Paralegal Program

1

• Paralegal Program
• Program Review

2
History

• The Paralegal Program at NECC started in 1983.
• It is highly regarded in the community and has
  had the approval of the American Bar Association
  for 22 years.
• Although it is a small program, the students are
  among the best and brightest at the college.
  They are involved in the college and continually
  give back once they graduate.

3
Paralegal Programs

• Paralegal Certificate
• Associates Degree
• Transfer Option
• Career Option
• These are criteria based programs requiring
  English Comp. I and an interview or information
  session with Program Coordinator.

4
Paralegal Certificate

• At NECC, the Certificate in Paralegal Studies is
  a post graduate certificate combining a liberal
  arts foundation with a career concentration in
  the paralegal area.
• Applicants must have already earned at least 36
  liberal arts college credits in a minimum of four
  disciplines prior to admission.
• These students often have Bachelors Degrees and
  sometimes have Masters Degrees and have come to
  NECC for the Paralegal courses. Many also want to
  complete the program in one year.

5
Curriculum for Certificate

• Year 1, Fall Semester
• Introduction to American Law
• Introduction to Paralegalism
• Legal Research Writing I
• 1 Paralegal Elective
•  
• Year 1, Spring Semester
• Legal Research Writing II
• Litigation
• 3 Paralegal Electives

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Transfer Option

• The Transfer Option (62/63 credits required) is
  designed for students wishing to transfer to
  another institution to earn a Bachelor's Degree.
• This option maximizes the transferability of
  credits.
• Joint Admissions/Mass Transfer.

7
Career Option

• The Career Option (61 credits required) is
  designed for students who plan to seek employment
  after receiving their Associate Degree and do not
  intend to further their education.
• This option focuses on the practical aspects of
  the profession and, because Career Option
  students do not plan to transfer to a four-year
  institution, this option offers more flexibility
  with electives.

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Transfer/Career Curriculum
Career Option Transfer Option
Year 1, Fall Semester Year 1, Fall Semester
Computer Elective Computer Elective
English Composition I English Composition I
Introduction to American Law Introduction to American Law
Introduction to Paralegalism Introduction to Paralegalism
Practical Logic Practical Logic
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Transfer/Career Curriculum (continued)
Career Option Transfer Option
Year 1, Spring Semester Year 1, Spring Semester
Behavioral Science Elective Behavioral Science Elective
English Composition II English Composition II
Civil Rights Liberties Civil Rights Liberties
Math Elective MAT111 or higher Math Elective MAT120 or higher
Legal Research Writing I Legal Research Writing I
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Transfer/Career Curriculum (continued)
Career Option Transfer Option
Year 2, Fall Semester Year 2, Fall Semester
Liberal Arts Elective Humanities Elective
Legal Research Writing II Legal Research Writing II
Litigation Litigation
Paralegal Elective Paralegal Elective
Science Elective must be a lab science Science Elective must be a lab science
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Transfer/Career Curriculum (continued)
Career Option Transfer Option
Year 2, Spring Semester Year 2, Spring Semester
Free Elective Literature Elective
Paralegal Practicum (Spring Semester only) Science Elective must be a lab science
Paralegal Elective Paralegal Elective
Paralegal Elective Paralegal Elective
Paralegal Elective Paralegal Elective
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American Bar Association

• The program has been approved by the ABA since
  1988. This requires extensive data collection
  related to student, graduate and employers
  satisfaction as well as curriculum and admissions
  requirements that must be maintained.
• Site team last visited in 2005.
• Interim Reports were submitted in 2007 and 2009.
• Reapproval Report is due May 15, 2011.

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Areas of Strength

• Approval by the American Bar Association
•  
• Program coordinator provides strong and capable
  leadership and fosters an open and nurturing
  environment for the students to learn and give
  feedback.
•  
• Dedicated, caring, committed faculty
•  
• The curriculum is sound.
•  
• The graduates are well prepared for their
  careers.
•  
• Active Legal Advisory Board

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Areas of Strength (continued)

• Excellent employment prospects.
•  
• Highly professional faculty with both academic
  credentials and practical experience with
  paralegals who are committed to the success of
  their students.
•  
• Membership in the American Association for
  Paralegal Education and Massachusetts Paralegal
  Association.
•  
• Effective, intensive academic advising.
•  
• Collaborative relationships within the college
  and with community agencies.
•  

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Areas of Strength (continued)

• Curriculum strongly supports student learning
  outcomes.
•  Paralegal Program Orientation
• Student and graduate feedback is solicited and
  changes are made to the program accordingly.
• Retention rate that is higher than that of the
  college
• Active Paralegal Club
• The Program supports professional development
  activities of program coordinator and faculty

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Areas for Improvement

• Increase accessibility of paralegal program
  courses, especially in the evening. This
  includes number of courses, when the courses are
  offered, and mode of instruction.
• Update Legal Collection in library.
• Increase availability of computers and technology
  for student use, specifically law specific
  software.
• Increase advising and admissions activities,
  especially during the summer and January break.
• Increase minority enrollment.

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Action Plans

• Problem
• Insufficient accessibility of paralegal program
  courses, especially in the evening and
  particularly for Certificate students. This
  includes number of courses, when the courses are
  offered, and mode of instruction.
•  
• Improvement Activity
• Develop plan integrating hybrid, online, and
  Saturday classes into the schedule and increase
  number of courses offered each semester.

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Action Plans (continued)

• Problem
• Legal Collection is becoming inadequate and out
  of date. Fenton Judicial Center is no longer
  open in the evening.
•  
• Improvement Activity
• Work with Dean and Director of Library Services
  to find additional funding sources to purchase
  books and to pay to open Fenton at least one
  evening per week if necessary.

19
Action Plans (continued)

• Problem
• Lack of designated computers and technology for
  student use, specifically with law specific
  software.
•  
• Improvement Activity
• Investigate computer and software needs. Make
  written recommendation for the development of a
  computer lab in the Paralegal Program area. Work
  with Dean to budget for recommended items.

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Action Plans (continued)

• Problem
• Availability of advising and other admissions
  activities during summer and January break.
•  
• Improvement Activity
• Work with Dean of division to find funding for
  staff associate and program coordinator for
  summer and January break work.

21
Action Plans (continued)

• Problem
• Low minority enrollment.
•  
• Improvement Activity
• Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment
  Services and continue outreach efforts.

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Resources Requested

• Equipment
• Computers and Law Specific Software for Computer
  Lab
•  
• Personnel
• Staff Associate for Summer
• Stipends for January and Summer work
  (Coordinator)
• Space
• Reconfiguration of Paralegal Office area
• Reassigned Time or Funding
• to create online and hybrid courses that meet ABA
• approval.

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Endless Possibilities(if time and funding
permitted)

• Outreach to legal community to expand job
  opportunities for graduates.
• Creation of Center for Law and Justice
• 1. to attract students interested in any career
  in law
• 2. to provide guidance on alternative careers in
  law
• (Introduction to Law and Legal Careers course/
  seminars)
• 3. to provide curriculum commonalities with CJ
  and other programs so students can investigate
  career possibilities
• 4. to provide an option for students interested
  in law school.

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Questions/Comments