Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies, AAS

PLAS.AAS.C08

Ceremony at Kankakee County Courthouse

Program Overview

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies program is designed to train students as legal professionals who have the writing, thinking, and reasoning skills to effectively contribute to a legal organization. Program graduates may find employment opportunities in the judicial system, private law firms, state agencies, legal aid organizations, banks, title insurance companies, corporations and hospitals with corporate legal departments. Program graduates also are generally prepared to enter paralegal baccalaureate programs at selected colleges and universities with junior status.

Program Note

In many states, paralegals and legal assistants can carry out any function that lawyers perform with three notable exceptions: setting legal fees, giving legal advice to clients, and representing clients in court proceedings. Paralegals and legal assistants work directly under an attorney’s supervision, unless otherwise authorized by statute, court rules or agency regulations permitting paralegals to provide assistance directly to the public.

Additional Program Information

A transfer agreement with at least one four-year college or university exists for this A.A.S. program. Students should consult an advisor for more information.

This program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Program Requirements

Major Courses

PLAS 1103Intro. to Paralegal/Legal Assistant

3 Credits

PLAS 1123Legal Research & Writing I

3 Credits

PLAS 1133Legal Research & Writing II

3 Credits

PLAS 1153Law Office Management

3 Credits

PLAS 1213Civil Litigation

3 Credits

PLAS 2113Legal Technology

3 Credits

PLAS 2413Paralegal Internship

3 Credits

BSNS 1603Business Communication

3 Credits

BSNS 1653Business Law

3 Credits

COSC 1352Word

2 Credits

COSC 1362Access

2 Credits

COSC 1372Excel

2 Credits

A grade of B or better is required in PLAS 1103.

Choose four

PLAS 2213Real Estate Law

3 Credits

PLAS 2223Estates. Trusts and Wills

3 Credits

PLAS 2233Criminal Litigation

3 Credits

PLAS 2253Corporate Law

3 Credits

PLAS 2263Family Law

3 Credits

PLAS 2333Laws of Evidence

3 Credits

PLAS 2403Special Topics in Paralegal Studies

3 Credits

Total Credit Hours:45

General education

ENGL 1613English I

3 Credits

ENGL 1623English II

3 Credits

SPCH 1553Introductory Speech

3 Credits

PLSC 1513American Government

3 Credits

MATH 1704Contemporary Mathematics

4 Credits

or

MATH 1774Statistics

4 Credits

A higher level mathematics course may be substituted.

A higher level Spanish course may be substituted for SPAN 1503.

Choose one

HUMS 1513Introduction to Humanities

3 Credits

PHIL 2523Ethics

3 Credits

SPAN 1503Basic Spanish

3 Credits

Total Credit Hours:19

Total Credit Hours: 64

Suggested Course Sequence

Fall semester

PLAS 1103Intro. to Paralegal/Legal Assistant

3 Credits

BSNS 1653Business Law

3 Credits

COSC 1352Word

2 Credits

ENGL 1613English I

3 Credits

PLSC 1513American Government

3 Credits

SPCH 1553Introductory Speech

3 Credits

Spring semester

PLAS 1123Legal Research & Writing I

3 Credits

PLAS 1213Civil Litigation

3 Credits

BSNS 1603Business Communication

3 Credits

COSC 1362Access

2 Credits

ENGL 1623English II

3 Credits

Summer term

PLAS 1153Law Office Management

3 Credits

COSC 1372Excel

2 Credits

Fall semester

PLAS 1133Legal Research & Writing II

3 Credits

PLAS 2113Legal Technology

3 Credits

Humanities Course

3 Credits

Paralegal/Legal Assistant Electives

6 Credits

Spring semester

PLAS 2413Paralegal Internship

3 Credits

Paralegal/Legal Assistant Electives

6 Credits

Mathematics Course

4 Credits

Program Cost

PARALEGAL/LEGAL ASSISTANT STUDIES, AAS
Minimum credit hours required for completion 66.00
Tuition and fees – per credit hour 161.00
10,626.00
Fees:
BSNS 1603 Business Communications 10.00
COSC 1352 Word 25.00
COSC 1362 Access 25.00
COSC 1372 Excel 25.00
ENGL 1613 English I 5.00
ENGL 1623 English II 5.00
HUMS 1513 Introductions to Humanities 15.00
PLAS 1103 Intro Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies 25.00
PLAS 1123 Legal Research & Writing I 25.00
PLAS 1133 Legal Research & Writing II 25.00
PLAS 1153 Law Office Management 25.00
PLAS 1213 Civil Litigation 25.00
PLAS 2113 Legal Technology 25.00
PLAS 2213 Real Estate Law 25.00
PLAS 2223 Estates, Trusts and Wills 25.00
PLAS 2233 Criminal Litigation 25.00
PLAS 2263 Family Law 25.00
PLAS 2333 Laws of Evidence 25.00
PLAS 2403 Special Topics Paralegal Studies 25.00
PLAS 2413 Paralegal Internship 25.00
435.00
435.00
Books:
BSNS 1603 Business Communications 230.35
BSNS 1653 Business Law 197.80
COSC 1352 Word 150.00
COSC 1362 Access 90.00
COSC 1372 Excel 145.75
ENGL 1613 English I 90.85
HUMS 1513 Introductions to Humanities 93.40
PLAS 1103 Intro Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies 285.65
PLAS 1123/1133 Legal Research & Writing I/II 161.35
PLAS 1153 Law Office Management 125.65
PLAS 1213 Civil Litigation 160.80
PLAS 2113 Legal Technology 179.35
PLAS 2213 Real Estate Law 180.00
PLAS 2223 Estates, Trusts, & Wills 185.00
PLAS 2263 Family Law 253.25
PLAS 2333 Laws of Evidence 238.00
PLAS 2413 Paralegal Internship 69.35
PLSC 1513 American Government 53.25
SPCH 1553 Introductory Speech 105.85
2995.65
2,995.65
Supplies: All BSNS courses
Pocket dictionary 5.99
Reference manual 10.95
16.94
16.94
TOTAL 14,073.59
This program requires two college-level MATH courses and twelve hours of PLAS electives.  The total price does not include all costs associated with the electives.
All prices are subject to change.  Please visit Hammes Bookstore on KCC’s website for the most up-to-date textbook prices.

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