ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

Paralegal Studies
This program has been approved by the American Bar
Association. Volunteer State Community College is a member of
the American Association of Paralegal Education. The College offers
the program of study to prepare students for a career as a paralegal
or legal assistant. The ABA defines a legal assistant or a paralegal as
“a person qualified by education, training, or work experience who
is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation,
governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically
delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”
Paralegal skills emphasized include: legal research, legal document
preparation, and an understanding of basic substantive and
procedural law. This program is rigorous and requires excellent
communication skills. A student who wishes to transfer from this
program to a baccalaureate program is responsible for information
about transferability of course work.
All Paralegal Studies students completing the A.A.S.
degree program are required to take an exit exam for Paralegal
Studies. Graduation applicants must schedule the exam
through the College Counseling and Testing Office located
in Student Services.

To be considered for entry into the Paralegal Studies program
as a major, a student must:

1. Complete an application to the College and complete all
developmental requirements except mathematics, which may
be taken concurrently with LAW courses.
2. Complete ENGL 1010, LAW 100*, and LAW 101* with a
final grade of "C" or better. (NOTE: The completion of these
courses is required for enrollment in further law courses
unless otherwise approved by paralegal faculty.)
3. Complete an interview or attend a meeting with the teaching
faculty concerning program entry.
Requirements to continue from semester to semester as
Paralegal student include:
1. Maintain satisfactory progress with no grade below "C" in
any LAW course.
2. Follow the planned curriculum.

Required General Education Courses
Courses That Fulfill Minimum Degree Requirements
Course No. Course Title Credit
COM 100 Fund of Speech Communication 3
or COM 103 Public Speaking
CIS 100 Computer Technology & Applications 3
ENGL 1010 English Composition I 3
Fine Arts/Humanities 3
MATH MATH 1010 or MATH 1130 3
Natural Science 4
Physical Education 1
Social Science 3
Total General Education 23
Required Major Core Courses
Course No. Course Title Credit
ENGL 1020 English Composition II 3
LAW 100* Introduction to Legal Assistance 3
and Ethics
LAW 101* Introduction to Law 3
LAW 104* Torts 3
LAW 105* Legal Research 3
LAW 106* Legal Writing 3
LAW 107* Criminal Law 3
LAW 210* Civil Trial and Appellate Practice I 3
LAW 211* Civil Trial and Appellate Practice II 3
LAW 220* Business Organizations and Contracts 3
LAW Electives Chosen from the following: 7
BUS 280*, LAW 135*, LAW 200*,
LAW 220*, LAW 231*, LAW 245*,
LAW 250*, LAW 261*, LAW 276T*
Total Major Core 37
Total Degree Requirements 60.