Nov 23, 2024  
2022-2023 College Catalog 
    
2022-2023 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paralegal Studies (AS)


Division of Business & Professional Studies

For students interested in the law, the paralegal profession is a great start to an exciting, challenging, and lucrative field. This program teaches students to prepare and draft legal documents, investigate and research legal issues, interview clients and witnesses, and render practical procedural assistance in law-related matters. This program combines a college curriculum of business, liberal arts, and legal courses, as well as hands-on experience in a law firm.

Students also receive training in a variety of on-line research methods used in many law offices that provide the legal researcher with immediate access to cases, statutes, administrative regulations, and numerous other authorities.

Upon successful completion, the Associate in Science Degree in Paralegal Studies is awarded.

Program Outcomes

Program learning outcomes available by clicking here.

Unauthorized Practice of Law Statement

A paralegal may work only under the supervision of an attorney and is not authorized to engage in the practice of law. The American Bar Association defines paralegal as “a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

credits: 16


First Year: Semester 2


credits: 16


Second Year: Semester 1


credits: 15


Second Year: Semester 2


credits: 15/16


Total Credits: 62/63


* Courses must be taken first semester

** Fall semester only

*** PA 100 , PA 104 , and PA 201  are pre-requisites for PA 251 PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP 

Program Notes


This program qualifies as an Alternative Transfer Agreement (MassTransfer) with select public institutions in Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

Humanities Electives:


Art, Communications, English (EN 103 or higher), ESL 101 or higher (up to 6 credits), Film, Foreign Language, Humanities, Literature, Music, Oral Communication, Philosophy, Photography, Sign Language, Theater Arts

Math/Science Electives:


Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Integrated Science, 100-level Mathematics or higher (not MAC), Physics

Social Science Electives:


Anthropology, Geography, Government, History, Law, Psychology, Sociology

Graduation Competency


Quantitative skills is a MassBay graduation competency for associate degree programs. Prior to graduation, students must demonstrate this competency by completing a 100-level math course (not MAC); or placing into a 200-level mathematics course.