• Paralegal Studies Associate Degree

Job/Career Description:  Paralegals trained to assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts or preparing legal documents.  They also conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.  Paralegals must be able to document and present their findings and opinions to their supervising attorney.  They need to understand legal terminology and have good research and investigative skills.  Familiarity with the operation and applications of computers in legal research and litigation support also is important.  Paralegals should stay informed of new developments in the laws that affect their area of practice.

Employment Trends:  Despite projected rapid employment growth, competition for jobs is expected to continue as many people seek to go into this profession; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.

Occupational Trends:  Despite projected much faster than average employment growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics), competition for jobs is expected to continue as many people seek to go into this profession; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.  Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations.  Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers.  Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.  Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, healthcare, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law.   The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services.

The Paralegal Studies program is offered at the Savannah Campus.  More information on this program could be found by viewing the link above.  For questions about the program cost, please review the Tuition and Fees link under Future Students on our home page.