Essex County College
Enroll at Essex County College Paralegal Program
What are Legal Assistants? Legal assistants, or paralegals, help qualified attorneys carry out a number of legal tasks, such as assisting with the preparation of legal documents, carrying out legal research, conducting interviews with clients and witnesses, and helping with many of the daily duties carried out in a lawyer's office. Potential employers include the legal departments of insurance companies, banks, corporations, government agencies and also law firms, title companies and federal courts
If I Major as a legal assistant, can I transfer to a higher university or four-year college? Although the program has been designed for entry-level employment as a paralegal, graduates are able to transfer to four-year colleges and universities with whom we have transfer and articulation agreements. Students who enroll in the legal assisting certificate course must have a minimum of an associate degree in any discipline. Your faculty advisor will be able to provide you with further information.
What requirements must I meet prior to taking courses in my major? You will require at least an associate degree in any subject.
How long does it take for the certificate program to be completed? If you take 2-3 courses in each of the three semesters then it should take you a year to complete the certificate program.
Once they have completed the program, graduates will be qualified to:
- Assume the position of legal assistant within our current legal system
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the legal system of the USA
- Possess a comprehensive understanding of the principles of legal ethics
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the principles of substantive law
- State legal principles both orally and in written form
- Be able to carry out research and to access and locate legal data both traditionally and electronically
- Possess a comprehensive understanding of the processes of law
