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2021-2022 SLCC General Catalog [**** ATTENTION: YOU ARE VIEWING AN ARCHIVED CATALOG ****]

Paralegal Studies: AAS (CTE)

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Associate of Applied Science | 64 credits minimum

Accounting, Finance and Legal Studies Division
Taylorsville Redwood Campus BB 111A
South City Campus
General Information 801-957-4073
Program Information 801-957-4990
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising

Program Faculty
Professors − KC Jensen
Associate Professors − L. Monte Sleight, Sharee Laidlaw

Program Description
This program is designed for those considering employment as a paralegal, who wish to update their professional development, or for those already in the field.  A paralegal is a person qualified through education, training and work experience, who under direction and supervision of an attorney performs delegated legal work for the attorney or law firm, which the attorney otherwise would perform.  Although a paralegal is not licensed to practice law, he or she completes tasks traditionally performed by an attorney, with the exceptions of giving legal advice, independently representing clients, and any other unauthorized practice of law.  The Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies has been reviewed and approved by the American Bar Association.  General Education requirements and elective courses provide training in effective oral and written communication, and human relation skills.  Various courses are taught using group and team activities in the learning process to develop the student’s interactive skills and to build human values and ethics.

Career Opportunities
Employment as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Other: Approx. $240 for Westlaw Fees

Estimated Time to Completion
Four semesters

Specialized Accreditation
The American Bar Association does not offer accreditation, instead the ABA offer status as an approved program. This AAS degree has been approved by the American Bar Association.

Program Student Learning Outcomes Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
  1 - Acquire substantive knowledge
2 - Communicate effectively
3 - Develop quantitative literacies
4 - Think critically & creatively
5 - Become a community engaged learner
6 - Work in professional & constructive manner
7 - Develop computer & information literacy

Interview clients and witnesses and appropriately interact with clients.
Comply with the litigation process.
Use traditional and electronic resources to conduct legal research.
Draft Legal Documents.
Understand basic substantive and procedural legal principles.

1

Communicate effectively orally
Communicate effectively in writing

2

Perform Appropriate Calculations

3

Extract relevant data from complex information, process it appropriately, and draw reasonable conclusions.

4

Strive for excellence by developing a strong work ethic and consciously doing their best.
Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning relating to legal environments.

5

Recognize potential ethical issues in the practice of the law and apply appropriate rules of professional responsibility.

6

Use contemporary computer hardware and software to effectively complete college-level assignments.
Gather and analyze information using technology, library resources and other modalities.
Understand the purpose and basic navigation of legal software commonly used by paralegals.

7

General Education Requirements

Core Skills

Composition (EN) 1 course

Quantitative Studies (QS) 1 course

Communication (CM) 1 course

Human Relations (HR) 1 course

Distribution Areas

Choose 2 courses from the following Distribution Areas

Required Courses (30 Credits)

Note

*Courses with an asterisk (*) must be completed with a B- or better.  All other required Courses must be completed with a C or better.

**It is highly recommended that students take LS 1010 & LS 1030 before LS 1040.

***Three credits of LS 2000 Legal Studies Co-op can be used to meet the required course requirement. Up to six credits of additional LS 2000 can be used to fulfill elective course requirements. However, a single three credit LS 2000 class cannot be used to meet both required and elective credit. Students may complete one 6-hour co-op and split the credits between the two categories.

Please note, at least 75% of Courses in the Required section must be completed at SLCC or from a Paralegal Studies program approved by the American Bar Association. All transfer credit will be at the discretion of LS faculty.

Elective Courses (15 credits)

Select from the following:

Graduation Map

Advising Notes

The following courses require a B- grade or higher: LS 1010 , LS 1030 , LS 1040  and LS 2040 . Students are also required to earn a grade of C or higher in Paralegal Program electives.

General Education requirements and elective courses provide training in effective oral and written communication, and human relations skills. Various courses are taught using team activities in the learning process to develop the student’s interactive skills and to build human relations skills.

It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of prerequisite classes.  Those prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated class may be taken.  Students who need to take preparatory classes to meet the requirements for first semester courses should plan on extra time to complete the program.

Cooperative Education is the College’s program for recognizing and rewarding new learning associated with study-related employment in a business, industrial or government work environment.  Credit earned from LS 2000  is applied toward graduation requirements as both an alternative required class or as an elective credit.  Contact the Cooperative Education Department at (801) 957-4014.

The Legal Studies Department strongly recommends that students enhance their employment opportunities through Cooperative Education as soon as skills permit, to complement the certificate or degree.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree has been reviewed and approved by the American Bar Association.

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