Mar 29, 2024  
Fall 2016 Course Catalog 
    
Fall 2016 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paralegal A.A.S.


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School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Behavioral/Social Science
HEGIS: 5099
Chair: Prof. Kristyan Rose Gilmore
Telephone: 914-606-6972
Email: kristyan.gilmore@sunywcc.edu

A Note about Program Requirements


The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program in Fall 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.

Program Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

  1. Demonstrate the skills necessary to work in an ethical manner in a law office under the supervision of an attorney.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the state and federal court systems.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of legal terminology, substantive law, and legal procedures necessary for a successful legal career.
  4. Demonstrate competency and broad foundational knowledge in the general education curriculum as required by Westchester Community College.

Related Resources


General Education Requirements - 25 Credits


Students are required to fulfill a certain number of credits within the specific categories shown below. Where specific courses are not listed within these categories, courses must be selected from the list of SUNY General Education Courses .

Humanities (3 credits)


Mathematics (3 credits)


Natural Sciences (4 credits)


Social Sciences (3 credits)


The Arts, Foreign Language, or Other World Civilizations (3 credits)


  • Select a course from ONE of the following categories:

                    The Arts - see SUNY General Education Courses  
                    Foreign Languages - see SUNY General Education Courses 
                    Other World Civilizations - see SUNY General Education Courses  

Degree Requirements - 35 Credits


Minimum Total Credits - 60


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 .

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