Associate in Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies
The Associate in Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies program is designed for students seeking a professional career in a law-related field. The program trains students in many diverse areas of law. Subjects include legal research and writing, real estate law, criminal law, family law, wills and trusts, torts, and litigation. Students are required to perform an internship in a local law office, prosecutor’s office, state attorney’s office, or similar.
The AS in Paralegal Studies program prepares students for careers as paralegals, title examiners or abstractors, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations. Program graduates will be professionals who can manage law office operations, assume certain routine duties of attorneys, and directly assist attorneys in handling legal problems. Other roles may include performing legal research, developing new procedures, and drafting of legal documents.
Successful completion of this program qualifies students to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal exam (CLA/CP). The program does not qualify students to practice law, sit for a state bar exam, nor act as or represent themselves as lawyers. Paralegals and legal assistants are advised to acknowledge the American Bar Association definition of a paralegal or legal assistant as “a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, a law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”
Florida SouthWestern State College’s Paralegal Studies Associate in Science degree program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Intakes
- Jan
- Nov
Application Processing Time in Days: 15
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Choosing a major and deciding on a career can be a daunting and confusing task. But you are not alone, most students starting college are not sure what educational or career path to follow. If you are not sure where to start, or just want to confirm that you are on the right track, visit Career Services for assistance in identifying and developing your career plans.
How We Can Help
Career Services can assist you with these five important steps:
- Find out about yourself - Complete assessments to help you identify your personality, interests, and workplace needs and values.
- Find out about careers - Identify careers that match you personality, interests, and values. Learn about the training and education needed, the job outlook, salaries and characteristics and responsibilities needed for a variety of careers.
- Narrow down the possibilities - Using what you know about yourself and potential "good fit" careers, develop a timeline and educational plan to meet your career goals.
- Prepare for the Job Search - Learn how to write a professional cover leter and resume, complete a job application, and prepare for a professional interview.
- Search for a job - Explore local and national job sites. Learn about the "hidden" job market. Register and search for jobs using FSW Jobnet.
PSW Opportunity
Psw 3 yrs
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
English Language Proficiency: Since instruction is in English, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To demonstrate this proficiency, if English is not the applicant’s native language, the applicant must submit satisfactory results of one of on the following tests; TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
Required scores are:
TOEFL (Internet): 61
TOEFL (Paper): 500
TOEFL (Computer-based): 173
IELTS: 5.5
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Bachelors/UG Degree
- Duration: 02 Year
-
Total Tuition Fee:
58980 USD
Annual Cost of Living: 12000 USD
Application Fee: 30 USD
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