Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore City Community College

Become a paralegal specialist at Baltimore City Community College

The Legal Assistant, also known as a paralegal, supply a variety of invaluable services in private law firms, banks, insurance companies, corporations, governmental agencies, and offices. Paralegals are often involved in such work as conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, writing correspondence and managing the law office. Legal assistants will often find themselves investigating cases, interviewing clients and witnesses, and generally aiding attorneys in preparing for trials and hearings.

An AAS degree program and a certificate course of study are offered by Baltimore City Community College. General Law, Litigation and Business are the three legal disciplines in which an AAS degree may be obtained. Legal assistants aren't limited to an associate or bachelor's degree: some of them continue their education into law school.

Subjects and skills

Principles of law, writing, ethics, legal research and office procedures are covered in the first-level courses. Students take specialty courses at the advanced level, such as litigation, criminal procedure, real estate, business organization, and family law. A student can become educated in a specialized area of law as well. These areas are: estates and trusts, communications law, and environmental law. Students are required to complete a minimum of 90 hours of work under the supervision of an attorney in order to gain necessary experience.

A grade of "B" or higher is required by students in order to complete the following courses and continue in the program: ENG 101 (or its equivalent) and PLA 101 and/or with Coordinator approval.