Paralegal Studies Professional TCC

Program Description (Major Code: PS13)

The Paralegal Studies Professional Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) program at Atlanta Technical College allows students to transfer their four-year degree credits and receive full credit for all general education requirements. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The knowledge and skills emphasized in this program includes ethical obligations; research in state and federal law; legal correspondence and preparation of legal documents; family law matters; basic concepts of real property law, criminal law and procedure, civil litigation, tort law, and substantive contract law; and wills, trusts, and probate. The program of study emphasizes opportunities that provide students with specialized legal knowledge and skills required to aid lawyers in the delivery of legal services. Program graduates receive a Paralegal Studies Professionals TCC. The Paralegal Studies program is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (www.aafpe.org).

Unauthorized Practice of Law -According to the Official Code of Georgia 15-19-51, paralegals shall not engage in the unauthorized practice of law and must work under the supervision and direction of an attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.

Admissions Requirements

• Must be 16 years of age
• Completion of high school or GED and submission of official transcript required to apply
• A student must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Achievement of minimum program admission scores in Reading, English, and Math.
• A student must complete at least four legal specialty courses in a traditional classroom setting.
• Transfer of previous post-secondary credits will be determined by the Office of Enrollment Services. Any student seeking to transfer paralegal classes for credit, may be asked to provide the Paralegal Studies Program Director and the Office of Enrollment Services with a copy of a course description and syllabus for every class for which transfer credit is sought.

  Whether a paralegal course is transferable to Atlanta Technical College is subject to the discretion of the Paralegal Studies Program Director and the Office of Enrollment Services. Atlanta Technical College reserves the right to request additional course materials for any class for which transfer credit is sought. Transfer credit may only be given for courses that are equivalent in content and credit hours.

Student Performance/Graduation Requirements: Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and complete all required courses to graduate.

Course Outline

Curriculum

Occupational Courses (30 Credits)

PARA 1100	Introduction to Law and Ethics	3
PARA 1105	Legal Research&Legal Writing I	3
PARA 1110	Legal Research&Legal WritingII	3
PARA 1115	Family Law	3
PARA 1120	Real Estate Law	3
PARA 1125	Criminal Law & Criminal Proced	3
PARA 1130	Civil Litigation	3
PARA 1150	Contracts, Commerical Law and Business Organization	3
PARA XXXX	Paralegal Elective	3
PARA XXXX	Paralegal Elective	3

Total Credit Hours: 30

Minimum Program Length in Semester Terms: 2 Credits

Estimated Program Cost: $5,600