PARALEGAL STUDIES

The Paralegal Studies Program at Tulane University’s School of Continuing Studies is a college credit program, established in 1979. The Program was first granted approval by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1981 and is the oldest approved program in this region. The School of Continuing Studies offers Bachelors and Associate of Arts degrees in Paralegal Studies, and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of Paralegal Studies.  A minor in Paralegal Studies is also available, but is not accredited by the ABA.

What is a paralegal?  According to the American Bar Association, a paralegal is:

“…a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

Paralegals are not lawyers and do not practice law. Under the supervision of attorneys, paralegals work in large and small law firms, courts, banks, corporations, legislative offices, administrative agencies, non-profit advocacy organizations, and other legal services providers.

Tulane’s Paralegal Studies Program prepares our students to become efficient, effective, and ethical professional paralegals.  Our program encourages diversity in our student body and faculty, and we are committed to equal opportunity in our placement program.  Our dedicated adjunct faculty members work hard to ensure that our graduates are prepared to succeed in today’s competitive legal employment arena.  In the Paralegal Practicum course, taken during the last semester of study, each student may acquire valuable hands-on paralegal experience by working as an intern in a law office.

Upon successful completion of the Paralegal Studies Program, our graduates are able to:

1. Enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive college education, with proficiency in writing, formal thought, and oral communications; and exposure to a variety of disciples, including the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and critical thinking.
2.  Perform factual investigations and legal research, using both traditional and computer-based methods.
3. Understand not only the state and federal civil, criminal, and administrative court systems at the trial and appellate levels, but also alternative dispute resolution methods.
4. Analyze factual situations, follow applicable legal procedures, and draft the legal documents necessary for state and federal practice.
5. Make effective use of the varied and ever-evolving computer software products that law offices typically employ to assist in litigation support, legal research, case management, and other functions.
6. Categorize and organize documents, categorize documents for discovery and trial, manage office calendars and dockets, prepare a variety of legal forms, and perform the myriad tasks essential to any successful law office.
7. Understand and comply with the principles of legal ethics in all matters.
8. Enjoy and pursue lifelong learning and ongoing professional development.

The Paralegal Studies Program offers job placement assistance, maintaining a job bank and a ListServ to connect students and alumni with new openings. At the paralegal lending library on the Elmwood Campus, students may borrow books on a variety of topics, ranging from job search skills and career development to substantive areas of law. Students may earn a Certificate in Paralegal Studies by completing 1) an Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies; 2) a Bachelor of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies; or 3) a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies (open to students who already hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited institution). 

Students also may pursue a minor in Paralegal Studies, but must be aware that, unlike the as noted above, this degree program is not approved by the ABA.  Further, students who minor in paralegal Studies do not receive a Certificate of Paralegal Studies upon completion of the requirements.

It is not only required, but also important that all students acquire a solid grounding in general education courses before enrolling in paralegal coursework.   Before enrolling in any Paralegal Studies course, each student must complete a first-year English composition course (ENGL 1010 at Tulane or an approved equivalent from another institution that meets Tulane’s criteria for credit transfers).   Paralegal Studies majors with no previous college coursework take general education courses during their first semester of studies.

Note:

Before registering for classes, each new student must meet with the Paralegal Studies advisor to discuss Program requirements, course prerequisites and sequencing, and other issues relevant to academic progress and success. 

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PARALEGAL STUDIES

To earn the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Paralegal Studies, a student must complete a total of 120 credit hours of coursework. These include 36 credits (twelve classes) in Paralegal Studies, beginning with the six Core Courses that students in all Paralegal Studies degree programs must complete. (See Core Courses in Paralegal Studies, below).  Students then take five advanced Paralegal Studies elective courses at or above the 4000-level.  A variety of advanced electives are offered on a rotating basis each semester.  Students must complete the Core Courses before registering for advanced electives. Students who previously have earned an Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies at the School of Continuing Studies will have completed all but two of the advanced electives required for the major.

In addition to the Paralegal Studies courses required for the major, students must complete the School of Continuing Studies general education requirements for the B.A. degree.

In their final semester, students may seek approval to enroll in PARA 5900 - Paralegal Practicum, which requires completion of a 100-hour internship in a law office. Students with paralegal experience and expertise may, with the Director’s approval, be eligible to waive the Practicum and replace it with an additional upper-level elective. 

To complete the degree, students must achieve a 2.000 grade-point average in the Paralegal Studies courses and overall.

Core Courses in Paralegal Studies:

Requirements for the Associate of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies include the following sequence of 6 Core Courses:

    PARA 2010 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies
    PARA 3020 - Legal Research
    PARA 3030 - Legal Writing
    PARA 3050 - Litigation I
    PARA 3060 - Litigation II
    PARA 3070 - Computers in the Law Firm

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN PARALEGAL STUDIES

Students with little or no previous college experience are advised to pursue the Associate of Arts degree (A.A.), which requires 60 credits of coursework, and then to continue working toward the Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.,) which requires 120 credits of coursework.  All coursework for the A.A. applies toward the B.A. degree. 

To earn the A.A. degree in Paralegal Studies, a student must complete a total of 60 credit hours of coursework.  These include30 credits (ten classes) in Paralegal Studies, beginning with the six Core Courses those students in all Paralegal Studies degree programs must complete. (See Core Courses in Paralegal Studies, below).  Students then take three Paralegal Studies advanced elective courses at or above the 4000-level, which are offered on a rotating basis each semester.  Students must complete the Core Courses before registering for advanced electives.

In addition to the Paralegal Studies courses required for the major, students must complete the School of Continuing Studies general education requirements for the B.A. degree.

In the final semester of enrollment, students may seek approval to enroll in PARA 5900 - Paralegal Practicum, which requires completion of a 100-hour internship in a law office. Students with paralegal experience and expertise may, with the Director’s approval, be eligible to waive the Practicum and replace it with an additional upper-level elective.

Upon completion of the requirements for the A.A. degree, the student earns a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. To complete the A.A. degree, the student must maintain a 2.000 grade point average in all Paralegal Studies courses and overall.

Our Paralegal Studies Program is designed to encourage and enable students to continue improving their skills, increasing their knowledge and aspiring to higher goals.  Thus, after completing the requirements for the A.A. degree and Certificate of Paralegal Studies, many of our students continue to pursue the B.A. while working in law offices and gaining the experience necessary to advance within the paralegal profession.  

Core Courses in Paralegal Studies:

Requirements for the Associate of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies include the following sequence of 6 Core Courses:

• PARA 2010 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• PARA 3020 - Legal Research
• PARA 3030 - Legal Writing
• PARA 3050 - Litigation I
• PARA 3060 - Litigation II
• PARA 3070 - Computers in the Law Firm

• ENGL 1010 - Writing must be completed before enrollment in any Paralegal Studies course.
• PARA 3020 - Legal Research is a prerequisite to PARA 3030 - Legal Writing
• PARA 3050 - Litigation I is a prerequisite to PARA 3060 - Litigation II
• CPST 1000 - Introduction to Microcomputers or Director approval is a prerequisite to PARA 3070 – Computers in the Law.

Note(s):

It is both important and required that each student acquire a solid grounding in general education courses before enrolling in Paralegal Studies coursework.  As a pre-requisite to any Paralegal Studies course, each student must complete a first-year English composition course (ENGL 1010 at Tulane or an approved equivalent from another institution that meets Tulane’s criteria for credit transfers).   Paralegal Studies majors with no previous college coursework take general education courses during their first semester of studies.

Before registering for classes, each new student must meet with the Paralegal Studies advisor to discuss Paralegal Studies Program requirements, course prerequisites and sequencing, and other issues relevant to academic progress and success.  The adviser also will complete a degree worksheet with each student, charting a path for successful completion of the degree.

MINOR IN PARALEGAL STUDIES

Students may elect to pursue a minor in Paralegal Studies while working toward a Bachelor’s degree in another field. Students who choose this option do not receive a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.  Students who wish to earn the Certificate may either pursue a double major that includes Paralegal Studies or complete the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate after graduation. The Paralegal Studies Minor is not designed to educate students to work as paralegals and is not an approved program option under the Guidelines of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Paralegals.

Six courses are required for the minor:

• PARA 2010 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• PARA 3020 Legal Research
• PARA 3030 Legal Writing*
• PARA 3050 Litigation I
• Two advanced elective courses in paralegal studies (4000+ level)

Note(s):

Before registering for classes, each new student must meet with the Paralegal Studies advisor to discuss Program requirements, course prerequisites and sequencing, and other issues relevant to academic progress and success. 

To complete the Minor, a student must maintain a 2.000 grade-point average in all Paralegal Studies courses

PARALEGAL STUDIES POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE

Students who previously earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may pursue the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (P.B.C.) in Paralegal Studies.  This program allows college graduates to complete a focused, intensive course of study and emerge ready for paralegal employment.

To earn the P.B.C., students must complete nine paralegal classes, six of which are the Core Courses in Paralegal Studies that Paralegal Studies students in all degree programs must complete.  (See Core Courses in Paralegal Studies, below).  In addition students seeking the P.B.C. must complete two advanced elective courses and PARA 5900 - Paralegal Practicum, which requires completion of a 100-hour internship in a law office. Students with paralegal experience and expertise may, with the Director’s approval, be eligible to waive the Practicum and replace it an additional upper-level elective.

To receive the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, each student must maintain a 2.000 grade-point average in all Paralegal Studies courses.

Core Requirements

Requirements for the Associate of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies include the following sequence of 6 core courses:

• PARA 2010 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
• PARA 3020 Legal Research
• PARA 3030 Legal Writing
• PARA 3050 Litigation I
• PARA 3060 Litigation II
• PARA 3070 Computers in the Law Firm
• Two Paralegal Courses 4000+ level (taken only after the completion of the Paralegal courses above)
• PARA 5900 Paralegal Practicum (final semester, includes 100-hour internship requirement)

Sequence of courses:

• ENGL 1010 - Writing must be completed before enrollment in any Paralegal Studies course.
• PARA 3020 - Legal Research is a prerequisite to PARA 3030 - Legal Writing
• PARA 3050 - Litigation I is a prerequisite to PARA 3060 - Litigation II
• CPST 1000 - Introduction to Microcomputers or Director approval is a prerequisite to PARA 3070 – Computers in the Law.