Paralegal Studies Program
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**Program Approved by the American Bar Association**
The Legal Assistant or Paralegal profession is one of the
fastest growing profession in the country, according to statistics provided by
the United States Department of Labor. Gainesville State College has been a
leader and innovator in the field of paralegal education since 1979. The
Program is taken for academic credit and is offered through the Business
Division of the college. Students completing our program receive
either an Associate of Applied Science degree or a Certificate.
The
goal of our Paralegal Program is not only to train students in the practical
application of legal theory, but to fine tune their analytical, communication
and organizational skills, while always being aware of the unauthorized practice
of law prohibition.
IS A PARALEGAL CAREER RIGHT FOR YOU?
Top
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Do
you have an interest in the law and pursuing a career in the legal
profession?
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Do
you want to acquire marketable skills that will enable you to obtain a good
job?
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Do
you need additional training to help you change careers or perform your
present job more effectively?
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Are
you returning to the job market?
Whether
you are just graduating from high school, wanting to acquire marketable skills
to complement your bachelors degree, seeking a route to law school, returning to
the job market after an absence, enhancing or changing careers, paralegal
training can help prepare you for the career you want.
Our graduates represent almost every academic discipline.
WHAT DOES A PARALEGAL DO? Top
A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, is trained to
assist an attorney in providing legal services.
Paralegal responsibilities can include:
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Interviewing clients and witnesses
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Drafting
legal documents
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Conducting
legal research
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Assisting
attorneys in court and before administrative agencies
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Searching
public real estate records
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Preparing
court documents such as pleadings, motions and briefs.
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Helping
to form corporations
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Preparing
deposition summaries
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Conducting
preliminary factual investigations and much more.
The
professional services and expertise that trained legal assistants provide to
lawyers and their clients make the paralegal profession a respected addition to
the legal staffs of corporations, social agencies, financial institutions, real
estate agencies, insurance companies, hospitals, and governmental agencies as
well as the traditional law firm.
ABA DEFINITION OF A LEGAL ASSISTANT
Top
The ABA House of
Delegates adopted an amendment to their Bylaws, as proposed by the Standing
Committee on Legal Assistants, that incorporates an ABA definition of a legal
assistant, which reads as follows:
A
LEGAL ASSISTANT OR PARALEGAL IS A PERSON, QUALIFIED BY EDUCATION, TRAINING OR
WORK EXPERIENCE WHO IS EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A LAWYER, LAW OFFICE,
CORPORATION, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR OTHER ENTITY AND WHO PERFORMS SPECIFICALLY
DELEGATED SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL WORK FOR WHICH A LAWYER IS RESPONSIBLE.
FACULTY
TopAll
of the specific paralegal courses are taught by local attorneys actively
practicing in the area. Also,
experienced paralegals are often in the classroom to provide first hand
information and instruction in paralegal skills.
FINANCIAL
AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
TopFinancial
assistance is available for qualified students through both government sponsored
student loans and private lenders. The
Gainesville NE Circuit Bar Association helps sponsor Paralegal Scholarships
which are awarded each year to outstanding students in the program.
The Gainesville College Foundation also assists in scholarships for
tuition and books.
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