Paralegal/Legal Assisting [4004]

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Advanced Technical Certificate

(25 Credit Hours)

Program Manager

Suzanne Bechtol
941-752-5359, Bradenton
941-408-1300, ext. 65359, Venice
bechtos@scf.edu

The Legal Assisting/Paralegal Advanced Technical certificate is designed to enable students who already hold any college degree (other than the legal assisting A.S./A.A.S. degree) to take paralegal training at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) and qualify to take the National Paralegal Certification (CLA) exam. It further prepares those students for work of a legal nature in law offices, corporations or government agencies.

Program Requirements

PLA 1003 - Introduction to Legal Systems (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2001 - General Law (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 1104 - Legal Research and Writing I (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2433 - Corporations and Business Organizations (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2732 - Law Office Computer Applications (3 Credit Hours)
LIS 2004 - Introduction to Internet Research (1 Credit Hour)

Electives (9 Credit Hours)

Choose three courses from the following list based on area of work interest:

PLA 1610 - Real Property Law/Transactions (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2114 - Legal Research and Writing II (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2203 - Civil Litigation I (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2223 - Civil Litigation II (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2303 - Criminal Law and Procedures (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2600 - Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2763 - Law Office Management (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2800 - Introduction to Family Law (3 Credit Hours)
APA 1111 - Introduction to Accounting (3 Credit Hours)
ACG 2021C - Principles of Financial Accounting (4 Credit Hours) OR
BUL 2131 - Legal Environments of Business (3 Credit Hours)
GEB 2210 - Business Presentations and Communications (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2612 - Real Estate II: From Contract to Closing (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2950 - Professional Responsibilities (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 1949 - Career Decision Work Experience in Legal Assisting (1 to 3 variable Credit Hours)
PLA 2949 - Internship in Paralegal/Legal Assisting (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 25

Note(s):

A grade of “C” or better must be attained for each course taken for this certificate. It also is recommended that job-seeking students complete SLS 1350 - Job Marketing Skills (1 credit).