• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies

    Make a case for your success with a program designed to help you build your skills and expand your knowledge. Our program is centered on practical legal training in key areas such as legal terminology, technology, writing, research, and
    law office management to equip you with the right credentials to pursue a rewarding legal services career.*

    Courses examine substantive areas of law including wills and trusts, contracts, real estate, and torts so that you gain familiarity with the elements of bringing a lawsuit, applicable defenses, and preparing a client’s case.

    As part of your AAS program, you can complete an internship in a legal setting, which means you can gain real-world professional experience—and build your resume—while you earn college credit.

    You’ll learn from professors who are legal practitioners with real-world expertise in legal services, law, and policy. And enjoy collaborating with your professors and classmates via live seminars, discussion boards, and one-on-one instructor interaction.

    Upon completion of this program you are eligible to take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®), which is administered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Both organizations allow individuals who graduate from accredited universities—like Kaplan University University—to sit for these examinations.†

    As the largest provider of online legal studies programs in the United States‡, the School of Legal Studies has helped over 6,500 graduates achieve their educational goals since 2001. This means that when you earn your degree from Kaplan University, you join one of the most active and diverse alumni communities in the legal field.

    Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies Program Highlights

    If you’re serious about becoming a paralegal our program is designed to provide you with the legal knowledge and practical skills to pursue your career goals.

    This program focuses on how to: 

    • Assist Clients: Analyze data to ethically assist clients throughout the legal process.
    • Perform Legal Research: Locate and analyze relevant primary and secondary legal sources in electronic and print media.
    • Perform Investigative Functions: Use investigative techniques to gather information from a variety of sources.
    • Perform Communications Functions: Communicate with legal professionals, witnesses, clients, and others about legal actions.
    • Implement Legal Procedures: Manage electronic and print information.
    • Assist in Litigation Preparation: Draft and organize information for trial purposes.
    • Prepare Legal Documents: Prepare correspondences such as affidavits, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements for clients.  

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    Businesses and organizations of all sizes are reducing legal costs by handling routine legal processes in-house. As a result, the demand for paralegal and legal assistant is expected to grow, and this trend is projected to continue for the next several years.§ 

    This associate's degree program is designed to prepare you for career opportunities in a variety of legal environments, in areas such as litigation, real estate, intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law.* Study to qualify for employment as a paralegal in organizations that provide specialized legal services, such as private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, banks, and government agencies. When you are ready to further your education, credits earned in fulfillment of this degree may be transferred to other Kaplan University bachelor’s degree programs. 

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jun 05

    Online Start Date
    Jun 05, 2013

    Jul 03

    Online and Hagerstown Start Date
    Jul 03, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: All Tracks

    Core

    100/200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5  Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    100/200 LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Major

    PA 101: THE PARALEGAL PROFESSIONAL (5 Credits)

    This is an introductory course that will familiarize students with the role of the paralegal in both the workplace and the American legal system. The course is designed to expose students to current trends and issues in the profession, the regulation of the profession, the professional associations available to the paralegal, as well as the ethical considerations associated with the legal profession. Students will also receive basic introductions into the various areas of legal practice, such as law office organization, legal research, and litigation and advocacy. This course will provide students with a good introductory overview of the paralegal's role and contribution to today's legal system.

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 110: CIVIL LITIGATION (5 Credits)

    This course introduces students to civil litigation, the civil law process, rights, and procedures. Topics include informal fact gathering and investigation, case management and strategy, jurisdiction, the structure of the court systems in the United States, parties, pleadings, and motions.

    Prerequisites Required: Students enrolled in a paralegal studies program: PA 101; students enrolled in a legal studies program: LS 102

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 201: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH (5 Credits)

    One of the basic tasks performed by the paralegal is legal research—finding the law. Accurate, concise, and up-to-date information can be the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit. Students who complete this course gain specialized skills in the area of legal research.

    Prerequisites Required: Prerequisites: CM 220 and PA 205

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 205: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING (5 Credits)

    Some of the tasks performed by a skilled paralegal are to summarize statutes or regulations, analyze the component parts of written opinions of appellate judges through briefing, identify the legal issues in a fact pattern, and apply the reasoning of relevant legal authorities to a fact pattern. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to analyze and synthesize legal authorities and draft correspondence and memoranda commonly used in the practice of law.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PA  201

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 253: LEGAL ETHICS (5 Credits)

    Legal assistants and paralegals must always consider the duty owed to the clients. Are the clients protected against having confidential information revealed? What are the duties and responsibilities regarding the ethical conduct of the paralegal? This course discusses these areas and presents canons, codes of ethics, ethical and procedural practices in a law office, licensing and certification, and more.

    Prerequisites Required: Students enrolled in a paralegal studies program: PA 101; students enrolled in a legal studies program: LS 102

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 299: ASSOCIATE'S CAPSTONE-PROJECT (5 Credits)

    This course builds on the concepts that students have mastered throughout the course of their paralegal studies program. The capstone course integrates the core concepts exemplified in the paralegal program outcomes, with application to fact scenarios that present relevant legal issues.

    Prerequisites Required: Last term or permission of the Dean

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    PA 230: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL TECHNOLOGY (5 Credits)

    Technology is pervasive and the modern law office is chock-full of technological appliances, tools, and applications that the paralegal must be able to master. At the core of most software applications are the basics-word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and tools for presentations. Of course, the ubiquitous communication tool, email, is the center of modern electronic communications. This course will explore the most common tools and applications found in law firms and those that every "technology-literate" paralegal must know. Word processing, document-assembly programs, and tools for case management, time and billing, calendaring, electronic communications, and creating presentations are a few of the topics explored in this course. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation of the basics in legal technology.

    Prerequisites Required: Students enrolled in a paralegal studies program: PA 101; students enrolled in a legal studies program: LS 102

    IT 133: SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS (5 Credits)

    This course teaches students to use application software. Topics include an introduction to the Windows operating system and to Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Students also learn how to apply soft ware applications within a profession.

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    LS 100: EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT (5 Credits)

    This course is an important component of the new student experience in the School of Legal Studies' legal studies program at Kaplan University. It is designed to ensure legal studies students' successful social and academic transition into and pursuit of academic excellence within the Kaplan University community and provide a foundation for success within the profession. Students will be introduced to eight key skills (reading, writing, research, planning, thinking, organizing, interviewing, and communicating) through dynamic and engaging interactions and presentations by practicing professionals. "Real-life" examples and interactions with practicing professionals will provide students with a sense of the culture and nuances of the field. The goal of this course is for students to become academically, personally, and socially successful within and beyond this intellectual community.

    CS 121: PATHWAYS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS (ONSITE ONLY) (5 Credits)

    Designed to facilitate personal and professional success, this course introduces students to the purposes and processes of university education. An emphasis is placed on study, communication, and thinking skills that support academic achievement. Students also examine the relationship between learning and motivation. (Onsite only)

    Total Major Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 90

    *Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

    Elective

    OPEN ELECTIVES (35 Credits)

    Total Elective Credits: 35
    Total Program Credits: 90

    Tuition & Fees: All Tracks

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    All Tracks Online &
    Learning Center     		Campus
    Cost Per Credit
    Number of Credits / Terms  
    Total Tuition Cost

    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • Some states have additional curricular requirements. Check the University Catalog or speak with an Admissions Advisor.

  • * Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement. Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practice law or give legal advice to consumers.

    † Although certain programs at Kaplan University are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, the University cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams. In some cases, field experience, additional coursework, and/or background checks may be necessary to take or to successfully pass the exams.

    ‡ Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2009-2010, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees Conferred, Law and Legal Studies on the Internet at http://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS. Based on total number of degrees granted by Kaplan University compared to other Title IV degree-granting institutions. 

    § Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm (accessed April, 2012). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

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