Legal Studies (Paralegal)
The Paralegal Program provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to function successfully as a paralegal in law offices, corporations, government offices and private industry. Paralegals (legal assistants) are not attorneys and are prohibited from practicing law. They work under the supervision of attorneys. Upon completion of the program, students receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Transfer of courses is limited to 5 of the 11 paralegal (WECM) courses. Transfer students are required to enroll in at least 3 of the 6 required legal specialty courses at Lamar State College Port Arthur, which must include the capstone course, LGLA 2388 Internship.
The following courses must be taken in a traditional, or synchronous manner to meet/conform to the program’s American Bar Association-approved degree.
- LGLA 1301 Legal Research and Writing
- LGLA 2333 Legal Document Preparation
- LGLA 2388 Internship
NOTE: Students transferring paralegal/legal studies classes to Lamar State College Port Arthur must conform to the program’s ABA-approved degree. The following courses: LGLA 2388 Internship, LGLA 1301 Legal Research & Writing, and LGLA 2333 Legal Document Preparation will be evaluated to ensure that the courses were taught in a traditional (or synchronous manner). If the courses meet the guidelines, then transfer credit will be given; however, if the courses do not meet the guidelines, students will have to take the specified courses at Lamar State College Port Arthur.
Program Outcomes
- Understand legal terms and the paralegal’s role in the legal environment.
- Apply correct drafting procedures to transactional and court documents.
- Demonstrate appropriate ethics and professionalism in the legal environment.
- Exhibit the ability to use computer skills.
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative Reasoning
Teamwork
Social Responsibility
Personal Responsibility
Initiative
Ability to Research
Conflict Resolution
Professional Ethics and Confidentiality
Computer software
Career Information
A degree in Paralegal opens opportunities in Corporate Law Assistant, Legal Analyst, Litigation Paralegal, Paralegal Specialist, Real Estate Paralegal, Legal Assistant.
The paralegal profession is one of the fastest-growing career fields in Texas and the United States. Law firms are not the only businesses using the services of paralegals. Corporations and government agencies now extensively hire paralegals. A trained paralegal serves a lawyer in the same way a nurse practitioner assists a doctor. The paralegal performs duties previously done only by a professional, including drafting documents, preparing for trial, interviewing clients and witnesses and conducting legal research. Paralegals (legal assistants) are not attorneys and are prohibited from the practice of law. Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys.
| Course | Title | SCH |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| LGLA 1307 | Intro to Law & Legal Profession | 3 |
| LGLA 1351 | Contracts | 3 |
| LGLA 1317 | Law Office Technology | 3 |
| POFT 1313 | Professional Workforce Prep | 3 |
| LGLA 2313 | Criminal Law/Procedures | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| LGLA 1345 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| LGLA 1355 | Family Law | 3 |
| POFT 2312 | Business Correspondence & Communication | 3 |
| LGLA 2303 | Torts/Personal Injury Law | 3 |
| BMGT 1325 | Office Management | 3 |
| Third Semester | ||
| Humanities/Art | Fine Arts | 3 |
| LGLA 1301 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 |
| GOVT 2306 | Texas Government | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| MATH 1324 | Math for Business and Social Sciences | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Social/Behav | Sociology/Psychology, etc | 3 |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| LGLA 2339 | Certified Paralegal Exam Prep | 3 |
| LGLA 2388 | Paralegal/Legal Assist Internship | 3 |
| LGLA 2333 | Advanced Legal Document Preparation | 3 |
| Total | 60 | |
The following courses must be taken in a traditional, or synchronous manner to meet/conform to the program’s American Bar Association-approved degree.
- LGLA 1301 Legal Research and Writing
- LGLA 2333 Legal Document Preparation
- LGLA 2388 Internship
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| LGLA 1307 | Intro to Law & Legal Profession | 3 |
| LGLA 1351 | Contracts | 3 |
| LGLA 1317 | Law Office Technology | 3 |
| POFT 1313 | Professional Workforce Prep | 3 |
| LGLA 2313 | Criminal Law/Procedures | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| LGLA 1345 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| LGLA 1355 | Family Law | 3 |
| POFT 2312 | Business Correspondence & Communication | 3 |
| LGLA 2303 | Torts/Personal Injury Law | 3 |
| BMGT 1325 | Office Management | 3 |
| Total | 30 | |
The Legal Office Generalist certificate is not an approved program option and does not prepare students to work as paralegals.
Students may pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Students may pursue certification as a legal assistant
What kind of salary can I expect?
According to O*NET OnLine the median salary for paralegals is $22.87 an hour. Other areas of the state have a slightly higher salary range.
How long will the degree take?
The typical amount of time to complete an associate’s degree is two years. A certificate usually takes one year to complete.
Do you have job placement help?
LSCPA does provide job assistance. We have a job board that all students can access throughout their time at school.
Tieranny Decuir
Sheila Guillot
LSCPA's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f), 34 CFR 668.46).
Overview
Associate of Applied Science
Certificates