ABA approved since 1986, program options include:
- bachelor degrees in paralegal
- legal studies (with an optional concentration in criminal justice)
- social services paralegal
- and a dual Spanish/Legal Studies major
- an associate’s degree in paralegal
- and post-degree certificates in paralegal and legal nurse consulting
A core legal curriculum provides an in-depth legal foundation. Various electives and concentrations, including juvenile, criminal justice, and sport law, emphasize practical learning experiences through internships, service learning, and mock trials. Students have access to the latest in computerized legal research and technology. Web-enhanced courses give students 24-hour access to materials. The director of the paralegal and legal studies programs is the co-author of the leading textbook in paralegal studies.
Bachelor's
Degree in Paralegal Studies
The bachelor of arts degree in paralegal studies combines professional
studies with a four-year liberal arts foundation. The student qualifies
for the ABA-approved Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies
with 27 credits of core course work.
The major also incorporates additional
paralegal courses to prepare the graduate for work
in public or private sector organizations such as:
- private law firms
- corporate law departments
- government agencies
- legal aid organizations
Provided a supervising attorney maintains
responsibility for the work product, paralegals perform
any task normally performed by the attorney, except
those proscribed by the unauthorized practice of law.
Double Major in Legal Studies and Spanish
The double major in legal studies and Spanish at Elms College uniquely allows students to combine language and cultural proficiency with an understanding of the legal system.
Associate's
Degree in Paralegal Studies
The associate's degree consists of 30 credits of paralegal course
work (including the courses that qualify the student for the A.B.A.-approved
Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies) and 30 credits of general
education liberal arts courses. Students who wish to continue their
studies at Elms College can apply all 60 credits towards a bachelor
of arts degree.
Certificate
in Advanced Paralegal Studies
The 27-credit certificate program is designed for those students
who enter with an associate of arts or bachelor's degree. Those
students without a degree must complete a total of 60 credits,
27 of which must be selected paralegal courses, and 18 of which
must be general education credits. None of the 27 paralegal certificate
credits may be transferred unless obtained at an American Bar Association
approved program and approved by the division chair. A minimum
of 21 credits must be completed as a matriculated Elms College
student. This means that students must apply and be accepted to
the program before enrolling in a third course.
Minor
in Paralegal Studies
Students electing a bachelor of arts degree in another discipline
with a minor in paralegal studies earn the ABA-approved Certificate
of Advanced Paralegal Studies. Students are encouraged to concentrate
on satisfying their college core requirements and basic major requirements
during their first and second years. They should plan on satisfying
the requirements for the minor in paralegal studies during their
junior and senior years. In addition, LEG/LST 455 Advanced Paralegal
Seminar, is strongly recommended as a general elective, especially
for those considering law school.
Legal Nurse
Consulting
A legal nurse consultant (L.N.C.) is a registered
nurse who possesses both medical and legal knowledge.
The L.N.C. assists members of the legal profession with
cases involving medical issues, such as medical malpractice,
personal injury, product liability, or workers' compensation.
The L.N.C. functions in two main roles: as a consulting
expert or as a testifying expert. Some L.N.C.'s also
are involved in the catastrophic injury area by giving
advice about life care planning. Whether as an in-house
employee or independent consultant, the L.N.C. offers
a wide range of professional services. These include:
interviewing clients; screening cases for merit analyzing
and summarizing medical records and other evidence; researching
and evaluating medical literature; assisting in preparation
for and evaluation of depositions; identifying, locating,
screening, and consulting medical experts; and preparing
exhibits for settlement hearings or trials.
For admission to the legal nurse consultant
certificate program, an applicant must be currently
licensed to practice as a registered nurse and must
have completed 2,000 hours of clinical practice as
a registered nurse. In addition, prior to receiving
the legal nurse consultant certificate, all candidates
who do not possess an academic associate's or bachelor's
degree must have completed a total of 60 college credits,
of which 18 must be in general education distributed
across at least three disciplines, such as course work
in the humanities, sciences, or social sciences.
Contact Information
For more Information about Paralegal and Legal Studies at Elms
College,
please contact:
Katherine Currier, Chair, Division of
Business and Law
413-265-2570
email: currierk@elms.edu
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