The Legal Assistant Program
Paralegal Program
The Paralegal Program
Focus
The primary goal of the
Paralegal Program at OU is to introduce students to the study of law with an
emphasis on real-world applications and legal procedures. Classes are
taught by attorneys, judges, and qualified professionals who understand the role
of the paralegal in modern legal practice.
Course of
Study
Oakland's 13-course Paralegal Program consists of: nine core
courses (required of all students); three legal specialty courses (selected
according to interest); and the final course on ethics which includes a field
studies element of supervised internship. Students may choose to specialize in
litigation, business or estate administration.
Program
Calendar
Evening and Saturday courses are offered in three 12-week terms
beginning in September, January and April. Full-time students can complete
the program in approximately one year. Part-time students may take up to six
years to complete the program.
ABA
Approved
Oakland University's Paralegal Program is approved by the American
Bar Association (ABA) through its Standing Committee on Legal Assistants.
This committee is charged with fostering excellence in paralegal educational
programs by requiring adherence to a defined set of guidelines. ABA
guidelines focus on admission standards, student services, educational
programming, faculty, library and administrative procedures. One of the
first established in Michigan, Oakland University's Paralegal Program has
maintained the ABA endorsement since its initial recognition in 1976.
Admission
Requirements
To earn the paralegal certificate, students must be admitted to
the program. To be admitted students must:
- Complete a Program Application Form and return to the
School of Business Administration. Forms may be downloaded from the web site
or at the time of advising consultation.
- Have certified transcripts sent from an accredited
higher education institution, college or university showing satisfactory completion of a minimum of 45
semester hours or 60 quarter hours. Eighteen of those hours must
represent a broad general education. A limited number of individuals
without college credit, but with substantial work experience in a legal
setting, can be admitted. Students without 45 college credits who are
looking to attend should submit a letter requesting
admission and describing their work experience. This letter should be
accompanied by an employer's letter of recommendation verifying the work
experience.
- Submit a one-page, typed autobiography (a sample of
your best writing skills).
- Register for the Personal Assessment Inventory--a
series of three tests that assess language skills and levels of abstract
reasoning. Students who hold an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 (B) or
better grade point average are exempt from these tests.
Students who are not admitted to the program may register
and take up to two semesters of courses not totaling more than a
maximum of five courses. All application requirements are due before the end of
a students second semester.
Professional Development
Many working professionals choose to take paralegal courses for individual
professional development, and to update and increase their own knowledge base,
employment skills, and overall marketability. Legal, finance, or business
professionals may benefit from taking paralegal courses for professional
development without applying to the paralegal certificate course plan.
Paralegals who are already certified through OU or elsewhere may also take
courses without completing entire certificate program requirements. Please meet
with advisor to discuss your options.
Internship
A flexible 80-hour hour
internship in a legal setting concludes the Paralegal Program. Internships
are designed to give students exposure to the real world of legal
practice. Students already employed in a legal setting can use the
internship to explore new areas of law or legal procedure.
Completing
the Program
The paralegal certificate is awarded to students who have been
admitted to the program, earned 34 Continuing Education Units (CEU) including
nine core courses and three legal specialty courses with a grade of 2.0 or
better, and satisfied the internship and computer competency
requirements.
Students who concentrate their studies in one area of law
may, in addition, earn a Specialty Certificate.
Earn
Undergraduate Credit
Oakland University undergraduate students may take Paralegal
Program courses for credit toward a degree. Information about credit
registration may be obtained from the program director.
Free Job
Referral Service
The Paralegal Program maintains an ongoing, customized job
referral service for graduates and students.
A Comment From One of Our
Graduates:
"....I would like to take the opportunity to thank the
university, and your department, for this area of study. It is a
wonderful program in which I learned and continue to learn. The big
surprise was the degree of difficulty. I assumed it was going to be
easy with a minimum amount of work. I could not have been more
wrong, of which I am grateful. In addition to completing the
courses, my reasoning and writing skills have certainly improved,
which may be the greatest assets I can take to a prospective
employer. I will continue to take courses after receiving my
certificate as I am assured that the program is of the highest
quality, Thank you.." |
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