Associate in Applied Science, Paralegal Studies
Philadelphia, USA
DURATION
4 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jul 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 25,083 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Paralegal Studies is an associate degree program intended to train a generalist paralegal. Graduates from the associate degree program will have a strong foundation in the areas of legal research and writing, contracts, torts, criminal law and property law. Associate degree program graduates are likely to find employment as paralegals under the direction of attorneys (to do otherwise would be practicing law without a license) in law firms, legal departments of large corporations, insurance companies, title companies, legal service companies and federal, state or local courts and governmental agencies.
Students who wish to pursue additional education in law or in other disciplines as part of their future plans should consult with an advisor before selecting courses.
No person shall engage or assist a person who is not a member of the bar in the performance of activities that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.
Start Date
Every semester.
- Fall Semester: Late August
- Spring Semester: Early January
- Summer Semester: Late May
Program Outcome
- Conduct legal research to identify the appropriate laws, judicial decisions, regulations and other legal literature to specific legal problems and use critical thinking to analyze results of such research.
- Draft memoranda, briefs and other legal documents applicable to the field of law being studied.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the paralegal’s role in trial preparation, trial proceedings and settlement negotiations.
- Investigate and develop the facts of a case, maintain relevant case files and maintain and organize relevant case file documents, such as correspondence, pleadings, reports and briefs.
- Identify and analyze the ethical issues that arise for the Paralegal Professional.
- Apply modern technology to the performance of legal work and tasks.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Delaware County Community College's Educational Foundation awards approximately $300,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholarship has its own criteria for eligibility established by the donor. The application period for scholarships each year runs from mid-February to mid-April.
Curriculum
First Semester
- English Composition I
- Introduction to the Paralegal Profession
- Legal Research and Writing I
- Technology in the Law
- Mathematics Elective*: Any Quantitative Reasoning designated MAT course 1
Second Semester
- Interpersonal Communication
- Legal Research and Writing II
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Philosophy Elective*: Any Global Understanding designated PHI course
Third Semester
- Applied Accounting or Financial Accounting
- English Composition II: Writing About Literature
- Real Estate Law
- Civil Litigation and Tort Principles
- Science Elective*: Any Scientific Inquiry designated Science course
Fourth Semester
- Civil Litigation and Tort Applications
- Paralegal Experience and Legal Ethics or Paralegal Practicum and Legal Ethics
- Two PLG Electives*
- Social Science/Humanities Elective*: Any Diversity and Social Justice designated Social Science or Humanities course
*For more information about electives, please contact the school or visit the course webpage.
English Language Requirements
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