Paralegal Studies

Law and Order, Opinion and Evidence

Our Paralegal Studies program, which is approved by the American Bar Association, will teach you how to navigate the field of law from the ground level up. You will learn how to conduct legal research and writing, draft legal documents, analyze legal problems and develop effective client relationships. During your first course in Paralegal Studies, a professional within the local legal community will mentor you on the realities of a career in law. If you already have a college degree, you may choose our program’s accelerated option, which enables you to earn a paralegal degree in as few as eight months. Our program also offers a range of optional activities, such as internships, guest lectures and field trips, guidance in developing job interview skills and résumés, job placement assistance, and student clubs and newsletters. Community College of Philadelphia trains paralegals who must operate under the supervision of a licensed attorney and are prohibited from practicing law.

Career Options

Careers

Find your path.

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants – est. salary $58,615
Compliance Officer – est. salary $83,508
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers – est. salary $56,795*

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

map animation where the the Community College of Philadelphia is centered, the map zooms out to show the surrounding counties highlighted representing the areas of job and career growth.

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Transfer Opportunities

Bloomsburg University

Jefferson University

Widener University

Wilmington University

Courses and Completion Sequence

The following courses and sequence of courses is designed for the optimal success and completion of the Paralegal Studies degree/certificate. Any alterations should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)			Writing, Research, Info Lit 1
In consultation with advisor, select one of the following: FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or MATH 121 - Computer Mathematics and Logic or MATH 137 - Geometry for Design or MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis	3 credits	Must be FNMT 118 ready	Quantitative Reasoning requirement
PLS 101 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies	3 credits	PLS 101, along with PLS 121 and DF 101 (select as a general elective) will enable students to also earn the Proficiency Certificate in E-discovery.	Major Course
DF 101 - Introduction to Digital Forensics or PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or PSYC 101H - 101H Introduction to Psychology (Honors) or SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors)	3 credits	Students interested in the Electronic Discovery proficiency certificate should take DF 101. PSYC 101 is a prerequisite for PSYC 222 in the fourth semester. SOC 101 is a prerequisite for SOC 215 and SOC 233 in the fourth semester.
JUS 122 - Race and Justice or GS 101 - Introduction to Gender Studies or SOC 115 - Gender and Society	3 credits		Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses and minimum GPA of 2.5 in major courses.
Student interested in transfer options should meet with Paralegal faculty.
Participation in the Criminal Justice, Paralegal and Social Science Career Fair is encouraged.
Participation in networking and service learning opportunities offered by the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society is encouraged.

This program is designed to provide students with the option of entering the workforce or transferring to a bachelor's degree program after earning their associate's degree
Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	3 credits		Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
PLS 111 - Legal Research and Writing I	3 credits		Major Course
PLS 115 - Legal Technology	3 credits		Technological Competency
EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation or EASC 111H - Environmental Conservation (Honors) or BIOL 106 - General Biology I or BIOL 104 - Forensic Biology	3 or 4 credits		Scientific Reasoning
PLS 121 - Civil Litigation I	3 credits	Note that PLS 101, along with PLS 121 and DF 101 (select as a general elective) will enable students to also earn the proficiency certificate in E-discovery also.	Major Course

Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall, which will enable them to take an internship their last semester.
Students connect with the program's career assistance services and develop their first Paralegal resume.
Service learning and networking opportunities are provided through the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society. Students have the opportunity to hear from and meet legal professionals each spring during Law and Society Week.

Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Start planning for transfer:
- Did you know our dual admissions partnerships include scholarship opportunities?
- Learn more about our transfer agreements and use our interactive search tool for your program’s transfer options
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
JUS 171 - Juvenile Justice or POLS 111 - American Government or POLS 111H - American Government (Honors) or World Language	3 credits
ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication or ENGL 117 - Group and Team Communication or ENGL 118 - Intercultural Communication	3 credits
PLS 211 - Legal Research and Writing II	3 credits		Major Course
Choose two PLS electives: PLS 215 - eDiscovery PLS 221 - Civil Litigation II PLS 231 - Family Law PLS 241 - Tort Law JUS 241 - Criminal Law PLS 251 - Real Estate Law PLS 255 - Business Organizations PLS 261 - Wills, Trusts & Estates PLS 275 - Employment Law PLS 281 - Environmental Law PLS 285 - Immigration Law PLS 295 - Legal Internship	6 credits	Please see the catalog for course prerequisites	Directed Elective

Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall, which will enable them to take an internship their last semester.
Students connect with the program's career assistance services and develop their first Paralegal resume. Students receive regular job listings and other program notices.
Participation in networking and service learning opportunities offered by the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society is encouraged.

Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
In consultation with advisor, select two: DF 101 - Introduction to Digital Forensics (for students interested in e-discovery proficiency certificate) or PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or ENGL 190 - Introduction to Literature or ENGL 205 - Creative Writing	6 credits		Directed Elective
Choose three PLS electives: PLS 215 - eDiscovery PLS 221 - Civil Litigation II PLS 231 - Family Law PLS 241 - Tort Law JUS 241 - Criminal Law PLS 251 - Real Estate Law PLS 255 - Business Organizations PLS 261 - Wills, Trusts & Estates PLS 275 - Employment Law PLS 281 - Environmental Law PLS 285 - Immigration Law PLS 295 - Legal Internship	9 Credits	Please see the catalog for course prerequisites	Directed Elective

Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall.
Students complete a professional resume, either in the PLS 295, Legal Internship or with the assistance of the Paralegal faculty and Career Staff.
Service learning and networking opportunities provided through the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society.
Students have the opportunity to hear from and meet legal professionals each spring during Law and Society Week.

Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
Finalize your transfer plans:
- Meet with a counselor at your selected dual admissions transfer college
- Meet with one of our College’s counselors or an advisor to review transfer requirements
Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

View the College Catalog for More Information

Featured Career

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Median Salary
$61,672

Number of Jobs
4,308
in the region

10 Year Job Outlook
+5.5%
in the region

Typical Tasks

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
File pleadings with court clerk.

How well does it pay?

New workers generally start around $37,599. Normal pay for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is $61,672 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $96,015.

Learn More About This Career

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Program Information