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| 450 North Avenue • Battle Creek, MI 49017 • (269) 965-3931 |
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| Paralegal |
2007-08 |
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 Career Pathway – Human Services and Education This program is approved by the American Bar Association. A paralegal (legal assistant) applies his or her knowledge of law and legal procedures to: assist attorneys and/or other legal personnel; conduct legal research; prepare and interpret legal documents and correspondence; locate, compile, and use technical information; conduct investigations; organize and manage information and documents; analyze and resolve procedural problems; interview clients and witnesses; calendar deadlines and dates; and manage work flow. Paralegals must possess the following competencies: knowledge of substantive areas of law and legal procedure; a mastery of legal terminology and concepts; critical thinking skills; organizational skills; communication skills; legal research skills; legal writing skills; computer and information management skills; interviewing and investigation skills; and must adhere to high ethical and professional standards of conduct. The paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic professions in the United States. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the paralegal profession will continue to grow at a much faster than average rate, at least through the year 2010. This curriculum leads to an Associate in Applied Science and is designed for career entry and/or advancement. Prerequisites Recommended high school units of study are shown at the end of this catalog. Students who have completed three units of high school English (with one unit in composition), a basic keyboarding class, and two units of mathematics with a grade of “C” or better will have fulfilled the requirement. Students who do not have these qualifications will be admitted to the College, but must complete appropriate developmental instruction courses or verify an acceptable level of competency through testing. General Education The following courses provide skills in speaking, writing, thinking, analyzing, cooperating, making choices and judgments, integrating, and creating that are required in many problem-solving and task-oriented situations. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of General Education Core Courses, and may choose from the list of General Education Core Courses on pages 32. Students seeking MACRAO approval should see page 15 of the College Catalog for MACRAO General Education Course Requirements and should consult with an academic advisor.
° For options to fulfill the Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Global Awareness, see page 33 of the College Catalog. *NOTE: The American Bar Association’s approval of this program requires students to complete a minimum of 18 credits of the General Education courses. Paralegal Major
The four-semester sequence of courses recommended for the full-time student is:
Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited four-year American college may enroll in the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program listed below. Please contact the Paralegal Program Coordinator for more information.
and six credits from the following electives:
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