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Legal Studies Certificate (Plan 22PB)
Program Overview
Award Type
Catalog Description
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. |
Additional Program Information
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.