Description of Program
Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), the fully online Paralegal Certificate curriculum at John F. Kennedy School of Law at NCU enables students with the practical skills, knowledge, and values necessary to become effective members of a legal team. Outstanding and credentialed faculty from legal professions across the nation guide students in their coursework and support the student’s professional goals. The certificate program combines foundational substantive law and cutting-edge topics and technology.
The Paralegal Certificate (Generalist) curriculum includes 9 core legal specialty courses plus a choice of focus courses. Students are able to complete the certificate program in one year. The Paralegal Certificate (Generalist) can also be applied to the BA in Legal Studies found here , cutting completion time for the bachelor’s degree in half!, Students interested in a technology specialization can review the Paralegal Certificate with an embedded Advanced Legal Technology concentration here .
Our curriculum requires that students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.
Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Not sure what you can do with a Paralegal Certificate? Click Here for a list of careers that use the skills learned in the program.
Click here for potential career opportunities within the PLS.
Note: The Paralegal Certificate program is not enrolling new students for the June 27, 2022 start.
Learning Outcomes
The Paralegal Certificate program will enable students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and values to become an effective member of the legal team.
Upon successful completion of their course of study, students should be able to:
- Conduct legal research using appropriate sources and databases.
- Apply legal analysis to predict outcomes to specific factual situations.
- Articulate legal analysis through written and oral communications.
- Use software applications commonly utilized in a legal environment.
- Draft legal documents.
- Describe the ethical obligations and limitations of legal professionals in specific factual situations.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have minimum of 36 semester credits of college transferable credit which include at least 18 semester credits of general education in three categories. A minimum of 3 credits of freshman English or college composition must be completed with a C or better prior to admission.
For consideration into the program, applicants must submit an application, forward official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended and complete the specific writing sample contained in the admissions packet for the program.
Academic Calendar 2022/2023
2022
| Spring Semester 1- Term A 2022 (January 10 – March 27) |
- Registration opens - December 13
- Courses start - January 10
- Courses end - March 27
|
| Spring Semester 2 - Term B 2022 (April 4 - June 19) |
- Registration opens - March 7
- Courses start - April 4
- Courses end - June 19
|
| Fall Semester 1 - Term C 2022 (June 27 - September 18) |
- Registration opens - June 6
- Courses start - June 27
- Courses end - September 18
|
| Fall Semester 2- Term D 2022 (September 26 - December 11) |
- Registration opens - August 29
- Courses start - September 26
- Courses end - December 11
|
2023
| Spring Semester 1- Term A 2023 (January 9 – March 26) |
- Registration opens - December 12
- Courses start - January 9
- Courses end - March 26
|
| Spring Semester 2- Term B 2023 (April 3 - June 18) |
- Registration opens - March 6
- Courses start - April 3
- Courses end - June 18
|
| Fall Semester 1 - Term C 2023 (June 26 - September 17) |
- Registration opens - June 5
- Courses start - June 26
- Courses ends - September 17
|
| Fall Semester 2 - Term D 2023 (September 25 - December 10) |
- Registration opens - August 28
- Courses start - September 25
- Courses end - December 10
|
Certificate Requirements
The Paralegal Certificate (Generalist) requires 25 semester credit hours.
- A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 (letter grade of “C”), or higher is required to remain in academic good standing and to be eligible for graduation
- Official transcripts are required to be on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University before a student can begin classes
- All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma and/or degree posted transcript
- Official documents must be on file demonstrating all requirements of basis for admissions have been met
Students enrolled in the Paralegal Certificate program must complete their courses of study within three (3) years from their School of Law start.
School of Law Undergraduate Program Enrollment Status
For the purpose of financial aid and enrollment verification enrollment status is determined by the number of units per semester:
| Enrollment Status |
Undergraduate Units per Term |
Certificate Units per Term |
| Full-Time (FT) |
12 |
12 |
| Three-Quarter Time (TQT) |
9 |
9 |
| Half-Time (HT) |
6 |
6 |
| Less-Than Half-Time (LTHT) |
<6 |
<6 |
Transfer Credit Policy
The University may accept a maximum of 9 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Paralegal Certificate for coursework completed at an accredited or approved college or university with a grade of “C” or better.
In order to assure that content of any Legal Specialty course submitted for transfer credit remains aligned with current law and academic practice, only courses from the prior five (5) academic years will be considered for transfer.
To be considered for transfer credit, Legal Specialty courses must:
- Be evaluated by the School of Law
- Be equivalent in content, length and nature to the School of Law’s course
- Carry upper division academic credit
- Be from an ABA approved paralegal or legal studies program
- Have been completed with a grade of C or better
No transfer credits will be accepted as substitutes for PLS 3001 Introduction to Law, PLS 3002 Legal Research, and PLS 3003 Legal Writing.
No credit will be awarded by course challenge, examination, portfolio or course sharing to meet the School of Law requirements.
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