Community College of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia developed a program approved by the American Bar Association and once you complete the Paralegal Studies program you will receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. This means that you have a strong law background and that you have developed a few practical skills that will help you be a great paralegal.

If you want to transfer to a four-year institution in a law-related program or to become a legal assistant for a mid-size firm, government or public and private agencies, then this is the best option for you to choose.

Here at the Community College of Philadelphia you will work closely with a licensed attorney but you must be aware that you are prohibited from practicing law.

If you are identified as needing developmental course work then you must take English and mathematics courses even if they will not count toward the degree.

In order to graduate you will need at least 60 credits, a grade of C or better in all Paralegal Studies courses and a grade point average of 2.0.

You should know that some courses may be substituted if your program coordinator and the Dean of Liberal Studies agreed.

During five academic years, the student must complete all paralegal courses without any inconsistency and in complete accordance with the professional standards.

When completing the Paralegal Studies program, the students will be ready to work as a entry-level paralegal, better understand the connections between ethics and legal profession and also demonstrate they can use perfectly the legal terminology in all practice areas. They will also be able to draft legal documents, conduct legal research, handle correctly all tasks of an entry-level paralegal and last but not least prove they've developed legal analytical skills and writing skills.