How should I compare paralegal programs?

First of all, look for basic requirements. These probably include:

American Bar Association ( ABA) approval. Meredith’s Paralegal Program has been an ABA-approved program since 1983. The most widely recognized indication of quality is approval by the American Bar Association, which specifies high standards for a paralegal program's curriculum, faculty, resources and student services.

Institutional Membership in the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE). Meredith’s Paralegal Program has been an AAfPE institutional member since 1981. Institutional membership in AAfPE is limited to programs that are in substantial compliance with the ABA. AAfPE is the only national organization that focuses on paralegal education and has over 350 institutional members.

North Carolina State Bar Qualified. Meredith’s Paralegal Program is a North Carolina State Bar Qualified Program retroactively to 1980. The North Carolina State Bar qualifies programs that meet the minimum standards of paralegal education for students to qualify to become North Carolina Certified 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 board or the North Carolina State Bar.

Level of instruction. Meredith’s program requires that all students have a bachelor’s degree and admission is competitive. Students are required to complete the equivalent of 19.27 credit hours of legal specialty courses. Courses in the Paralegal Program are not meant to be theoretical courses or mini-law school courses, these courses all emphasize practical application of the law. The program is very demanding and instructors expect that students will master the coursework through preparation prior to class and focused study outside of class.

Type of curriculum. Meredith’s program requires three foundation courses in the first semester and choose one of three specialties in their second semester:

FIRST SEMESTER

Legal Survey—This course is much like an undergraduate course and is a basic survey of the American Legal System. This is the class in which students learn legal vocabulary, and more importantly, the practical applications of that vocabulary in a legal setting. Students can anticipate that they will spend the same amount of time that they would have spent in a 3-hour undergraduate course.

Legal Research and Writing—Students will learn where to find the law, how to research and analyze statutes, case law, rules and regulations. Students will learn how to properly cite legal authority. Students will have weekly writing assignments. In the last third of the class, students will learn to use either LEXIS or WESTLAW computerized legal research service. Students should anticipate that they will be spending one weekend day, Saturday or Sunday, at a local law school library. North Carolina Central University and UNC-Chapel Hill both have excellent law libraries that are easily accessible and open to the public.

Law Office Management—Several classes in this course are devoted to legal ethics. Even students who do not end up working in a law office will benefit from an understanding of the workings of the law office and the steps involved in conflict of interest checks, billing and time-keeping. The second half of the course focuses on computer applications – particularly mastery of all of the elements of Microsoft Office and general internet research. If you are not entirely comfortable using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or using the internet, you should take classes in those courses prior to entering the Paralegal Program.

SECOND SEMESTER

Meredith’s program requires students to choose one of three specialties in their second semester—note that students are not guaranteed their first choice of specialty. The specialties are capped at 20 students per class. Students will give an indication of their first choice upon entering the program, but will finally choose their specialty in December when they register for spring classes.

Civil Litigation—In the Civil Litigation specialty, students will meet from 6-9:30 pm on Monday and Thursday. The Civil Litigation course focuses heavily on the federal and state rules of civil procedure. At end of the class, students will have created a trial notebook with information from the first interview with the client to the notice of appeal. On Tuesdays, the students will take a series of five 4-week courses in substantive areas of the law—starting with a four week class in Business Organizations. After the first Business Organizations course, students will be able to choose the short courses. Past courses have included Family Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, the Uniform Commercial Code, How to Read (and Not Write) Legalese, and Criminal Law. The short courses change from year to year. Students will receive one final grade for the Civil Litigation course which will incorporate the short course grades which altogether count for one-third of the Civil Litigation grade.

Business Organizations—The Business Organization Specialty is particularly useful to students intending to work in a corporation or in a law firm with corporate clients. In the Business Organizations Specialty, students will meet from 6-9:30 pm Mondays and Thursdays. The Business Organizations course focuses on the creation, maintenance and dissolution of a corporation. On Tuesdays, the students will take a series of five 4-week courses in substantive areas of the law—starting with a four week class in Civil Litigation. After the first Business Organizations course, students will be able to choose the short courses. Past courses have included Family Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, the Uniform Commercial Code, How to Read (and Not Write) Legalese, and Criminal Law. The short courses change from year to year. Students will receive one final grade for the Civil Litigation course which will incorporate the short course grades which altogether count for one-third of the Civil Litigation grade.

Real Estate—The Real Estate Specialty teaches students a number of skills that touch upon real estate law—residential and commercial real estate closings, title searching, foreclosures, bankruptcies and civil litigation that involves matters of real property. In the Real Estate Specialty students will meet from 6–9:30 pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. A number of classes meet off-campus either at the Register of Deeds Office or the office of the Wake County Clerk of Court. While students in the Real Estate specialty do not take short courses in substantive areas of the law, the course teaches a variety of skills that cross disciplines.

Length of program. The equivalent of 19.27 credits. It is designed to be earned in two evening semesters, but must be completed within two years. Note that government financial aid regulations require a certain number of credit hours per session. Tentative schedules are provided for the entire academic year to help you plan your course of study.

Cost of program. For the 2006–07 academic year, tuition for the program is $5,510. The Foundation courses are each $870 and the specialty course is $2,900. You are billed for the courses separately, not for the certificate as a whole. Textbooks are purchased separately by the students.

Other considerations should include:

Reputation in the legal community. Meredith’s Paralegal Program has been educating paralegals since 1979. The director of the Paralegal Program is a member of the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification, a member of the Board of the American Association for Paralegal Education as the South East Regional Representative, and is an active writer and presenter on paralegal and paralegal education issues across North Carolina and nationally. Instructors are attorneys who have worked with paralegals or are themselves experienced paralegals, and teach the practical skills you need to know. The Paralegal Program’s advisory committee includes local lawyers, private-sector and public-sector paralegals, and paralegal managers. Graduates of the program include Legal Assistant Today's 2003 and 2006 Rookie Paralegals of the Year. The program director, students and alumni are active in local and state-wide paralegal and attorney organizations. This involvement in the legal community is part of Meredith College’s long time commitment to paralegals and paralegal education and a commitment to excellence in paralegal education.

Internship availability. Students may apply for internships in the spring semester after finishing their foundation courses. The director will locate appropriate internship sites, attempting to accommodate the student's area of interest. The internships are not paid, but the student is awarded 1 credit hour for 120 hours of work at the internship site. Past internship sites have included government offices such as the various offices of the North Carolina Attorney General, corporations such as SAS Institute, non-profit institutions such as The Center for Death Penalty Litigation, and law offices from solo practitioners to large law firms.

Why are paralegal programs of different lengths?

Each paralegal program has its own educational goals. To be approved by the American Bar Association, the program must require students to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of instruction in legal specialty courses, i.e., courses specifically designed to develop paralegal skills.

Meredith’s Paralegal Program requires students to complete the equivalent of 19.27 credit hours of legal special courses. We believe that two semesters is the minimum amount of time necessary in which to master the complicated course material.

Why do some paralegal programs offer certificates and others degrees?

The legal community in general utilizes the services of paralegals at various levels. For this reason, the American Bar Association has approved educational programs at various levels—usually offering associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, or post-baccalaureate certificates.

Meredith College’s Paralegal Program offers the post-baccalaureate certificate because this is what most employers in large urban areas prefer. A bachelor's degree in any field is acceptable.

Does a paralegal program help prepare you for law school?

The primary goal of a paralegal program is to prepare students to work as paralegals. This requires education in practical skills. Of course, you need to learn legal theory as a framework for these practical skills, but not as extensively as a law student does.

Many paralegals, however, do choose to attend law school, often after a year or two of working. Their paralegal education and experience certainly is useful. They are familiar with basic legal terminology and have real-life knowledge of the legal environment. They know how to use a law library and how to perform legal research. These may be advantages during the first year of law school.

You should not assume, however, that a paralegal certificate would be a factor in admission to law school. No research has been conducted on this matter, to the best of our knowledge.