Paralegal Studies:

Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of the Peirce College Paralegal Studies Program is to prepare students for rewarding careers in the legal industry as paralegal professionals working under the direct supervision of lawyers in the public and private sector. The College strives to prepare students with an understanding of the substantive knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet the standards of industry proficiency, professional integrity, and academic excellence that are expected and required to serve the legal community. As a means of assuring program quality, the College evaluates curriculum and services on a regular basis and incorporates changes identified through the evaluation process. In collaboration with legal practitioners, employers and professional associations, the College continues working toward the ultimate goal of improving and increasing the utilization of paralegal services. The program-specific goals are as follows:

• Students will understand and utilize the concepts of critical and analytical thinking skills in paralegal work assignments.
• Students will understand and demonstrate the importance of effective communication skills in relation to success as a paralegal professional.
• Students will have a working use of the legal vocabulary required to function professionally within the legal community.
• Students will understand the distinction and diversity of the different areas of legal practice.
• Students will have a working knowledge of the federal and state court systems.
• Students will be familiar with and capable of drafting the forms of documentation utilized in legal practice.
• Students will be adept at computerized and manual legal research techniques.
• Students will be familiar with legal computer software programs and technology utilized within the legal community.
• Students will demonstrate professional caliber legal writing skills.
• Students will understand and utilize the organizational skills required to develop and maintain effective case management.
• Students will understand and utilize the concept of time management in their approach to assignment completion and workload demands.
• Students will understand and utilize the principles of effective people skills to maintain professional client relationships, conduct client and witness interviews, and orchestrate the human resource demands of case management.
• Students will understand and display a mastery of the rules of professional office etiquette.
• Students will have an appreciation of, respect for, and sensitivity to persons of different cultures and other backgrounds.
• Students will understand and abide by the Professional Rules of Responsibility/Ethical Conduct applied to the legal community. Most notably, students will understand and abide by the limitations on the practice of law by nonlawyers. Students will understand the principle that paralegals work under the direct supervision of lawyers.
• Students will have an understanding of the emerging role of the paralegal and the place of the paralegal in expanding the delivery of legal services.