The Paralegal associate in science program prepares students to begin a dynamic career in the legal field and/or continue their education at a four-year institution. This program provides students with a solid foundation in principles, practices, and procedures in legal research and writing and various areas of law. Our graduates pursue successful careers in law firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, and many continue on to law school. 

Paralegal Portfolio requirement: For students enrolling in the Paralegal Studies program, the completion of a portfolio of their coursework will be required to graduate.

Details on what must be included in the portfolio can be found on the program's webpage.

Note: Many courses require prerequisites, corequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for detail.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in conducting legal research using various resources, including online databases and legal libraries. (Legal Research Skills)
2. Effectively draft and prepare legal documents, such as contracts, pleadings, and motions, ensuring adherence to proper legal formatting and terminology. (Document Preparation)
3. Exhibit a thorough understanding of court procedures and the legal system, including the substantive elements of civil and criminal law and processes, and the roles of different legal professionals. (Understanding of Legal Procedures)
4. Understand ethical standards and professional responsibility in the legal profession. (Ethics and Professionalism)
5. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in the legal environment. (Communication Skills)
6. Apply critical thinking skills in the reading and analysis of legal materials. (Critical Thinking)

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Requirements
BIOL 1007	Explorations in Biology	4
COMM 1010	Communication Fundamentals^	3
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A)	3
MATH 1139	Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (or MATH 1139C)	3
PSYC 2010	General Psychology	4
SOCS 1010	General Sociology	3
Choose one of the following:		3
ECON 2030	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2040	Principles of Macroeconomics
SOCS 2300	Criminology
Choose one of the following:		3
HIST 1220	History of the United States from 1877
POLS 2010	International Relations
SOCS 2040	Race and Ethnic Relations
Choose one of the following:		3
POLS 1010	American Government and Politics
POLS 2110	Modern Political Ideologies
Subtotal		29
Major Education Requirements
BUSN 1000	Workplace Relationships	3
BUSN 1015	Business Computing Applications	3
LAWS 1010	Criminal Law	3
LAWS 1080	Introduction to Law and Legal Studies	3
LAWS 2020	Basic Civil Procedures for Legal Professionals	3
LAWS 2040	Law in Contemporary Society	3
LAWS 2050	Law of Contracts	3
LAWS 2070	Law of Business Organization	3
LAWS 2090	Legal Research and Writing I^	3
LAWS 2095	Legal Research and Writing II^	3
LAWS 2100	Tort and Personal Injury Law	3
Subtotal		33
Total Hours		62

^

Work-based learning course

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Semester 1		Hours
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A)	3
LAWS 1010	Criminal Law	3
LAWS 1080	Introduction to Law and Legal Studies	3
MATH 1139	Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (or MATH 1139C)	3
SOCS 1010	General Sociology	3
	Hours	15
Semester 2
COMM 1010	Communication Fundamentals^	3
LAWS 2020	Basic Civil Procedures for Legal Professionals	3
LAWS 2040	Law in Contemporary Society	3
LAWS 2090	Legal Research and Writing I^	3
Choose ONE of the following:		3
ECON 2030	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2040	Principles of Macroeconomics
SOCS 2300	Criminology
	Hours	15
Year 2
Semester 1
BUSN 1000	Workplace Relationships	3
BUSN 1015	Business Computing Applications	3
LAWS 2050	Law of Contracts	3
LAWS 2070	Law of Business Organization	3
PSYC 2010	General Psychology	4
	Hours	16
Semester 2
BIOL 1007	Explorations in Biology	4
LAWS 2095	Legal Research and Writing II^	3
LAWS 2100	Tort and Personal Injury Law	3
Choose ONE of the following:		3
HIST 1220	History of the United States from 1877
POLS 2010	International Relations
SOCS 2040	Race and Ethnic Relations
Choose ONE of the following:		3
POLS 1010	American Government and Politics
POLS 2110	Modern Political Ideologies
	Hours	16
	Total Hours	62

^

Work-based learning course

Transfer

Please meet with an Academic Advisor/Student Success Coach if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. Your Academic Advisor will help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Check out the Joint Admissions Agreement if you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island. The JAA program offers seamless transfer to RIC or URI with additional benefits. Transfer information, events, and articulations are available on the Transfer Center website.