Legal Studies
Associate Degree Program
The practice of law is comprised of a team including paralegals. In modern law offices, paralegals are assuming a growing range of legal duties and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. Delaware Tech’s ABA-approved Legal Studies program will prepare you to use a range of research methods and information necessary to complete a variety of legal activities including producing the documents necessary for a functioning law office. To supplement classroom knowledge and applications, you’ll also be required to complete an internship allowing you to gain the valuable work experience that employers seek. As a graduate of the program, you’ll be able to pursue career opportunities in federal, state and local governmental agencies, law firms, the court system, banks, insurance companies, private business, and corporations.
Students must take a minimum of 9 semester credits of legal specialty courses through traditional on campus face-to-face or synchronous web conferencing class instruction.
Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as provided by law.
Offered at the following campus(es): Dover, Georgetown
What You Can Do
In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions such as:
- Paralegal
- Legal assistant
- Legal office manager
- Legal records clerk
What You Will Learn
Program Graduate Competencies
The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.
- Explain the present and potential role of the paralegal within the legal system.
- Produce documents necessary for a functioning law office.
- Comply with the profession's Code of Ethics within the legal system.
- Use a range of research methods and information necessary to complete a variety of legal activities.
- Apply acquired knowledge of legal specialty areas in the workplace.
Core Curriculum Competencies
The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
Semester 1
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SSC 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
PLG 170 | Intro to Legal System | 3 |
OAT 157 | Word Level I | 3 |
MAT 152 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Semester 3
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 124 | Oral Communications | 3 |
ACC 101 | Accounting I | 3 |
PLG 280 | Legal Research & Writing | 3 |
ECO 111 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Elective | Support Elective | 4/3 |
Semester 4
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
POL 111 | Political Science | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
Elective | Legal Elective | 3 |
PLG 290 | Paralegal Internship | 4 |
Approved Electives
Select seven (7) legal electives.
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PLG 160 | Family Law | 3 |
PLG 172 | Law of Simple Contracts | 3 |
PLG 175 | Estate Administration and Probate | 3 |
PLG 270 | Criminal Law and Investigative Procedures | 3 |
PLG 271 | Real Property Law | 3 |
PLG 273 | Civil Procedure | 3 |
PLG 274 | Torts | 3 |
PLG 276 | Business Entities | 3 |
PLG 285 | Law Office Management & Procedures | 3 |
Select one (1) support elective.
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ACC 162 | Computerized Accounting | 3 |
OAT 251 | Access | 3 |
OAT 152 | Excel | 3 |
OAT 258 | Word Level II | 3 |
OAT 159 | PowerPoint | 3 |
OAT 240 | Integrated Business Applications | 3 |
CLT 110 | Cross-Cultural Immersion | 3 |
SPA 133 | Using Beginning Spanish | 3 |
SPA 136 | Spanish Communication I | 4 |
BIO 100 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 63 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).
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Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?
This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!
Jennifer Morton
Department Chair and Program Director
jmorton9@51jiyangshi.com
(302)259-6669
The Dover campus program is approved by the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission; 321 North Clark Street; Chicago, Illinois 60654-7598; (312) 988-5617.
Jennifer Morton
Department Chair and Program Director
jmorton9@51jiyangshi.com
(302)259-6669
The Georgetown campus program is approved by the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission; 321 North Clark Street; Chicago, Illinois 60654-7598; (312) 988-5617.
This program is offered at the Dover and Georgetown campuses.