Program
Two Options:
For students who already have have a bachelor degree or higher, the Advanced Certificate program requires the completion of twelve, 3 credit hour law courses in order to obtain the Paralegal Advanced Technical Certificate.
Advanced Technical Certificate
For students who do not have a bachelor degree or higher, the associate degree program requires the completion of twenty-two, 3 credit hour courses in order to obtain the Associate of Applied Science Degree as a Paralegal. The twenty-two courses consist of seven general studies courses such as English Composition I and Texas and Local Government, and fifteen law courses. The general studies courses required for the associate degree program may be taken during the day or in the evening; however, the law courses may only be taken in the evening and Saturday mornings.
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Although students are required to complete certain prerequisites before attempting the more advanced law courses, there is no requirement that any particular number of courses be taken per semester and students are allowed to complete the program at their own pace. Individuals who have already completed college credit courses may be given credit for many or all of the seven general studies courses in the degree program.
Legal Specialty Transfer Policy
The following legal specialty courses must be taken in the traditional classroom setting or by synchronous instruction:
- LGLA 1313-Introduction to Paralegal Studies
- LGLA 1303-Legal Research
- LGLA 1345-Civil Litigation
Only 9 (nine) Legal Specialty course credit hours may be transferred into the ACC Paralegal Studies Program. Those courses must be approved by the Department Chair, not have been taken online, must have been prepared specifically for paralegal students, must be substantially the same as the ACC designated course, must be accredited by a regional accreditation and must have been passed with a grade of “C” or better. Civil Litigation courses taken in another state will have to be repeated at this campus.
Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes:
(1) Students will identify relevant legal concepts and apply them to changing fact patterns.
(2) Students will draft documents used in a broad range of legal environments.
(3) Students will perform as entry-level paralegals in a broad range of legal environments.
(4) Students will perform legal research.