Program Code: PAR.S.CRT • Credit Hours: 34
Description
The Legal Studies Program educates students with practical assignments in a “simulated law office” environment. All student work demonstrates the professional, ethical, and technology concepts they will use in the legal field. All full-time faculty are licensed attorneys. Student learning is supported by experienced paralegals who serve as team teachers. This certificate is intended to enhance the attractiveness of an already obtained bachelor’s degree by providing students with practical skills needed to work in the legal field. All paralegal students are required to complete an attorney-supervised internship for hands-on experience using their paralegal skills. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses to remain in the program. Established in 1978, the Sinclair Paralegal Program was the first paralegal program in the area, and the first in the area to be approved by the American Bar Association. Sinclair paralegal graduates hold a degree from an ABA-Approved program at a fully-accredited Ohio college. Students must take at least nine credits of the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.
Career Opportunities
Sinclair led the way with the first paralegal program in the Miami Valley in 1978, and it became the first to earn approval from the American Bar Association. Nearly a thousand graduates of Sinclair’s Legal Studies Program now work in large and small law firms, the business world, courts, and government agencies. Under the supervision of a lawyer, a professional paralegal may perform such interesting duties as investigating cases, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing legal documents, and legal research. These responsibilities are carried out in a variety of legal fields, such as criminal law, probate, family law, litigation, and real estate. Employment opportunity reports for program graduates are encouraging. Completion of the Legal Studies Program does not authorize a graduate to practice law as an attorney, or to give legal advice.
Program Prerequisite(s)
- Approval of Department AND
- Students must have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.0 or higher from an accredited institution to be eligible to pursue this certificate.
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