Paralegal Certificate

Female paralegal working in office

This Paralegal Certificate is designed for the student who wants to enter the paralegal field.

To enter this program, students must have completed both ENG 101 and ENG 102 with a grade of 'C' or better. Core courses must be completed prior to or concurrently with any elective courses.

This Certificate is 24 credits and 12 credits must be taken at Charter Oak including PLG 210: Legal Research and Writing. All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better.

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Grades of C or higher must be earned in each certificate course.

  • Core Courses 1,2,3

  • Civil Procedures (PLG 105)

    3 credits

  • Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility (PLG 301)

    3 credits

  • Legal Research, Writing and Reasoning (PLG 210) 4

    3 credits

  • Technology in Law (PLG 110)

    3 credits

  • Elective Courses Student's choice of 4 electives (areas of specialization):

    • Bankruptcy Law (PLG 330)
    • Business Law (BUS 120)
    • Criminal Law (PLG 211)
    • Elder Law (PLG 311)
    • Environmental Law (PLG 312)
    • Family Law (PLG 320)
    • Health Care Law (HCA 411)
    • Insurance Law (PLG 412)
    • Intellectual Property (PLG 415)
    • Juvenile/Education Law (PLG 325)
    • Wills, Probate and Administration (PLG 215)
    • Public Administration Law (PUB 120)
    • Real Estate Law (PLG 314)
    12 credits

  • Total

    24 credits

Notes

  1. A maximum of 12 credits can transferred into the certificate program with the exception of PLG 210: Legal Research, Writing and Reasoning.
  2. Core courses must be completed prior to or concurrently with any elective courses.
  3. All courses are conducted in an 8-week accelerated format using Blackboard. Not all courses are available each term or semester.
  4. PLG 210: Legal Research, Writing and Reasoning must be taken at Charter Oak State College.

Outcomes & Pathways

Students who complete a certificate in Paralegal Studies should be able to:

  1. Articulate the role of a paraprofessional in various settings.
  2. Understand, apply and adhere to ethical and professional practices within the scope of their position.
  3. Communicate effectively orally and through writing.
  4. Use technology - software and hardware, required of the industry and for communication (i.e., Legal Technology Certificate).
  5. Understand the doctrines of the Attorney/client privilege and apply that to legal review.
  6. Explain the state and federal court structures and the role of the paralegal's law firm or corporate legal department within that structure.
  7. Conduct legal research effectively.
  8. Explain the different kinds of law.
  9. Demonstrate practical applications required of paralegals demonstrate basic skills of management demonstrate the ability to work in teams.
  10. Demonstrate an understanding of diversity and its importance in the workplace and in the law.

Why Charter Oak State College?