Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Paralegal Studies

Approved by the American Bar Association

Program Available:

· Florence, KY Campus

· Tri-County Cincinnati, OH Campus

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies provides students with the training and technical knowledge necessary for employment as highly-qualified, upper-level paralegals. Students graduate with the enhanced skills necessary to communicate with legal professionals effectively both verbally and in writing.  Paralegals apply their legal knowledge and terminology to draft legal documents such as civil complaints and answers, deeds, contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements.  Paralegals also interview clients and witnesses as well as perform investigations.  They also help to prepare cases for trial in criminal and civil court.

Paralegals are an important group of professionals who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, they have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney in criminal law, civil law, corporate law, and administrative law.

Students who have earned both a bachelor’s degree and a certificate in paralegal studies are highly-qualified graduates of our Legal Studies programs. Legal professionals seeking employees recognize the advantages of applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree and who also possess post-graduate legal education, knowledge and skills.

Paralegals do not provide legal services directly to the public unless under the direction of a licensed attorney at law.

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline is required in order to be admitted to this program.

This program has been approved by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, and the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.  It is a candidate for approval by the American Bar Association.

What is the total cost of the Certificate program in Paralegal Studies?

The cost displayed below assumes that

1.      the student remains enrolled full-time,

2.      no developmental courses are required,

3.      no courses are credited by transfer or proficiency, and

4.      no courses must be repeated because of failures or withdrawals.

Tuition:                                    $12,440 ($311 per credit hour)

Fees:                                        $     721

Equipment:                              $     200 (Netbook)

Estimated cost of Textbooks:  $  1,500

Total cost of program:            $14,861

Current Quarter textbook prices are available at http://www.beckfield.edu/about-us/book-price-listing.aspx.

How much student loan debt does a typical graduate have to repay after graduation?

The median loan debt of the program’s graduates is defined as the midpoint of all graduates’ loan debts upon graduation.

Department of Education privacy regulations determine that there were too few graduates during the July 1, 2010—June 30, 2011 period to report.

What percent of graduates completes the program in the normal time frame as published in the catalog?

A continuously enrolled full-time student who successfully completes all of his or her courses will normally complete this program in 3 quarters. The time normally required for program completion may be reduced through courses credited by transfer or proof of proficiency, or extended by course failures and withdrawals, institutional withdrawals, leaves of absence, developmental courses, change of enrollment status from full-time to part-time, and change of program or change of an elective option within a program.

Department of Education privacy regulations determine that there were too few graduates during the July 1, 2010—June 30, 2011 period to report.

What percent of graduates found employment related to their field of study?

Placement is reported in the campus’ Campus Accountability Report to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. The most recent Report covers the period from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

“Placement” refers to employment in the field for which the graduate’s education has prepared him or her, or in a related field which requires substantial application of the skills and knowledge taught in the curriculum.

The placement rate is determined by dividing the number of available graduates placed by the total number of available graduates. The Accrediting Council does not require institutions to report placement for graduates who are not available for placement due to continuing education, active military duty, visa restrictions, or pregnancy, death, and health-related circumstances. Further information pertaining to the employment of graduates may be obtained from the College’s Office of Career Services at dfuller@beckfield.edu

For those who graduated from the program between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the career placement rate was

How can I find out more about this career?

Further information pertaining to occupational requirements and opportunities for graduates of this program is available at http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.00

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for this program is 22.0302.