Paralegal Studies Certificate Requirements: 6 courses, 24 credits
Certificate students must achieve a GPA of at least 2.0 in their LAWU classes in order to receive a certificate.
Any student who wants to earn a paralegal certificate can do so by adding the paralegal certificate and fulfilling the requirements for the paralegal certificate degree. This would be in addition to the student’s chosen major(s).
Current undergraduates who complete the requirements for the paralegal certificate will have both their baccalaureate degree and the paralegal certificate conferred at the same time, once all requirements for both have been completed.
Students who major in Law in order to earn a BA or BS in Law cannot also earn a paralegal certificate, nor is there any need for them to do so. The BA or BS (12 required courses) provides a more in-depth education in the law than the paralegal certificate (6 required courses) does.
Any student who has already graduated with a baccalaureate degree from Suffolk or another university, must apply through the admissions office to be admitted to the paralegal certificate program.
It is strongly advised that students interested in the Paralegal Certificate see a Law program advisor as early as possible to plan accordingly.
Core Requirements (5 courses, 20 credits)
Elective (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
Notes:
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Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
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Law majors and Law minors cannot apply to the Paralegal Studies Certificate program.
About the Paralegal Studies Certificate
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this certificate program.
View the Program Page
Paralegal Studies Certificate Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
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Learning Goals
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Learning Objectives
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Students will...
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Students will be able to...
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Understand legal concepts
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- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Use critical thinking skills
- Be effective legal researchers
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Understand ethical behavior in the workplace
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- Make ethical decisions in the workplace
- Appreciate the importance of professional ethics and demonstrate the understanding of the code of ethics which apply to attorneys as well as paralegals
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Understand legal analysis and research
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- Effectively use legal research tools, including technology
- Master new resources, including secondary authority, legislative histories, and administrative materials
- Understand legal analytic method
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Understand legal procedure and the role of the paralegal in the American legal system
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- Analyze the rules of precedent in substantive legal areas
- Apply legal principles to real life cases
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About the Paralegal Studies Certificate
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this certificate program.
View the Program Page