Associate of Arts with Emphasis in Paralegal
The expanding role of the paralegal in the delivery of legal services has created increased opportunities with private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title firms, banks, and government agencies. If you are interested in entering this career field, you should be aware that although the number of jobs for trained paralegals is rising, competition for these positions is increasing. A minimum of 18 hours of legal specialty courses must be taken at Johnson County Community College. Please contact Anita Tebbe for more information. The Legal Studies Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
PARALEGALS MAY NOT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICE DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW.
JCCC, as an ABA approved paralegal program, requires its students to take at least ten semester credits through traditional classroom instruction.
The paralegal program at JCCC
- Has a challenging curriculum
- Requires that you possess excellent communication skills, analytical ability and a high level of motivation
- Is approved by the American Bar Association
- Is a selective admission program based on various academic and testing criteria
IMPORTANT - Students planning to graduate with a Paralegal degree must complete one of the approved cultural diversity courses. Some of the approved courses are able to meet both the cultural diversity requirement and a general education requirement. To see a complete list of approved courses, click on the link provided below.
Cultural Diversity Course Requirement
Suggested Sample Course Sequence
Students may take any number of courses each semester that will also allow them to fulfill their other personal and professional responsibilities.
(Major Code 264A; State CIP Code 22.0302)
Associate of Arts Degree
Prerequisites: Prior to admission
| ENGL 121 | Composition I* | 3 |
| LAW 121 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| LAW 123 | Paralegal Professional Studies | 1 |
| Total Hours | 7 | |
First Semester
| SPD 120 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| or SPD 121 | Public Speaking | |
| or SPD 125 | Personal Communication | |
| Humanities Elective ^ | 3 | |
| Social Science and/or Economics Electives ^^ | 3 | |
| Science and Mathematics Electives ^^^ | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
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Second Semester
Following admission to the paralegal program:
| Paralegal Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| ENGL 122 | Composition II* | 3 |
| LAW 134 | Introduction to Legal Technology* | 3 |
| LAW 132 | Civil Litigation* | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Third Semester
| Paralegal Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Humanities Elective ^ | 3 | |
| LAW 195 | Legal Research | 3 |
| Science and Mathematics Elective ^^ | 3 | |
| Health and/or Physical Education Elective ^^^ | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
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Fourth Semester
| Paralegal Electives (see below) | 2 | |
| LAW 271 | Legal Ethics, Interviewing and Investigation* | 3 |
| LAW 205 | Legal Analysis and Writing* | 3 |
| LAW 201 | Advanced Legal Technology* | 3 |
| Science and Mathematics Electives ^ | 3 | |
| Social Science and/or Economics Electives ^^ | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
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Paralegal Electives
| LAW 140 | Alternative Dispute Resolution* | 3 |
| LAW 142 | Torts* | 3 |
| LAW 148 | Criminal Litigation | 3 |
| LAW 152 | Real Estate Law | 3 |
| LAW 162 | Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 165 | Forensic Science and the Law | 3 |
| LAW 171 | Law Office Management | 3 |
| LAW 175 | Environmental Policy and Law | 3 |
| LAW 212 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| LAW 226 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 241 | Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration | 3 |
| LAW 245 | Elder Law | 3 |
| LAW 247 | Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| LAW 266 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 269 | Bankruptcy Law | 3 |
| LAW 270 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 275 | Paralegal Internship I | 1 |
| LAW 276 | Paralegal Internship II* | 1 |
Total Program Hours: 64