Paralegal

The Alabama Department of Labor lists Paralegal as one of Alabama’s Hot 40 and Top Growth Job professions. This growth is linked, in large part, to the Legal and Business communities’ reliance on paralegals for increased services formerly performed exclusively by attorneys.  Paralegals, under the supervision of licensed attorneys, can provide clients (legal and corporate) with valuable legal services cost effectively. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Paralegals are typically the backbone of law firms providing attorneys and clients with quality drafted legal documents and assistance in the trial process.  Paralegals are often called upon to meet with clients, interview witnesses, review critical documents and provide many more essential functions relative to client representation at all levels.  As the profession has grown, so has the variety of jobs in which paralegals are placed.  Many corporate employers including banks, insurance companies, defense contractors and other large businesses often employ “in-house” paralegals to prepare many of the documents necessary to business.  As the need for more affordable legal services increases, so too will the need for paralegals.

Calhoun Community College’s Business Administration Department offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree concentration in Paralegal Studies. Calhoun Paralegal Studies students are exposed to a wide range of classes designed to provide the future paralegal with a working knowledge base of both procedural and substantive law.  Courses include Domestic, Business and Criminal Law as well as specialty classes on Bankruptcy and Real Estate Law.  Calhoun students learn from accomplished faculty including current Alabama Circuit Judges, Federal Bankruptcy Trustees and other prominent members of the North Alabama legal community.

This program has been approved by the American Bar Association.

Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Recommended Degree Plans

Fall Semester Start

This study plan is provided for planning purposes only. It assumes that you begin your college studies in the Fall semester. It is not a guarantee that you will graduate within two years of attendance at Calhoun. If you are required to complete developmental coursework in English or Mathematics, then the time you spend at Calhoun will increase accordingly. Course offerings are subject to change.

Year 1
First Semester (Fall)Credit Hours
ORI 101Orientation to College1
ENG 101English Composition I3
MTH Elective3
PRL 101Introduction to Paralegal Studies3
PRL 102Basic Research and Writing3
Second Semester (Spring)
ENG 102English Composition II3
CIS 146Microcomputer Applications3
ECO 231Principles of Macroeconomics3
BUS 215Business Communications3
PRL 160Criminal Law and Procedure3
Third Semester (Summer)
SPH 107Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
PRL 282Law Office Management & Procedure3
Year 2
Fourth Semester (Fall)Credit Hours
CIS ElectiveChoose from CIS 197E, 197K, 197W3
BUS 263Legal & Social Environment of Business3
PRL 262Civil Law and Procedure3
PRL 210Property Law3
BUS 151Modern Business Math with Excel3
Fifth Semester (Spring)
PRL 230Domestic Law3
PRL 240Wills, Estates and Trusts3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective3
PRL Elective/PRL 291 Internship**3
BUS 241Principles of Accounting I3

*This information is provided for guidance only. Students should refer to the appropriate course catalog for official course and degree requirements. Completion of coursework in accordance with this example does not guarantee degree conference. Students should contact the PRL Program Director with advising questions about PRL courses and degree requirements: Brian Oakes, 256-303-4735 or brian.oakes@calhoun.edu.

**Additional prerequisites are required for PRL 291 Internship, including Program Director approval. Students who do not qualify or are otherwise unable to take PRL 291 must use another PRL elective course to satisfy this 3 credit hour requirement.

Spring Semester Start

This study plan is provided for planning purposes only. It assumes that you begin your college studies in the Spring semester. It is not a guarantee that you will graduate within two years of attendance at Calhoun. If you are required to complete developmental coursework in English or Mathematics, then the time you spend at Calhoun will increase accordingly. Course offerings are subject to change.

Year 1
First Semester (Spring)Credit Hours
ORI 101Orientation to College1
ENG 101English Composition I3
MTH Elective3
PRL 101Introduction to Paralegal Studies3
PRL 102Basic Research and Writing3
Second Semester (Summer)
ENG 102English Composition II3
CIS 146Microcomputer Applications3
Third Semester (Fall)
CIS Elective(Choose from CIS 197E, 197K, 197W)3
SPH 107Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
BUS 263Legal & Social Environment of Business3
PRL 262Civil Law and Procedure3
PRL 210Property Law3
Year 2
Fourth Semester (Spring)Credit Hours
BUS 215Business Communications3
PRL 160Criminal Law and Procedure3
PRL 230Domestic Law3
PRL 240Wills, Estates and Trusts3
PRL Elective/PRL 291 Internship**3
Fifth Semester (summer)
PRL 282Law Office Management &amp Procedure3
Sixth Semester (Fall)
ECO 231Principles of Macroeconomics3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective3
BUS 241Principles of Accounting I3
BUS 151Modern Business Math with Excel3

*This information is provided for guidance only. Students should refer to the appropriate course catalog for official course and degree requirements. Completion of coursework in accordance with this example does not guarantee degree conference. Students should contact the PRL Course Director with advising questions about PRL courses and degree requirements: Brian Oakes, 256-303-4735 or brian.oakes@calhoun.edu.

**Additional prerequisites are required for PRL 291 Internship, including Program Director approval. Students who do not qualify or otherwise unable to take PRL 291 Internship must use another PRL elective course to satisfy this 3 credit hour requirement.

Please refer to the current catalog for degree requirements.

What You’ll Learn

The Paralegal AAS degree program

Legal research

  • Research methods used in law offices
  • Using the LexisNexis legal research system
  • Search the Code of Alabama to find specific laws
  • Verifying that laws and rulings are valid and up-to-date

Legal writing

  • Writing summaries of research for attorneys
  • Proper methods for citation of laws and court cases

Areas of law

  • Criminal law
  • Civil law
  • Methods and procedures for real estate transactions
  • Domestic law, including marriage, divorce, child custody & support, and adoption
  • Inheritance and estates
  • Bankruptcy law

Office management

  • Basic financial accounting
  • Case management
  • Supervision of employees

Paralegal internship

  • Get real-world experience with a one-semester internship at a local law firm

For More Information

Denean Harris
Administrative Assistant, Business & Computer Information Systems Division

Brian Oakes
Paralegal Instructor, Business Administration Department

Paralegal and Legal Assistant Careers

Paralegals can be employed in all fields of law including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate.

Check out career data based on the program below:

AAS Paralegal Studies