Paralegal Studies Degree

Launch or enhance your legal career!

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Why Paralegal Studies at Bay Path University?

Bay Path University's Paralegal Studies degree program prepares graduates for careers in law by providing a strong undergraduate education emphasizing communication, leadership, technology, and ethics. By challenging students to a rigorous curriculum of theory and practical application, the paralegal studies degree program prepares them for professional opportunities in a wide variety of legal settings including: law firms; legal service agencies; courts; corporations; financial institutions; and city, state, and federal government agencies and offices.

Students who complete our paralegal studies degree program will have fulfilled the requirements for the American Bar Association (ABA)-approved Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies. Students graduate knowing that paralegals work under the supervision of an attorney and are not authorized to engage in the practice of law.

As a Paralegal Studies degree major, students will be able to:

Understand, analyze, produce, evaluate and present (orally) appropriate solutions to legal challenges of the working legal professional within the context of the delivery of legal services.
Apply legal research skills using full range of print and electronic materials.
Perform legal writing for different audiences, purposes, and kinds of documents.
Exhibit an understanding of substantive issues and legal procedures by identification and analysis of legal issues.

PLEASE NOTE: A PARALEGAL MAY WORK ONLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN ATTORNEY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW. THE ABA DEFINES A PARALEGAL OR LEGAL ASSISTANT 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."

Degree Info

AS in Paralegal Studies

Certificate Available

BA in Paralegal Studies

Certificate and/or Minor Available

Graduate Program Available

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3+3 Agreement Between Bay Path University & Western New England University School of Law

Students interested in pursuing law school after graduation can apply to the unique 3+3 Program, a partnership between Bay Path University and Western New England University School of Law. This program offers students the opportunity to begin law school at Western New England University in what would have been their senior year at Bay Path. To be eligible, students must attend Bay Path for at least 30 credit hours of undergraduate study.

American Bar Association (ABA) Approval

Bay Path's legal programs on the associate and baccalaureate degree level, as well as the Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies, are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

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1-Year & 2-Year Graduate Degree Programs

We offer seamless pathways to 1- and 2-year graduate degree programs, such as Bay Path’s MS in Leadership & Negotiation and many more.

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What is a Paralegal?

A paralegal or legal assistant performs many aspects of legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Although prohibited from giving legal advice or setting fees, they are an integral part of the legal profession. Paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals are employed in a variety of settings including law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices.

Job responsibilities may include:

Investigating facts and relevant information to a case
Identifying and researching appropriate laws, decisions, legal articles and other material relevant to a case
Writing reports
Interviewing individuals connected with a case
Organizing and tracking a case
Assisting attorneys during trials

Policy on Transfer of General Education & Legal Specialty Course Credits

Students seeking legal studies degrees or a certificate must complete at least 18 credits of general education course work in at least three disciplines, such as social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages, and English. Under normal circumstances, a student must complete at least 18 credit hours of legal specialty courses at Bay Path in order to receive a degree from the University.

Generally Bay Path University will accept course credits in transfer as legal specialty courses, only courses taken at another ABA approved program. Requests to accept transfer credits as legal specialty courses are reviewed on an individual basis by the Program Chair and Registrar. If necessary, the Registrar and the Chair will review the course description and syllabus from the originating University. A student wishing to transfer credits into one of the University's legal programs as a legal specialty course bears the burden of proving the course is a legal specialty course.

In the Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies program, the student must complete at least 15 credit hours of legal specialty courses at Bay Path. Any additional credits for legal specialty courses applied toward the Certificate must be taken at an ABA approved program and are accepted after review by the Legal Studies Department Chair. Students seeking to transfer credits taken online from an ABA approved program must notify the Registrar and Legal Studies Department Chair that the course was taken online.

The decision to accept credits earned online rests with the Legal Studies Department Chair in consultation with the Registrar. Legal specialty credit will not be granted for online courses that were earned in a program that is not ABA approved. Final determination of the acceptance of transfer credit for legal specialty courses taken at other institutions, including ABA approved programs, is made by the Program Chair and is not appealable. Credits for University-level courses taken at other accredited institutions that are not accepted as legal specialty credits may be accepted as general education credits.

Career Preparation

ePortfolio

Every student creates an ePortfolio – a digital portfolio of papers, presentations, awards, Badges and more. It allows prospective employers to read, hear, and observe graduates’ accomplishments and skills for themselves!

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Digital Badges

Students can earn electronic badges along with a degree. Badges in Technological Literacy, Multicultural Awareness, Leadership and more are micro-credentials. They give prospective employers more insight into graduates’ full skill set!

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Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) Program

Our Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) curriculum gives students the leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills employers seek.

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