Overview
The Paralegal Certificate program at Cincinnati State prepares students for careers in the legal profession in three key employment areas: employees of attorneys (the dominant category), self-employed individuals who work for attorneys, and self-employed individuals who provide their services directly to the public with attorney supervision.
Students learn substantive and procedural law, concentrating on the most prevalent areas of legal practice, as well as general civil and criminal litigation practice.
Students earning the Administrative Office Professional associate’s degree with emphasis in the Legal Administrative Assistant track may wish to add the Paralegal Certificate to enhance their studies.
To be admitted to the certificate programs, students must have an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or Program Chair consent.
Related Programs
Administrative Office Professional - Legal Administrative Assistant track (AA)Contacts
Program Chair
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Conduct proficient legal research
- Draft effective and persuasive legal documents
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Paralegal
Graduate Employment Outlook
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 17 percent through 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Earnings of paralegals and legal assistants vary greatly depending upon education, training, experience, type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for full-time paralegals and legal assistants is $43,040.
$43,000
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Curriculum
Effective 2020-2021 academic year
Paralegal Certificate (LAW)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW 101 | Business Law | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| IM 130 | Electronic Word Processing: Microsoft Word | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| IM 165 | Legal Office Environment | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| XXX XXX Computer Skills Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Technical Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| LAW 120 | Legal Research and Writing | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 130 | Estate Planning, Family and Probate Law | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 210 | Litigation | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| IM 225 | Legal Document Formatting | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| LAW 290 | Paralegal Capstone | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 28 | 6 | 30 | |
Electives
| Computer Skills Elective (3 credit hours required) | ||
| ACC 121 | Computerized Bookkeeping: QuickBooks 1 | 1 |
| ACC 122 | Computerized Bookkeeping: QuickBooks 2 | 1 |
| IM 107 | Introductory Electronic Presentations: Microsoft PowerPoint | 1 |
| IM 108 | Introductory Electronic Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel | 1 |
| IM 109 | Introductory Database Management: Microsoft Access | 1 |
| IM 111 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| IM 120 | Electronic Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel | 3 |
| IM 135 | Business Document Formatting | 3 |
| IM 140 | Electronic Database Management: Microsoft Access | 3 |
| IM 145 | Document Proofreading and Editing | 3 |
| IM 150 | Electronic Presentations: Microsoft PowerPoint | 3 |
| IM 155 | Emerging Technologies and Social Media | 3 |
| Technical Elective (3 credit hours required) | ||
| ACC 115 | Accounting Software Applications: Sage (Peachtree) | 2 |
| ACC 175 | Federal Taxation: Individuals | 3 |
| ACC 180 | Federal Taxation: Business | 3 |
| CRJ 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 110 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CRJ 115 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CRJ 120 | Introduction to Courts | 3 |
| CRJ 125 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJ 130 | Criminal Investigation Skills | 3 |
| CRJ 135 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| HIM 105 | Legal Aspects of Health Information Management | 2 |
| ITP 130 | Legal Issues of Deafness | 1 |
| LAW 110 | Employment and Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 140 | Copyright and Trademark Law in Entertainment Industries | 3 |
| LAW 150 | Bankruptcy, Debt Collection and Secured Transactions | 3 |
| LBR 105 | Introduction to Labor and Employee Relations | 3 |
| RE 105 | Real Estate Law | 3 |