Paralegal Certificate
You must have completed an associate of arts, associate of science, bachelor's, or graduate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution to apply to the Paralegal Certificate program. The prerequisite courses must each be completed with a grade of "C" or higher either prior to admission to the paralegal program or during the first semester in the Paralegal Certificate program. A minimum of 18 hours of legal specialty courses must be taken from Johnson County Community College. JCCC, as an American Bar Association-approved paralegal program, requires its students to take at least nine semester credits through synchronous (real-time) instruction, which may occur on campus or online. Please contact Gwenda Hawk for more information.
PARALEGALS MAY NOT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW.
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
Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all LAW courses.
Suggested Order of Courses
Students may take any number of courses each semester that will also allow them to fulfill their other personal and professional responsibilities.
(Major Code 489A; State CIP Code 22.0302)
Program Prerequisites
| LAW 120 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies | 3 |
| LAW 121 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
First Semester
| LAW 132 | Civil Litigation* | 3 |
| LAW 134 | Introduction to Legal Technology* | 3 |
| LAW 195 | Legal Research* | 3 |
| Paralegal Elective (see below) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Second Semester
| LAW 201 | Advanced Legal Technology* | 3 |
| LAW 205 | Legal Analysis and Writing* | 3 |
| LAW 271 | Legal Ethics, Interviewing and Investigation* | 3 |
| Paralegal Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Paralegal Electives
| LAW 142 | Tort Law* | 3 |
| LAW 144 | Contract Law* | 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 226 | Immigration Law* | 3 |
| LAW 245 | Elder Law and Estate Planning* | 3 |
| LAW 247 | Intellectual Property Law* | 3 |
| LAW 266 | Employment Law* | 3 |
| LAW 269 | Bankruptcy Law* | 3 |
| LAW 275 | Paralegal Internship I* | 1 |
| LAW 276 | Paralegal Internship II* | 1 |
| LAW 277 | Paralegal Internship III* | 1 |
| LAW 292 | Special Topics:* | 3 |
Total Program Hours: 33