Program Overview
Legal Studies CertificateBusiness and Social Sciences Division, Room T302, (847) 543-2047https://www.clcillinois.edu/programs/bssdv/legal-studies The Legal Studies certificate prepares students to perform substantive and procedural legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. This program is approved by the American Bar Association ("ABA"). ABA guidelines limit the use of asynchronous online courses for paralegal education. Paralegals work in many different areas of law within the public and private sectors, and assist attorneys in the delivery of efficient and cost-effective legal services. The required certificate courses focus on the core knowledge and skills needed by paralegals in all areas. The elective courses enable students to gain additional knowledge in the legal specialty areas of greatest interest to them. The certificate program is available only to students who already have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree. This program is approved by the American Bar Association. ABA guidelines limit the use of asynchronous online courses for paralegal education, Thus, no Legal Studies degree or certificate will be issued unless at least 9 credit hours of Legal Studies coursework has been completed in a synchronous format. Recommended Plan of Study
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++ LGL 251 must be reserved for the final semester prior to graduation.
* LGL 270 must be reserved for the final semester prior to graduation and must not be taken prior to the final semester.
Note: To earn this certificate, students must have completed one of the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor of Science degree, Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Science degree or Associate in Applied Science degree* in addition to the specialty courses required for the certificate. Students cannot earn both the A.A.S. degree and the certificate in Legal Studies simultaneously.
NOTE: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. This program is approved by the American Bar Association ("ABA"). ABA guidelines limit the use of asynchronous online courses for paralegal education.
Students must have a college degree in order to be eligible to pursue a Legal Studies certificate.
All students wishing to pursue the Certificate program must submit a transcript of their degree and screening form to the Welcome and One-Stop Center. To obtain the form, please visit https://www.clcillinois.edu/admission/become-a-student/steps/limited-enrollment.
For students with A.A.S. degrees and students with any degree from an institution outside the U.S.:
The CLC Legal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA requires that all students who wish to complete a Legal Studies Certificate program have completed a minimum of 18 semester credit hours in general education courses in a minimum of three disciplines.
The requirements for all Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degrees at accredited U.S. institutions include this level of general education. These disciplines are Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Science, English Composition and Literature, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Humanities and Fine Arts. Since master’s degree programs do not usually include general education courses, master’s level degrees cannot be used to meet this requirement.
The general education courses completed by students who have earned Associate in Applied Science degrees and other degrees from non-U.S. institutions may not meet CLC’s general education requirements. These students will be required to complete additional general education courses prior to receiving a certificate in Legal Studies if they have not had a sufficient number and variety of general education courses.
Therefore, CLC must review students’ transcripts to determine whether they have met this general education requirement. To obtain the form, please visit https://dept.clcillinois.edu/adr/LGL_Screening_Form.pdf.
For more information on recommended courses or program specific advising, contact faculty member Lorri Scott or the Business and Social Sciences Division at (847) 543-2047.