Degree:
Length:
Purpose:
The Legal Assistant Specialization is designed to teach the technical skills and critical thinking skills required of the legal assistant. Legal assistants perform independent legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Some of the legal assistant's most important tasks include helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Legal assistants may help prepare legal arguments, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and draft contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements.
Occupational Objectives:
Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Corporate Paralegal
Paralegal Supervisor
In addition to the admission requirements established for the college, entry into the Administrative Support Technology: Legal Assistant Specialization program requires competency in English and Math Essentials MTE 1-3 as demonstrated through the placement and diagnostic tests, or by satisfactorily completing the required MTE units or equivalent.
The following list is a suggested sequence in which students may plan their class schedules to ensure graduation in two years.
First Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Lect. Hrs. | Lab Hrs. | Course Cr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AST 1011 1 Students who possess keyboarding skills may petition for advanced placement with Credit by Examination. |
Keyboarding I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 136 | Office Record Keeping | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LGL 110 | Introduction to the Law and the Legal Assistant | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Elective3 3 Social Sciences Electives: ECO 201 , ECO 202 , HIS 101 , HIS 102 , HIS 121 , HIS 122 , PLS 211 , PLS 212 , PSY 200 , PSY 215 , PSY 230 , SOC 200 , SOC 215 |
Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Suggested Credits & Hours for Semester | 16 | 0 | 16 | |
Second Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Lect. Hrs. | Lab Hrs. | Course Cr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CST 1265 5 Students may take CST 110 which can substitute for the CST 126. |
Interpersonal Communication | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 102 | Keyboarding II | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 236 | Specialized Software Applications | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LGL 126 | Legal Writing | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HLT/PED | Health/Physical Education | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| LGL 218 | Criminal Law | 3 | ||
| Suggested Credits & Hours for Semester | 14 | 0 | 17 | |
Third Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Lect. Hrs. | Lab Hrs. | Course Cr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AST 107 | Editing/Proofreading Skills | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 141 | Word Processing I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 234 | Records and Database Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 243 | Office Administration I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
Elective4 4 Students may choose from NAS, AST, or ITE/ITD/ITN electives. |
Natural Science, AST, or IT Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| LGL 236 | Elder Law | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Suggested Credits & Hours for Semester | 18 | 0 | 18 | |
Fourth Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Lect. Hrs. | Lab Hrs. | Course Cr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AST 247 | Legal Machine Transcription | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| AST 253 | Advanced Desktop Publishing I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
AST 298* * This is a capstone course and should be taken the last semester. **LGL courses are not offered during the summer semester. |
Seminar and Project in Administrative Support | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
Elective2 2 Humanities Electives: ART 101, CST 151, HUM 100, HUM 260, PHI 101 |
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MTH 132 | Business Mathematics I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Suggested Credits & Hours for Semester | 15 | 0 | 15 | |
