paralegal work experience in a business environment that is engaged in the delivery of legal services. Students will be required to perform substantive legal work under the direct supervision of an attorney or paralegal. The predominant work of thestudent intern will be basic entry-level paralegaltasks. There is also a classroom component to the internship for the purposes of evaluation, discussion, and presentation.

Students will discover the issues facing the US justice system and the efforts being made to answer them. Students will have the opportunity to identify and complete legal forms related to client needs on a variety of topics. The course consists of two parts, class sessions and fieldwork. The class sessions prepare students for the fieldwork by focusing on the role of the paralegal in the US justice system, ethics requirements and learning the steps in the legal process.

Programs can be completed full-time or part-time. Many programs are set up to be part-time, with most containing fewer than 10 credit hours in any given semester. We know you have a lot going on, so want to make sure that school can fit into your schedule. Note: There are some exceptions.

No. your degree will be conferred by the University of Cincinnati, which will also be reflected on your transcripts and degree.

Paralegal Education Reveals Immediate and Future Career Opportunities for Working Mother .

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Liberty’s online paralegal courses are taught by professors with real-world experience in professional and legal settings. The instructors are dedicated to helping students use their career to positively influence the lives of those they come into contact with. The paralegal studies degree is offered 100% online, allowing students to remain active in their job, with their family, and in their community.

By pursuing Liberty University’s online paralegal degree, you will be immersed in a curriculum that covers political and economic ideas, government institutions, and free-market processes. If you’re a working professional, you can transform your career by being educated or trained in paralegal studies, without having to quit your job to attend courses on a residential campus. The faculty have years of experience as private practice partners, lawyers and attorneys, certified public accountants, certified mediators, and nearly every specialty the field of paralegal studies touches.

Take online classes and step towards becoming a paralegal.

If you choose, continue your study in advanced legal topics pre-law (BS in Legal Studies).

Associate of Science in Legal Studies Online.

The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in legal writing, legal research, ethics and professionalism, contract law, torts, and much .

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

Text HELP to 85109 for help, Text STOP to 85109 to end. Msg Data Rates May Apply. By opting in, I authorize Herzing University to deliver SMS messages and I understand that I am not required to opt in as a condition of enrollment. By leaving this box unchecked you will not be opted in for SMS messages.

In this program, you will learn different types of law as well as gain the skills needed to conduct legal research and prepare legal documents.

Graduates are prepared to sit for the Certified Legal Assisting and Certified Paralegal exams through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). You will be ready for a professional role in any area of law.

All classes are delivered online with a capstone or internship (if available in your state).

Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Legal Studies.

Average number of months for students to complete program.

All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.

This course provides an of the paralegal profession and an introduction to the law and legal procedures. Topics include paralegal duties and responsibilities, ethical issues in legal assisting, sources of American law and legal concepts, the court system and government regulations, corporate law, civil litigation and trial procedures, criminal and administrative law and procedures, conducting interviews and investigations, and legal research and analysis.

This course is a practical introduction to the law library and its resources and the fundamentals of traditional and electronic legal research. Emphasis is placed on the paralegal practical role and skill in assisting the attorney in legal research. Topics include the various research tools, including codes, reporters, digests, Shepard legal encyclopedias, treaties, law reviews, practice manuals, Westlaw, and CD ROM and Internet research.

This course is designed to examine contract basics by explaining what a contract is and the various contract types. Key elements to most contracts are covered along with an explanation of how U.S. law governs contractual activity, including enforcement and dispute resolution options and the three requirements of a contract (offer, consideration, and acceptance). The course also examines who can enter into a contract, approach negotiation, designing of a written contract, unfair and improper contracts, contract termination, breach, voiding and rescission claims, and details on special contract situations, including real estate, financing, and social contracts, and Internet use.

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with the basic legal terms of torts and personal injury law, help the student identify the various types of torts and the defenses a defendant may raise to each, and to provide a practical, hands-on learning experience in related terminology and in drafting the documents necessary to practice in this area of the law.

This course is intended to provide the student with a thorough working knowledge of family law. Along with in-depth topical knowledge, the course addresses the important skills required of a paralegal in family law including interviewing and legal drafting.

This course presents an in-depth study of the Codes of Professional Responsibility from the American Bar Association as well as the Code of Judicial Conduct and existing guidelines and case law involving paralegals.

This course presents a study of the operation of a private law firm from the perspective of a legal assistant paralegal.

This course provides an intensive examination of the role of the paralegal in civil litigation. Topics include litigation and the paralegal role, the courts and their jurisdiction, ethical considerations, investigation and evidence procedures, the initial pleadings and response to the initial pleading, motion practice, discovery procedures and requests, settlements and alternative dispute resolution, trial techniques, and post-trial practices.

This course allows the student to apply practical legal research skills to the drafting and preparation of typical documents that the paralegal will be expected to prepare by their supervising attorney. Topics include research memoranda, client correspondence, demand letters, appellate briefs, incorporation documents, partnership agreements, wills, leaves, promissory notes, and medical record summaries.

This course is designed to review the legal studies courses taken in the various programs and prepare the student to take the National Association of Legal Assistants' (NALA) Certified Paralegal Examination. This examination is a two-day comprehensive examination administered at various locations across the United States.

A minimum of 6.00 semester credit hours is required. Students may take any accounting (AC), business management (BU), information systems (IS), or paralegal (PL) course. At least 3.00 semester credit hours must be paralegal (PL) courses.

Students enrolled in this associate degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

This course is designed to introduce students to methodologies that will prepare them for academic and professional success. Topics include but are not limited to Canvas support, student support services, e-books, university policies, resumes, self-reflection, time management, goal setting, and strategies for anxiety reduction.

This course provides an opportunity for students to critically examine their skills and develop a plan to further their career and own financial literacy. Topics include research, job searching, developing career documents, refining interview and communication skills, and creating a personal budget.

An alternative: Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies.

Designed to provide students with a advanced understanding of law, this program also incorporates a selection of core business courses to provide a solid background in management and administration. Graduates are prepared for careers in legal assistance, legal administration, business and management training. This degree is also ideal for those wishing to continue on to law school.

When you accept the 10% tuition discount from our Financial Commitment Scholarship, the cost of tuition for the paralegal program is $464 per credit.1.

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

Financial Commitment Scholarship eligibility requirements: Recommended that students limit student loan borrowing to only what is needed to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Students may borrow up to $2,000 in student loans in excess of tuition and fees to cover their cost of attendance and retain eligibility for this scholarship. Excess loan eligibility dependent on individual student situation.

Enrollment requirements for the online legal studies associate degree program at Herzing University include:.

Paralegals work in all sorts of different environments and may specialize in many different categories of law. Law firms of all specialties require clerical work, research, dictation and other administrative tasks needed to keep things running smoothly.

Graduate with a degree, pass the exam and you will be a Certified Paralegal (CP).

Getting certified may give you an edge in the hiring process and help you earn your dream job.

The rules vary by state. Certification is not a legal prerequisite to work as a paralegal in every state. However, we encourage you to get certified. The Herzing online legal studies program curriculum includes a class dedicated to NALA certification exam prep.

These titles are sometimes used interchangeably, but the general difference between legal assistants vs. paralegals breaks down like this:.

Paralegals often handle technical legal tasks, including preparing documentation or performing research, and often requires experience in law.

Find the average paralegal salary by state.

And the fully online program is not ABA approved (but programs at our Atlanta and New Orleans campuses are).

Paralegals can work in-house with a law firm in the private sector, in the public sector with a government agency, or in a freelance contract role. Discover what paralegals are and what they do.

No. Currently, fully online paralegal legal assisting programs are not approved by the ABA. but there are no 100% online ABA approved programs.

Not all employers will require completion of an ABA approved program. However, earning your degree through an ABA approved program can give you an edge on the job market and open doors to opportunities.

Herzing University offers ABA approved paralegal programs at our New Orleans and Atlanta ground campuses.

Educational requirements to become a paralegal vary by state and employer. Given the broad scope of potential roles in legal assisting, different jobs require different levels of education.

Certificate diploma programs.

Degree program.

Herzing University does not offer a certificate program.

A basic certificate diploma program will typically offer a fast track to getting started as a paralegal, but none of them are ABA approved and they will fall short of the comprehensiveness of a degree or post-baccalaureate certificate program.

After earning your degree, you will be eligible to take the Certified Paralegal Examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

Paralegals may work in many different environments with unique specialties in law, including:.

A career in legal assisting might be right for you if you exhibit these desirable qualities:.

Online Legal Studies Bachelor Degree Program Pre Law.

Take Your Career to New Heights as a Paralegal.

Career DevelopmentThe Exciting Variety of Specialties for Paralegals.

Note: Only the Herzing University paralegal programs in New Orleans and Atlanta are approved by the American Bar Association. The online legal studies program is not ABA approved.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2021. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

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The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Legal Studies Online Campus.

Any student in a degree-seeking program that makes on-time, out of pocket payments toward tuition and fee expenses.

The amount of the payments made that exceed the amount of excess loan funding received will be used to calculate total award. Eligible students must make on-time payments, according to a predetermined payment plan. Restrictions may vary.

Amount: A 10% tuition reduction over the course of the program.

Recommended that students limit student loan borrowing to only what is needed to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Students may borrow up to $2,000 in student loans in excess of tuition and fees to cover their cost of attendance and retain eligibility for this scholarship. Excess loan eligibility dependent on individual student situation.

Available to applicants in any program that demonstrate a financial need, who are unable to cover cost of attendance with alternative resources.

(Examples: community service, campus involvement, family life, charity work, major improvement to grades, etc.).

Available to Herzing graduates who have re-enrolled in a higher-level degree.

Alumni may qualify as many times as they re-enroll in a higher-level degree.

Employees of a business participating in the Herzing Partnerships Program.

Must maintain continuous enrollment and submit online form. Recipients are chosen at random.

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:.

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

Current tuition rates for Nursing programs are effective through the Summer 2023 semester, and tuition rates for all non-Nursing programs are effective through the Summer 2023 semester.

National Paralegal College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

National Paralegal College Master of Science in Compliance Law (Employment Law Track) program is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. Graduates of the accredited NPC program will be eligible to sit for any of the basic compliance exams administered by the CCB.

National Paralegal College is licensed by the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

National Paralegal College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

National Paralegal College is pleased to have its courses recommended for transfer credit by the National Collegiate Credit Recommendation Service, a branch of the University of the State of New York. While NCCRS recommendations are not binding, and while credit transfer decisions are always at the discretion of the receiving institution, than 1,500 colleges and universities have expressed a willingness to accept NCCRS recommendations.

Up to 26 credits earned at National Juris University, the graduate division of National Paralegal College, are accepted by Concord Law School, the fully online law school of Purdue University Global, a public nonprofit institution, toward an Executive Juris Doctor degree.

National Paralegal College is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the largest paralegal professional organization in the United States.

Our certificate program can be used to satisfy the legal coursework component required by NALA to qualify the student to sit for the Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam. Our degree program satisfies all requirements to qualify to sit for the CP Exam.

National Paralegal College is an associate member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE). AAfPE is a national organization that serves the needs of paralegal educators and institutions offering paralegal educational programs.

National Paralegal College is registered with the Law School Admission Council, the organization that facilitates most law school applications in the United States. Our LSAC identification number is 4909.

Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

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