Course Descriptions
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Paralegal Studies

LEGAL-AS

Dr. Susan Demers, Program Director and Lead Instructor
demerss@spcollege.edu
(727)791-2501
Additional information: Legal Assisting program

(Transferable to Paralegal Studies BAS degree at SPC.)

The goal of this program is to prepare students to meet the challenges as paralegals (legal assistants) in law firms, governmental entities and corporate legal departments. Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys to provide non-clerical professional support in the delivery of legal services to clients and the community. Paralegals are not licensed to practice law. Graduates are prepared to assist in interview and investigation, legal research, discovery and litigation support and design and development of new procedures. Courses provide for specialization in three areas to be selected from the following: Estate and Guardianship Administration, Corporations, Real Estate, Family Law, Civil Litigation or Criminal Litigation. Legal Specialty courses are offered only at night and not every course is offered every semester Program is directed from the Clearwater Campus with a majority of the classes held at the Caruth Health Center in Pinellas Park. The SPC Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association. 

Students entering the program are encouraged to attend a special orientation held each session for new and interested students. Computer skills are essential for employability and should be acquired early in the program.


* GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES (21 credits)
ENC 1101 - COMPOSITION I or (Honors) 3
ENC 1102 - COMPOSITION II or (Honors) 3
SPC 1600 - INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH COMMUNICATION 3
or (SPC 1600H, SPC 1016, SPC 1060 or SPC 1060H)
Humanities/Fine Arts Approved Course 3
Mathematics - One college level course with MAC, MAP, MAS, MGF, MTG or STA prefix 3
Social & Behavioral Sciences Approved Course 3
PHI 1631 - STUDIES IN PROFESSIONAL ETHICS 3
or (PHI 1600PHI 1602H, PHI 2635 or PHI 2649)
Computer/Information Literacy Competency Requirement

SUPPORT COURSES (3 credits)
ACG 2021 - FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3

MAJOR COURSES (40 credits)
BUL 2241 - BUSINESS LAW I 3
PLA 1003 - INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGALISM 3
PLA 1104 - LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING 3
PLA 1361 - TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW AND INVESTIGATION 3
PLA 1730 - COMPUTERIZED LEGAL RESEARCH 1
PLA 1763 - LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT 3
PLA 2114 - ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH 3
PLA 2940 - LEGAL ASSISTING SEMINAR AND WORK EXPERIENCE 3
SPECIALTY AREA ELECTIVES - Select 3 areas (18 credits)
Area I: ESTATE AND GUARDIANSHIP – 6 credits
PLA 2601 - WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES 3
PLA 2603 - GUARDIANSHIP AND ELDER LAW 3
Area II: CORPORATE – 6 credits
BUL 2242 - BUSINESS LAW II 3
PLA 2433 - BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS 3
Area III: REAL ESTATE – 7 credits
REE 1040 - REAL ESTATE PRINCIPLES AND LICENSE LAW 4
PLA 2610 - REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 3
Area IV: CIVIL LITIGATION – 6 credits
PLA 2203 - CIVIL LITIGATION I 3
PLA 2223 - CIVIL LITIGATION II 3
Area V: CRIMINAL LITIGATION – 6 credits
PLA 2303 - CRIMINAL LITIGATION I 3
PLA 2323 - CRIMINAL LITIGATION II 3
Area VI: FAMILY LAW – 6 credits
PLA 2800 - FAMILY LAW I 3
PLA 2801 - FAMILY LAW II 3

TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS

64
* To provide students with an ehanced world view in light of an increasingly globalized economy, students must include at least one course from this list as part of the general education requirements for the Associate in Science degree.
Effective 20081 0400