Program Information

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WCJC’s Paralegal Studies program is designed to prepare students for a career assisting attorneys in the delivery of legal services. 

Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, who work under the supervision of a licensed attorney, can perform many of the day-to-day tasks of the law office, governmental agency, legal aid clinic, or corporate legal department. They assist the attorney in the preparation of legal documents, client interviews, research and investigation, trial preparation, and many other tasks. Some legal assistants prefer working in small, solo practices, where they can function as legal secretary, paralegal and administrative assistant for a single lawyer, while others work more autonomously as specialists in probate, criminal law, family law, or real estate, in larger firms and governmental offices. Entry level salaries are average, but raises and bonuses are common for the legal assistant whose efforts help makes a profit for the firm.

This program is a “generalist” training program, in which students are exposed to all the areas of legal work. Students are exposed to both civil and criminal procedure, as well as the major substantive areas of legal practice, such as family law, probate, real estate and contracts. They learn the special techniques of legal research and writing, with actual document preparation emphasized in each class. Students completing the certificate program will qualify to work as a legal assistant or paralegal in any legal environment. Students who undertake the degree program receive the same training while completing the first two years of college, and qualify to take the voluntary Certified Legal Assistant exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Paralegal courses have also served as an advance look at the profession for those students preparing for law school.