Paralegal/Legal Assisting [2018] +

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Associate in Science Degree

(64 Credit Hours)

Program Manager

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

Program Goal

To educate paralegals with an effective balance of legal knowledge and practical skills. To prepare the student for work in the legal profession upon graduation and to sit for the National Legal Assistant Certification Exam. This program is considered to be substantially in compliance with ABA guidelines for paralegal education by the American Association for Paralegal Education.

Program Entrance Requirements

To be admitted to the Legal Assisting Program, a student must have:

A standard high school diploma.
Achieved a level of mathematics proficiency that qualifies the student for entry into +MAC 1105 or higher, as demonstrated by the standard placement criteria currently in use at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF);
Achieved a level of English and reading proficiency that qualifies the student for entry into ENC 1101 or higher, as demonstrated by the standard placement criteria currently in use at SCF; and
Successfully completed Introduction to Legal Systems (PLA 1003) with a grade of “C” or better.
The successful completion of Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Microsoft Word 2007 or higher version.

General Academic Courses

Students may take these courses at any time during their program of study.

ENC 1101 - Written Communication I (3 Credit Hours)
Mathematics Choose from Area II, A.S. (3 Credit Hours) +**
POS 1041 - American Government (3 Credit Hours)
CGS 1570 - Integrated Business Apps Software (3 Credit Hours)
SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 Credit Hours) OR
SPC 1300 - Interpersonal Communication (3 Credit Hours)
Behav. Sci. Choose from Area III, A.S. (3 Credit Hours) **
Humanities Choose from Area IV, A.S. (3 Credit Hours) **

Total Credit Hours: 21

Program Core Courses**

Please consult the course description section of the Catalog for any prerequisites. Students should take these courses in sequence if possible.

PLA 1003 - Introduction to Legal Systems (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2001 - General Law (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2800 - Introduction to Family Law (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2763 - Law Office Management (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2303 - Criminal Law and Procedures (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 1104 - Legal Research and Writing I (3 Credit Hours)
LIS 2004 - Introduction to Internet Research (1 Credit Hour)
PLA 2433 - Corporations and Business Organizations (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2600 - Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2732 - Law Office Computer Applications (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 1610 - Real Property Law/Transactions (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2203 - Civil Litigation I (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2223 - Civil Litigation II (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2949 - Internship in Paralegal/Legal Assisting (3 Credit Hours)

Electives (3 Credit Hours):

Choose one from:

PLA 2114 - Legal Research and Writing II (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 2612 - Real Estate II: From Contract to Closing (3 Credit Hours)
PLA 1949 - Career Decision Work Experience in Legal Assisting (1 to 3 variable Credit Hours)
PLA 2950 - Professional Responsibilities (3 Credit Hours)
ACG 2021C - Principles of Financial Accounting (4 Credit Hours)
APA 1111 - Introduction to Accounting (3 Credit Hours)
BSC 2085C - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 Credit Hours)
BUL 2131 - Legal Environments of Business (3 Credit Hours)
CCJ 1600 - Deviant Behavior (3 Credit Hours)
GEB 2210 - Business Presentations and Communications (3 Credit Hours)
HSC 2531 - Understanding Medical Language (2 Credit Hours)
INP 1390 - Human Relations (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 43

Note(s):

The Legal Assisting Program has a recommended sequence that includes both general and specialized program courses.

Please see the Paralegal/Legal Assisting Program manager for additional information.

** A grade of “C” or better must be attained for each core course and the courses meeting the general education requirements for this degree.

⁺ Effective Fall 2013, no new students are being accepted into an A.A.S. degree program. Students currently enrolled will have two years (Summer 2015) to complete the A.A.S. specific requirements of the program. The only difference of the A.A.S. from the A.S. curriculum for this particular program is that of one math course MAT 1033 or QMB 1001 .

Articulated credit from a technical institute/secondary school may be applicable. Contact the SCF associate vice president for corporate and community development for more information.

A related certificate also is offered. See certificate listing.