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2014-2015 Catalog

Paralegal Technology A.A.S.

A25380

The Paralegal Technology curriculum prepares individuals to work under the supervision of attorneys by performing routine legal tasks and assisting with substantive legal work. A paralegal/legal assistant may not practice law, give legal advice, or represent clients in a court of law.

Coursework includes substantive and procedural legal knowledge in the areas of civil litigation, legal research and writing, real estate, family law, wills, estates, trusts, and commercial law. Required courses also include subjects such as English, mathematics, and computer utilization.

Graduates are trained to assist attorneys in probate work, investigations, public records search, drafting and filing legal documents, research, and office management. Employment opportunities are available in private law firms, governmental agencies, banks, insurance agencies, and other business organizations. Students should consult their advisor for information about course scheduling.

Western Piedmont’s Paralegal Program has been recognized by the North Carolina State Bar Paralegal Certification Board as a Qualified Paralegal Studies Program (QLSP).

Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:

  • Use written and oral discussion to discover and to articulate ideas (GE I.1)
  • Identify and state problems, issues, arguments, and questions contained in a body of information (GE II.1)
  • Demonstrate organization and documentation skills
  • Demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve, and interpret public records
  • Demonstrate knowledge and application of the ethical standards of the practice of law
  • Demonstrate legal research and writing skills
  • Demonstrate and apply knowledge of relevant substantive and procedural authority

General Education

Required Courses

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
ENG 111Writing and Inquiry

3

FA, SP, SU
ENG 112Writing/Research in the Disc

3

FA, SP, SU
ENG 114Prof Research & Reporting

3

FA, SP, SU
MAT 143Quantitative Literacy

3

FA, SP, SU

Humanities/Fine Arts

Select 3 SHC from the following

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
ART 111Art Appreciation

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 113Art Methods and Materials

3
ART 114Art History Survey I

3

FA, SP
ART 115Art History Survey II

3

SP
ART 116Survey of American Art

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 117Non-Western Art History

3
ART 121Two-Dimensional Design

3

FA, SP
ART 131Drawing I

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 132Drawing II

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 171Computer Art I

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 240Painting I

3

FA, SP
ART 241Painting II

3

SP
ART 244Watercolor

3

SU
ART 260Photography Appreciation

3
ART 261Photography I

3

FA, SP
ART 271Computer Art II

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 281Sculpture I

3

SP
ART 283Ceramics I

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 288Studio

3

FA, SP, SU
ART 289Museum Study

3

SP
COM 140Introduction to Intercultural Communication

3
DRA 111Theatre Application

3

FA, SP, SU
DRA 112Literature of the Theatre

3

FA
DRA 120Voice for Performance

3

SP
DRA 122Oral Interpretation

3

FA, SP
DRA 124Readers Theatre

3
DRA 126Storytelling

3

FA, SP, SU
DRA 128Children's Theatre

3

FA, SP
DRA 130Acting I

3

FA
ENG 125Creative Writing I

3
ENG 231American Literature I

3

FA, SP
ENG 232American Literature II

3

FA, SP
ENG 241British Literature I

3

FA, SU
ENG 242British Literature II

3

FA, SP
ENG 251Western World Literature I

3

FA
ENG 252Western World Literature II

3

SP
ENG 271Contemporary Literature

3
ENG 272Southern Literature

3
ENG 273African-American Literature

3

FA
ENG 274Literature By Women

3
HUM 110Technology and Society

3
HUM 120Cultural Studies

3
HUM 130Myth in Human Culture

3
HUM 160Introduction to Film

3

FA, SP
HUM 230Leadership Development

3

SP
MUS 110Music Appreciation

3

FA, SP
MUS 112Introduction to Jazz

3
MUS 113American Music

3
MUS 210History of Rock Music

3

SP
MUS 211History of Country Music

3

SP
PHI 210History of Philosophy

3

FA, SP
PHI 240Introduction to Ethics

3

FA, SP, SU
REL 110World Religions

3

FA, SP
REL 211Introduction to Old Testament

3

FA, SP
REL 212Introduction to New Testament

3

FA, SP
11-14-14 Addendum: Students who take the following course(s) may petition to use the course(s) to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts requirement: ASL 211, ASL 212, ASL 281, SPA 211, SPA 212, SPA 281, and/or SPA 282.

Social/Behavorial Science

Select 3 SHC from the following

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
ANT 210General Anthropology

3
ANT 220Cultural Anthropology

3
ANT 240Archaeology

3
ECO 151Survey of Economics

3

FA, SP
ECO 251Principles of Microeconomics

3

FA, SU
ECO 252Principles of Macroeconomics

3

SP, SU
GEO 111World Regional Geography

3
GEO 112Cultural Geography

3
HIS 111World Civilizations I

3

FA, SP, SU
HIS 112World Civilizations II

3

FA, SP, SU
HIS 116Current World Problems

3
HIS 131American History I

3

FA
HIS 132American History II

3

SP
HIS 162Women and History

3
HIS 221African-American History

3
HIS 236North Carolina History

3
HIS 260History of Africa

3
HIS 261East Asian History

3
HIS 262Middle East History

3
POL 120American Government

3

FA, SP, SU
POL 130State & Local Government

3
POL 210Comparative Government

3
POL 220International Relations

3
PSY 150General Psychology

3

FA, SP, SU
PSY 239Psychology of Personality

3
PSY 241Developmental Psychology

3

FA, SP, SU
PSY 243Child Psychology

3
PSY 246Adolescent Psychology

3
PSY 249Psychology of Aging

3
PSY 259Human Sexuality

3
PSY 263Educational Psychology

3
PSY 281Abnormal Psychology

3

FA, SP, SU
SOC 210Introduction to Sociology

3

FA, SP, SU
SOC 213Sociology of the Family

3

FA, SP
SOC 220Social Problems

3

SP
SOC 225Social Diversity

3
SOC 254Rural and Urban Sociology

3

Major Courses

Core Required Courses

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
LEX 110Intro to Paralegal Study

2

FA, SU
LEX 120Legal Research/Writing I

3

FA
LEX 130Civil Injuries

3

SP
LEX 140Civil Litigation I

3

FA
LEX 150Commercial Law I

3

FA, SP
LEX 210Real Property I

3

FA
LEX 240Family Law

3

FA, SP
LEX 250Wills, Estates, & Trusts

3

FA

Other Major Required Courses

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
ACC 120Principles of Financial Accounting

4

FA, SP, SU
CIS 110Introduction to Computers

3

FA, SP, SU
LEX 121Legal Research/Writing II

3

SP
LEX 141Civil Litigation II

3

SP
LEX 160Criminal Law & Procedure

3

FA
LEX 211Real Property II

3

SP
LEX 280Ethics & Professionalism

2

FA, SP
LEX 286Medical Evidence Analysis

2

SP, SU

General Elective

(Select 3 SHC from the following courses)

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
LEX 220Corporate Law

2

FA, SU
LEX 260Bankruptcy and Collections

3

FA, SP
LEX 270Law Office Mgt/Technology

2

SP
LEX 285Workers' Compensation Law

2

FA, SP
LEX 289U.S. Constitutional Law

3

FA, SP
WBL XXXWork-based Learning (up to 3 SHC)

Total Credit Hours: 67