Legal Studies Post Baccalaureate Certificate PAR.S.CRT

One-year Technical Certificate - 34 Credit Hours

Division: Business and Public Services
Department: Legal Studies
Effective as of Fall 2023

What is the program about?

The Legal Studies program educates students with practical assignments in a "simulated law office" environment. All student work demonstrates the professional, ethical, and technology concepts they will use in the legal field. All full-time faculty in the Legal Studies program have graduated from law school. Student learning is supported by experienced paralegals who serve as team teachers. This certificate is intended to enhance the attractiveness of an already obtained bachelor's degree by providing students with practical skills needed to work in the legal field. All Legal Studies students are required to complete an attorney-supervised internship for hands-on experience using their paralegal skills. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses to remain in the program. Established in 1978, the Sinclair Legal Studies Program was the first paralegal program in the area, and the first in the area to be approved by the American Bar Association. Sinclair Legal Studies graduates hold a degree from an ABA-Approved program at a fully-accredited Ohio college. Students must take at least nine credits of the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Program Outcomes

• Competently prepare and interpret legal documents.
• Competently conduct factual and legal research and communicate the results clearly and concisely.
• Exemplify a high standard of ethical and professional behavior individually, and as a member of a legal team.
• Demonstrate competency in current technology.

Career Opportunities

Sinclair led the way with the first Legal Studies Program in the Miami Valley in 1978, and it became the first to earn approval from the American Bar Association. Nearly a thousand graduates of Sinclair's Legal Studies Program now work in large and small law firms, the business world, courts, and government agencies. Under the supervision of a lawyer, a professional paralegal may perform such interesting duties as investigating cases, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing legal documents, and legal research. These responsibilities are carried out in a variety of legal fields, such as criminal law, probate, family law, litigation, and real estate. Employment opportunity reports for program graduates are encouraging. Completion of the Legal Studies Program does not authorize a graduate to practice law as an attorney, or to give legal advice.

Prerequisites

• Approval of Department
• Students must have obtained a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.0 or higher from an accredited institution to be eligible to pursue this certificate.

Credentials

Sinclair Legal Studies graduates receive their degree from a college that is fully accredited, in a program that is approved by the American Bar Association and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. In the state of Ohio, Paralegals are not required to be licensed by the state to perform services under the supervision of a lawyer. However, upon voluntary application and examination, paralegals may be credentialed by the Ohio State Bar Association as Certified Paralegals. Completion of the Legal Studies Program does not authorize a graduate to practice law as an attorney or to give legal advice.

Additional Information