Overview
The Law and Paralegal Studies degree program prepares students to become Paralegals, also known as Legal Assistants. While earning an Associate of Applied Business degree, students gain knowledge and skills required to assist attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals in many legal practice settings.
Students learn to investigate facts, conduct research on legal issues, interview clients, organize and evaluate case materials, draft legal documents, and communicate effectively with legal professionals. Students also gain knowledge of substantive and procedural law, concentrating on the most prevalent areas of legal practice.
In addition, students gain understanding of legal office procedures, time management, and organizational skills.
Cooperative education experience provides practical hands-on training to help students begin a career as a Paralegal.
Related Programs
Administrative Assistant - Legal Administrative Assistant track (AA)Paralegal Certificate (LAWC)Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Advisor
Career Outlook
Graduates Are Prepared To
- Assist attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals in many legal practice settings
Representative Job Titles For Graduates
- Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
Graduate Employment Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs for paralegals will increase about 14 percent through 2031, which is faster than the average for all professions. Opportunities are expected to grow as law firms attempt to lower expenses by using the cost-effective services provided by paralegals. Due to the rise of electronic discovery, formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills should have the best job prospects. Employment opportunities for paralegals in Cincinnati are very good.
$45,341 - $52,900 annual salary (full-time paralegals and legal assistants) Earnings vary depending upon education, experience, and type of employer
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
Contacts
Program Chair
Co-op Coordinator
Advisor
Curriculum
Effective 2023-2024 academic year
Paralegal (PAR)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| IM 165 | Legal Office Environment ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 101 | Business Law ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| IM 111 | Computer Applications ( B) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| BUS 190 | Professional Practices ( B) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| IM 130 | Electronic Word Processing: Microsoft Word ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 130 | Estate Planning, Family and Probate Law ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 110 | Employment and Administrative Law ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| LAW 291 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Legal Assistant ( T) | 1 | 40 | 2 |
| MAT 1XX Mathematics Elective (G) | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| ACC 101 | Financial Accounting ( B) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| LAW 120 | Legal Research and Writing ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 150 | Bankruptcy, Debt Collection, and Secured Transactions ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| XXX XXX Social Science Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Communications Elective (B) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 5 | ||||
| LAW 292 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 2: Legal Assistant ( T) | 1 | 40 | 2 |
| XXX XXX Management Elective (B) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 6 | ||||
| LAW 210 | Litigation ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LAW 290 | Paralegal Capstone ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| XXX XXX Legal Specialty Elective (T) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| XXX XXX Arts/Humanities Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total Credits: | 56 | 93 | 63 | |
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Success Strategies: Overview | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies: Overview and Application | 2 |
| FYE 110 | College Success Strategies: Practice and Application | 3 |
| FYE 120 | College Success Strategies: Campus Integration | 4 |
| Mathematics Elective | ||
| MAT 105 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| MAT 131 | Statistics 1 | 3 |
| MAT 151 | College Algebra | 4 |
| Management Elective | ||
| MGT 101 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MGT 105 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Legal Specialty Elective (3 credit hours required) | ||
| CRJ 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 120 | Introduction to Courts | 3 |
| RE 105 | Real Estate Law | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective | ||
| Any Ohio Transfer 36 course from ART, MUS, THE, or ART 120, CULT, FRN, ITP, LIT, PHI, REL, SPN | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | ||
| Any Ohio Transfer 36 course from ECO, GEO, HST, LBR, POL, PSY, SOC | 3 | |
| Communications Elective | ||
| COMM 105 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
G = General Education course in this curriculum
B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum
T = Technical course in this curriculum
• This curriculum displays only course numbers without the added letter.
• The alternative version, when available, meets the requirements of the course version without the added letter.