A Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program in Spring 2016. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The Westchester Community College Paralegal Program is approved by the American Bar Association. The goal of the Paralegal Program is to provide students with substantive knowledge of the law, together with hands-on working experience, which will enable them to work ethically under the supervision of an attorney in the public or private sector.

The Paralegal Program provides graduates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform competently as paralegals in law-related occupations under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals work in all phases of practice except providing legal advice to clients, appearing in court, and setting fees. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that legal occupations will grow faster than the average for all occupations in the economy through 2018. Employment opportunities exist in government agencies and court systems, law offices, banks, insurance and title companies, as well as in the contract or legal departments of various other government and business enterprises.

Students entering into the Paralegal Certificate Program must have obtained at least 60 college credits from an accredited institution, eighteen hours of which must be in general education as defined by the American Bar Association. The certificate can be earned in two semesters of full-time study or on a part-time basis determined by the student (not to exceed three years).

Program of Study

• PRLGL 101 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies *
• PRLGL 102 - Legal Research & Writing
• PRLGL 106 - Litigation
• PRLGL 116 - Computer Applications for the Law Office
• Paralegal Electives (15 credits, see options below)
• PRLGL 118 - Paralegal Internship OR an additional Paralegal Elective (3 credits, see options below)

Minimum Total Credits - 30

Educational Plan: The Educational Plan is an advisement tool that provides important information to students about how to complete this degree. Click here to Download the Educational Plan .

Gainful Employment Disclosure

For information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who have completed this program, and other important information please visit Paralegal Certificate - GE Disclosure. For an overview of all gainful employment disclosures at Westchester Community College, visit www.sunywcc.edu/gainfulemployment.