Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 VSCC Catalog 
    
2015-2016 VSCC Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paralegal Studies - A.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by Degree Types

This program has been approved by the American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Legal Assistants (Committee Approval). Volunteer State is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. The College offers the program to prepare students for work in a legal environment as a paralegal/legal assistant, as well as to provide a general understanding of substantive and procedural legal principles for those planning to transfer to a four-year institution and possibly prepare to attend law school. Note that the American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Legal Assistants (Committee Approval) defines a legal assistant or a 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.”  Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

All Paralegal Studies students completing the A.S. degree program are required to take an exit exam for Paralegal Studies to assist in ABA review.  Graduation applicants must schedule the exam through the College Counseling and Testing Office located in Student Services.

Inasmuch as LAW courses are not universally transferable, a student who wishes to transfer from this program to a baccalaureate program is responsible for information about transferability of course work to a four year institution. Further, this program should be planned only with the assistance of the Paralegal Studies faculty.

Entry, retention, and graduation standards for this program include: completion of all Learning Support requirements (except Learning Support mathematics); completion of ENGL 1010, LAW 103, and LAW 101 with a final grade of “C” or better as requirement for enrollment in further law courses; completion of an interview with the Paralegal Studies Coordinator; and no grade below “C” in any LAW course.

General Education Requirements - Credits (41)


  • History  Credits: (6)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts [Must include at least one Literature]  Credits: (9)
  • Natural Sciences  Credits: (8)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences  Credits: (6)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60)


Computer Literacy Requirement


See http://www.volstate.edu/ComputerLiteracy/ for Computer Literacy Requirements

Career and Salary Information


Career Beginning Salary with Bachelor Degree Experienced Salary with Bachelor Degree
Paralegal $34,000 $47,570
Legal Assistant $30,000 $42,390
Public Sector/Government $28,000 $35,130

Career and salary information taken from onetonline.org. Check out this website for additional information about education requirements and preferred work styles and abilities for these careers.  Salaries are not guaranteed.

Recommended Schedule


This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule.  See your advisor to create a degree plan.

First Year - Fall Semester (14)


  • History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester (15)


  • History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)

Second Year - Fall Semester (15)


  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts (Literature - See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Natural Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog)  Credits: (3)

Second Year - Spring Semester (16)


  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Natural Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by Degree Types