This American Bar Association (ABA) approved program is designed to prepare qualified persons to work under the supervision of attorneys. Our goal is to help students play essential roles as valuable members of legal teams in various settings including law firms, courts, corporations, financial institutions, non-profit organizations, and various government offices. Students receive academic instruction in a variety of legal areas and hands-on applications in a technology-enhanced environment. A variety of educational experiences which promote critical thinking and the development of specialized skills and professional ethical behavior are integrated throughout the curriculum. This diverse educational foundation prepares our graduates to meet the current and future requirements of the legal community we serve.
The required internship program provides students the opportunity to gain actual work experience in a legal setting. Students are encouraged to sit for one of the national certification exams, and are aided in their preparation through the curriculum, training, and experiences offered by the program. Specific courses may provide transfer opportunities to four-year institutions.
Many courses in this program are now offered in an online format in addition to traditional face-to-face classroom instruction. Please note that The American Bar Association (ABA) requires students to take a minimum of nine (9) credits of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction in order to successfully complete the program. Legal specialty courses include, but are not limited to: PLA 1104, PLA 2114, PLA 2203, PLA 2273, PLA 2600, PLA 2610, PLA 2800, PLA 2949, PLA 2303, PLA 2730 and PLA 2930. Synchronous instruction may include traditional in-person class time or mandatory remote attendance at specified times.
Legal Specialty Course Transfer Credit Policy:
a. The following courses have been designated as a legal specialty course for purposes of ABA approval and will not be accepted in transfer: PLA1104, PLA2114, PLA2203, PLA2273, PLA2600, PLA2610, PLA2800, PLA2949, PLA2303, PLA2730 and PLA2930.
b. Exceptions to the transfer of legal specialty courses can be made based on the following criteria:
- The Paralegal Studies Program Manager may accept transfer credit for a legal specialty course through a course substitution if it is determined that the course in question is sufficiently similar to the one offered as part of the ABA-approved Seminole State College Paralegal Studies curriculum.
- The student must meet with the Paralegal Studies Program Manager and provide the Program Manager with a copy of the transcript listing the particular legal specialty course with a grade of "C" or better, the date the course was taken, and the number of credits earned for the course.
- The student must also provide a course syllabus or other acceptable documentation (course assignments, student work product) and be able to discuss specific paralegal skills acquired throughout the course.
c. Strong preference is given to those courses taken from an ABA-approved paralegal program. The Seminole State College Paralegal Studies Program does not accept professional work experience, CLEP credit, paralegal or legal assistant certifications, CEUs, or the 131 equivalent as transfer credit for legal specialty courses.
d. The maximum number of legal specialty credits that can be awarded through transfer/course substitution is nine (9).
e. Additionally, all Paralegal Studies students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credit hours of legal specialty course work through synchronous instruction; therefore, the number of online legal specialty courses subject to transfer/course substitution may be limited in order to satisfy this requirement. Synchronous instruction may include traditional in-person class time or remote attendance at specified times.
Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as provided by law.
Gen Ed Core
Denotes that a class is a State of Florida General Education Core Course.
Beginning in the 2022-23 academic year and thereafter, students entering associate in arts, associate in
science or associate in applied science, or baccalaureate degree programs must complete at least one (1)
course from each of the general education subject areas listed in this section prior to the awarding of
their degree. Please refer to this catalog's Graduation Requirements section for specific requirements
on the
General Education Core Courses
.
Civic Lit
Denotes that a class counts toward the course Civic Literacy Requirement.
The State of Florida requires that all students graduating from Seminole State College of Florida and
other institutions in the Florida College System (FCS), as well as from any State University System
(SUS) institution, fulfill a Civic Literacy Competency requirement prior to submitting an Intent to
Graduate form in the term they plan to graduate. Requirements vary based on admit term and program.
Please refer to this catalog’s Graduation Requirements section for specific requirements on the
Civic Literacy
Proficiency
Requirement.