AA/AS in Legal Support Services

This associate degree trains learners to support attorneys and law offices. Graduates can draft and interpret legal documents, gather and apply technical information, work through procedural problems and handle ethical conflicts responsibly. Coursework covers researching the law, technology used in legal work, and managing an office. An internship placement lets students apply what they have learned in a real paralegal setting. The program can be completed online, although nine of the credits must come from specialty law courses taken in a live, synchronous format, offered remotely or on campus. Paralegals are not permitted to offer legal help directly to the public unless the law allows it, so the role is one of support to lawyers and their clients. Graduates should be comfortable with detailed written work and with keeping client matters organized.