ABA APPROVAL

The American Bar Association has long been a leader in encouraging expanded and more effective utilization of paralegals. In the early 1970s the ABA established the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants with the goal, among others, of promoting quality in paralegal education. One of the Standing Committee’s most important activities has been to develop guidelines and a voluntary approval process for paralegal education programs. The ABA’s Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs, first published in 1974, cover every aspect of program operation with detailed requirements in each area. Programs seeking ABA approval must demonstrate continuing compliance with the Guidelines by submitting periodic reports which are verified by on-site visits from an evaluation team.

The Paralegal Program at Meredith was originally approved by the ABA in 1983 and re-approved in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2006. As of August 1998, there were 226 ABA-approved paralegal programs in the country.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PARALEGAL EDUCATION (AAFPE)

Another organization dedicated to promoting high standards in paralegal education is the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), a national association of schools that offer paralegal programs. AAfPE was founded in 1981 with the cooperation of the ABA Standing Committee to provide a forum for professional improvement and technical support for paralegal educators. Educational institutions are eligible for membership in AAfPE if they are either ABA approved or in "substantial compliance" with the ABA Guidelines. The Paralegal Program at Meredith College has been a member of AAfPE since 1981.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR

Meredith College's Paralegal Program is a qualified program under the North Carolina State Bar's Plan for Certification of Paralegals. Determination that a paralegal studies program is qualified under this section does not constitute an approval or an endorsement of the program by the North Carolina State Bar. For more information, click here.

SACS AND ABA ACCREDITATION INFORMATION

Meredith College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone number (404) 679-4501) to award the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Health Administration and Master of Music degrees. The Paralegal Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611, telephone (312) 988-5618).