Paralegal Studies

New students are required to take the College’s placement tests at their time of entry.  Students who are identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as a part of their degree program.

Students transferring into the Paralegal Studies Program may transfer in up to thirty credits (one half of the credits required for an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies) from other accredited institutions in accordance with the College’s general transfer policies. Of those thirty credits, the Paralegal Studies Program at Community College of Philadelphia will accept up to fifteen credits of Paralegal Studies courses in transfer from an ABA approved institution with the following conditions:

1. PLS 111 and PLS 211 will not be accepted in transfer.
2. Upon request, students who seek transfer credit for Paralegal courses must provide evidence indicating whether the Paralegal courses to be transferred were taken in a distance, hybrid or traditional classroom format in order to ensure that the ABA policy regarding limits on distance courses is met by all graduates.

A minimum of 60 credits, a grade of "C" or better in all Paralegal Studies courses and a grade point average of 2.0 are required for graduation. Certain courses required for graduation may be substituted with the approval of the program coordinator and the dean of Liberal Studies. Students whose behavior is viewed as inconsistent with professional standards may be dropped from the curriculum pending the results of a departmental hearing. All students are required to sign an integrity statement in all Paralegal Studies courses agreeing to abide by standards of ethics and integrity in all assignments and undertakings.

All students seeking the A.A.S degree are advised that they must complete 9 credit hours of legal specialty classes in a traditional face-to-face/remote synchronous classroom format. Courses in a traditional face-to-face/remote synchronous format include those meeting entirely in the classroom and classroom hours of hybrid sections. Legal specialty classes are those designed by PLS. Students are urged to meet with a paralegal advisor prior to registering for courses and are cautioned that a degree will not be awarded until this requirement is met. 

Students in the Paralegal Studies program are advised that it is important to have current knowledge in order to successfully compete in today’s legal environment and are urged to complete all Paralegal Studies courses within five years of graduation. To ensure that graduates possess current knowledge and skills, the following requirements apply:

• Because of the need to possess current knowledge of technology, PLS 115 (Legal Technology) must be taken within five years of graduation.

• Any student who has taken Introduction to Paralegal Studies, (PLS 101), Civil Litigation, (PLS 121), Legal Research and Writing I, (PLS 111) and / or Legal Research and Writing II, (PLS 211) more than five academic years before his / her proposed graduation date must demonstrate current knowledge.  The student should meet with the Program Coordinator and develop a plan to demonstrate current knowledge and skills.

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.

The Paralegal Studies curriculum leads to the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, which is approved by the American Bar Association. This curriculum provides students with a varied and general grounding in the practical skills necessary to be a paralegal along with a strong liberal arts background. The program is suitable for students seeking either to transfer to a four-year institution in a law-related program or to enter the work force as a paralegal, particularly in small to mid-sized law firms, businesses, government, and public and private agencies.

Community College of Philadelphia trains paralegals who must operate under the supervision of a licensed attorney and are prohibited from practicing law. This program has been approved by the American Bar Association.

Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• Work successfully as entry-level paralegals.
• Apply ethical concepts to hypothetical examples and real-life situations.
• Draft legal documents and conduct legal research both manually and through computer-assisted research.
• Demonstrate legal analytical skills and legal writing skills.
• Cultivate a supportive professional network and learn how to remain current in the legal profession.
• Define and explain legal terminology.
• Explain the role of technology in the modern law office and utilize legal technology programs.