Also see AA - Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Law firms, corporations and governmental agencies hire paralegals/legal assistants to manage an array of legal responsibilities under the direction and supervision of a licensed attorney. Paralegals must be proficient in computer skills, legal terminology and legal procedures. The AAS degree in Paralegal/ Legal Assistant provides excellent training in these areas and offers opportunities for specialization.
Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and Collin Paralegal/Legal Assistant programs entered an articulation agreement effective fall 1999, which establishes a plan for students to obtain an AAS degree from Collin and a Bachelor of Science in Government - Legal Studies Emphasis degree from TWU. A similar articulation agreement, effective fall 2004, has been established with Texas A&M University-Commerce for the Bachelor of Arts/Science in Political Science with Emphasis in Paralegal Studies degree.
Students planning to transfer to a college or university should check with the Collin academic advisor prior to beginning this program to verify course transferability.
Career Options
Employment opportunities for entry-level paralegals/legal assistants include the following:
• Law Firms
• Corporations
• Governmental agencies
Responsibilities routinely performed by paralegals/legal assistants include:
• Drafting legal documents
• Performing legal research
• Obtaining information relevant to cases
• Interviewing clients and witnesses
• Assisting with trial preparation
AAS – Paralegal/Legal Assistant
63 credit hours
First Year
First Semester
COSC 1300 Computers and Technology1
ENGL 1301 Composition/Rhetoric I2
LGLA 1307 Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions
MATH 1332 College Mathematics3
Elective* Technology Elective
Second Semester
ECON 1301 Introduction to Economics4
ENGL 1302 Composition/Rhetoric II
LGLA 1303 Legal Research
PSYC 2302 Applied Psychology5
Summer
HUMA 1301 Introduction to the Humanities
LGLA 1342 Federal Civil Litigation
Elective**
Second Year
First Semester
LGLA 1344 Texas Civil Litigation
LGLA 2303 Torts and Personal Injury Law
LGLA 2311 Business Organizations
SPCH 1311 Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Elective**
Second Semester
LGLA 1353 Wills, Trusts, and Probate Administration
LGLA 1355 Family Law
LGLA 2239 Certified Legal Assistant Review (Capstone)6
PHED/DANC Any activity course
Elective**
Note: Preferred core choices are underlined. See other options in AAS core, unless otherwise noted.
| 1 | May substitute BCIS 1305. If a student is planning further study in a business-related area, the student should take BCIS 1305 rather than COSC 1300. |
| 2 | Required; no options |
| 3 | May substitute MATH 1324 or MATH 1314 (recommended for transfer students) |
| 4 | May substitute ECON 2301 or ECON 2302 |
| 5 | May substitute ANTH 2351, GOVT 2301, GOVT 2302, HIST 1301, HIST 1302, HIST 2301, PSYC 2301, or SOCI 1301 |
| 6 | Successful completion of the AAS Paralegal/Legal Assistant program meets the current eligibility requirements needed to qualify to take the Certified Legal Assistant Examination; however, additional education or professional experience may be required in the future. |
| * | Technology Elective (3 credit hours): LGLA 2333 or POFI 1301 |
| ** | Electives (9 credit hours): BUSI 2301, CRIJ 1306, CRIJ 1310, LGLA 1343, LGLA 1380, LGLA 2307, LGLA 2333, or RELE 1311 |
Note: No substitutions permitted.
Certificate
Paralegal General Certificate
29 credit hours
First Semester
LGLA 1307 Introduction to Law and the Legal Professions
LGLA 1342 Federal Civil Litigation
LGLA 2303 Torts and Personal Injury Law
Elective* Technology Elective
Second Semester
LGLA 1353 Wills, Trusts, and Probate Administration
LGLA 1355 Family Law
LGLA 1344 Texas Civil Litigation
Elective** Law Elective
Third Semester
LGLA 1303 Legal Research
LGLA 2239 Certified Legal Assistant Review (Capstone) 1
| 1 | Successful completion of the Paralegal Certificate program does not, in and of itself, qualify a student to take the Certified Legal Assistant Examination. Additional education or professional experience may be required. |
| * | Technology Elective (3 credit hours): BCIS 1305, COSC 1300, LGLA 2333, or POFI 1301. If a student is planning further study in a business-related area, the student should take BCIS 1305 rather than COSC 1300. |
| ** | Law Elective (3 credit hours): BUSI 2301, CRIJ 1306, CRIJ 1310, LGLA 1343, LGLA 1380, LGLA 2307, LGLA 2311, LGLA 2333, or RELE 1311 |
Note: The second digit in a course number indicates the number of credit hours
for that course.
