Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Contact Information: Ed Turnley 615-353-3431, E-mail: Edmund.Turnley@nscc.edu, Program Site

The mission of the Paralegal Studies program is to provide practical learning opportunities that prepare students for careers as paralegals or legal assistants. Paralegal skills emphasized during the program are law office procedures, paralegal responsibilities, legal research, legal document preparation, effective communications, and an understanding of basic substantive and procedural law.

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of legal ethics and professional responsibility.
• Explain the organization of the court system.
• Draft legal documents under the direction of an attorney.
• Conduct legal research and do legal writing.
• Interview clients and witnesses to gather investigative information.
• Use word processing and law-related computer software.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of procedural and substantive law.
• Use verbal and written communication skills effectively.

Career Opportunities

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

• Law firms
• Corporate legal departments
• Law Schools
• Federal Government
• State Governments
• Local Government
• Public and Private Agencies

Transfer/Advising

The A.A.S. degree is designed to prepare a student for employment upon graduation. Some universities, at their discretion, accept some technical courses for transfer. A student who plans to transfer to a university should consult his/her advisor and the receiving university about transfer and articulation policies. Failure to do so could result in loss of transfer credits.

Paralegal Transfer Credit Policy

Paralegal-specific courses successfully completed by the student are evaluated by the program coordinator as to the college level, earned grade, NSCC equivalent, method of delivery, and accreditation of the prior college. There are limitations on the class rubric and number of hours that may be transferred to the Paralegal program. There are 18 hours of paralegal-specific classes in the technical core. Only six hours may be transferred into the program. There are twelve hours of technical electives. These may be transferred into the program if the above criteria are met.