Frequently Asked Questions

• Are there any entrance requirements to register as a Legal Studies Program major?

  No. There are no requirements beyond those required by the College to be admitted as a college credit-seeking student.

• Who should I contact if I have any questions about the Legal Studies Program?

  Either:
  
  Program Manager/Professor, Dr. Jonathan Green
  407.708.2191
  e-mail greenj@seminolestate.edu
  
  Professor, Dr. Jordan Camenker
  407.708.2594
  e-mail camenkerj@seminolestate.edu
  
  Either of them will be happy to speak with you about the program.

• Who will help me choose the courses I should take?

  The Legal Studies Program prefers to be self-advising. That means that it is our preference to counsel and advise our  students as to the Legal Studies curriculum. When you are admitted to the College as a student, you will have an appointment with a College counselor/adviser. Prior to registering for any courses, schedule an appointment with either Dr. Green or Dr. Camenker to review your curriculum plan.

• What does "ABA Approved" mean, and why is it important?

  "ABA Approved" means that our program has met all of the stringent requirements of the American Bar Association and has been approved by that organization. The ABA accredits law schools; it approves paralegal programs. ABA approval is important for many reasons. First, an approved program is relatively rare. Only nine of Florida's colleges and universities have an ABA approved program (according to the most recent statistics published by the ABA). Second, approval verifies that our program has met or exceeded all of the ABA's strict requirements and guidelines regarding faculty, curriculum, library, facilities and many other criteria by which it determines the quality of a legal studies program. Third, many law firms and other paralegal employers require graduation from an ABA approved program for employment, and it will generally command a higher starting salary. Another very important reason is that as paralegals become fully recognized professionals, many states, including Florida, are considering making graduation from an ABA approved program a requirement for practicing as a "Paralegal."

• Is there any difference between a "Paralegal" and a "Legal Assistant?"

  For quite a few years the two terms were considered synonymous and described a person who did substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. More recently, a trend has been developing among many states, law firms and other employers that applies the descriptions only to the term "paralegal," and applies the term "legal assistant" either to those who have less legal education, those who are assistants to paralegals or are paralegals-in-training, or to those whose duties in a law office are primarily administrative. At this point, it is far more important to focus on function rather than title. Whether we use the term "paralegal, "legal assistant," or both, our Legal Studies Program prepares graduates to perform substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney.

• What degree will I earn through the Legal Studies Program?

  Graduates of our program earn an Associate in Science degree. It is a 64-credit hour program that combines substantive legal specialty courses (e.g., Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Civil Litigation and the like) with support courses (e.g., Business Law, Accounting, Economics, Computer Software Packages) and with general education courses (e.g., Social Sciences, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, English, Speech).

• What if I already have a bachelor's degree?

  If you already have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, subject to certain transfer guidelines, it is likely that many prior credits will transfer to Seminole State and be counted toward your Legal Studies degree. Seminole State's Admissions Office will make this determination.

• Can Legal Studies courses I have taken elsewhere be transferred to Seminole State and count toward Seminole State's Legal Studies degree?

  Generally, yes. However, a number of factors must be considered in making this determination. For credits to transfer at all, the credits must be from an accredited institution. Moreover, if the program in which the credits were taken was not an ABA approved program, then there are significant restrictions on the number of credits which may be counted toward your degree from our ABA approved program. Additionally, only 1000 and 2000 level courses can be transferred to a two-year community college. Further, it must be determined whether the Legal Studies courses you have previously taken at another school meet our program's course requirements. Other factors may also be considered in making this determination. If your circumstances match any of the above, please contact either Dr. Green or Dr. Camenker.

• Are there any opportunities to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete my bachelor's degree after I earn my A.S. degree in Legal Studies from Seminole State?

  Yes. There are quite a number of such opportunities under a variety of circumstances. If you are interested in learning more about these transfer opportunities, please contact either Dr. Green or Dr. Camenker for more discussion.

• If I have already earned some college credits, will any of them transfer and count toward the Legal Studies A.S. degree?

  If the previously earned credits are from Legal Studies courses, please see the answer to the question above. If the previously earned credits are not from Legal Studies courses, it depends on whether the institution was properly accredited, whether the credits are recent enough and whether the credits meet the curriculum requirements for our Legal Studies A.S. degree. Please consult directly with our Admissions Office concerning these non-Legal Studies credits.

• Will a Seminole State legal studies degree improve my chances of succeeding in law school?

  That is going to depend a great deal on you - your goals, your work ethic, your record at Seminole State, etc. For some of our graduates, their Seminole State experience has proven to be invaluable. Keep in mind, though, that, while a number of our students aspire to become lawyers, our primary goal is to prepare you to enter the work force, ready to work in the legal field, upon graduation.
  
  Still, for students who are focused on an eventual law school experience, some of the core skills you should cultivate in our program - legal research, legal writing and legal analysis - form the cornerstone of a good legal education. Our students will learn the fundamentals in a host of substantive law subjects, a number of which - contracts and torts, for example - are standard fare for first-year law students. As a member of our program, you should also acquire a sense of perspective about the legal profession.

• What career paths are available after graduation with the Legal Studies A.S. degree?

  There are many career paths which a graduate may choose to pursue. Chief among them is obtaining employment with a private law firm or corporate legal department, focusing on a particular area or areas of legal specialization. Or, you can pursue a bachelor's degree and law school; working as a paralegal for a governmental or quasi-governmental unit or public interest law firm; working in many different capacities for a title insurance company (e.g., title searcher, title examiner, closing officer); working in the legal department of a bank; becoming a freelance or independent paralegal; and many other paths. If you are interested in pursuing additional career paths, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor/Paralegal website, the NALA website (National Association of Legal Assistants), or the CFPA website (Central Florida Paralegal Association).

• Are Legal Studies courses offered at night, on the weekends, or online?

  Most Legal Studies courses are offered during the day and at night. None, as yet, is offered on weekends. Seminole State offers Business Law fully online as well as in day and evening sections.

• How difficult is the program?

  Although our Legal Studies courses vary in degrees of difficulty from relatively easy to demanding, overall the Legal Studies Program at Seminole State is quite challenging. It is that challenging nature that our students and graduates find to be their greatest ally. It has enhanced the reputation of our program among members of the Bar and other paralegal employers, which in turn adds a great deal more value to graduating with our degree. Moreover, it is our primary role to ensure that once you have completed your degree, you will have the skills you need to find a good job.

• How long will it take to get my Legal Studies degree?

  Generally speaking, a full time student will spend five semesters - just under two years - to obtain an A.S. in Legal Studies. Part-time students will require more time to complete the program. Within reason, we permit students to take as many, or as few classes per semester as their circumstances permit.

• What are the qualifications of the professors who teach in the Legal Studies Program?

  All Legal Studies faculty are qualified by education and experience to teach our students and all meet the rigid standards of the ABA. First, all legal faculty have earned their Juris Doctor degree (J.D.). That means they all earned their four-year bachelor's degree and then attended law school for an additional three years to earn their J.D. degrees. Second, all Legal Studies faculty who teach our legal studies specialty courses (which include all PLA courses, except PLA 1003 and 1005) have substantial and long experience in the practice of law, as well as very significant experience hiring, training and/or managing paralegals in the field, not just in the classroom. Beyond these qualifications, all of our legal faculty are dedicated to enhancing and supporting the paralegal profession and to helping each student maximize his or her potential.

• Is there an internship experience that helps me get a feel for the real world?

  Not only is an internship available, it is required as part of our legal studies curriculum. We will help you line up an internship in the legal community and we'll monitor your progress as you work your way through it. Not unlike our graduates, our paralegals have found internship opportunities in private law firms, state attorney offices, legal aid offices, title companies, corporate legal departments, judicial offices and elsewhere.

• Will Seminole State help me find a job?

  Yes, Seminole State will help you find a job. Not only that, but we'll help you prepare your resume; we will also show you how to conduct yourself during an interview. And, while we simply can't make any guarantees, our track record is excellent: Over the past five years, almost 100 percent of the graduates of our Legal Studies Program who sought a job in the legal community were able to find one within six months of graduation.

• When I graduate, how much can I expect to earn as a paralegal?

  A survey conducted by the National Association of Legal Assistants indicates that the average paralegal salary plus bonus has increased steadily, reaching $46,862 by 2004. Those with a Certified Legal Assistant designation may make more than those without it. Thirty-seven percent responding to the NALA survey reported annual incomes exceeding $50,000. For more information, please visit the NALA's website.
  
  Another good source of information on this topic can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, which furnishes useful information on salary, job availability and job duties.
  
  Paralegals who manage or supervise other paralegals and staff can earn quite a bit of money. According to a study conducted for the Legal Assistant Management Association (LAMA) in 2003, legal assistant managers, in general earn over $90,000 per year.

• Why should I pursue my legal studies education at a state/community college instead of a four-year university?

  There are several advantages, including:

  • Classes at Seminole State  - particularly those in the legal studies program -  rarely exceed 20 students, which gives you a greater opportunities to interact with professors, who, in turn, are more likely to know you and take an interest in whether you are succeeding or struggling.
  • Seminole State doesn't impose daunting entrance requirements that universities impose upon students seeking admission there. You are still be required to do the work once they arrive, but you won't be turned away at the door because of their SAT scores. 
  • Students also find it is easier to acclimate to the college lifestyle at a state or community college. Finding yourself suddenly all alone on a massive university campus can be intimidating. Spending the first couple of years after high school, in the smaller, more personal environment, typically much closer to home and family, can ease that transition. Finally, the classes at Seminole State are substantially more affordable than at a state university; and dramatically more affordable than at a private college or university.
• What is your program's reputation in the community?

  Seminole State's Legal Studies Program has an excellent reputation in Central Florida's legal community, and for good reason. Graduates are not glorified secretaries; they are highly-trained legal professionals. They have found positions of responsibility in private law firms, state attorney offices, legal aid offices, title companies, corporate legal departments, judicial offices and elsewhere. Their employers continue to sing their praises.

• Why should I choose Seminole State's Legal Studies program?

  Here are four reasons:

  • Seminole State's Legal Studies program is innovative and flexible.
  • The faculty is dedicated to students' success.
  • There are events and opportunities here that are available nowhere else. For instance, the program is the only one that stages its own Legal Studies Job Fair exclusively for grads and students. Seminole State also has created its own Family Law Institute and to afford to our students the opportunity to become certified in certain, popular Family Law software.
  • Many graduates go on to get their bachelor's degree and their J.D. degree.

  Simply put, if you want the best and highest quality undergraduate legal education in Florida, and are willing to meet the challenges of our program, then we have a place for you here at Seminole State.

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