The School of Professional Advancement's Paralegal Studies Program was first approved by the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Standing Committee on Paralegals in 1981 and earned its most recent reapproval in 2023.  Throughout this time, the program has maintained compliance with the rigorous ABA guidelines that govern all aspects of our operations, instilling in our graduates the superior education that ABA requires and legal employers demand.

The Paralegal Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) is available for students who have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, earning an overall GPA of at least 2.000.

The 9-course, 27-credit curriculum for the Paralegal Studies PBC focuses upon legal office skills, ethics, and substantive law courses.  Most students finish the PBC and embark upon their new careers within one year.  Carefully sequenced coursework includes eight core skills classes that emphasize legal research, writing, ethics, and analysis, along with law office technology and other practical aspects of the legal profession. 

In or near the final semester, students not already employed in law offices take PARA 5900 Paralegal Studies Practicum (3 c.h.) , a course that includes a 100-hour internship in a legal services office and an instructional component focusing upon legal ethics, professionalism, and career success skills.

Paralegal Studies courses are offered online, including synchronous remote formats that meet weekly via Zoom and fully online formats designed for working adults. In accordance with ABA requirements, each student must complete at least three courses (9 credit hours) in either in-person or synchronous remote format. Subject to this requirement, students may complete coursework in formats that accommodate professional and personal commitments.

Many of our PBC graduates pursue careers as paralegals or in other positions in law firms, courts, corporations, government agencies, non-profit legal service providers, and other legal offices, while others choose to enter law school and become attorneys.

Paralegal Studies Program Mission Statement

The Paralegal Studies Program provides our students with the skills, wisdom, and integrity to  identify, communicate, and conserve knowledge and to pursue careers as efficient, ethical legal professionals who are prepared to assist attorneys in courts, governmental agencies, law firms, and other legal services offices, or to apply to law school after graduation, if they choose.

Paralegal Studies Program Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Paralegal Studies Program curriculum, graduates will have the knowledge and skills to: 

1. Describe and analyze the jurisdictions and functions of the state and federal civil, criminal, and administrative court systems. 
2. Perform legal research and factual investigations using both  print and electronic methods and summarize findings in legal memoranda and briefs. 
3. Cite authorities consistent with the adopted legal citation manual (The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation).
4. Draft memoranda of law and legal correspondence.  
5. Identify, draft, and file standard pretrial and litigation documents in Federal and State Courts.  
6. Use industry-standard law office technology to organize and manage documents, files, billing data, and dockets for trial and other law practice management purposes.
7. Identify and apply the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the NALA and NFPA ethics guidelines.

Credit Transfers for the PBC in Paralegal Studies

SoPA’s Paralegal Studies Program does not accept the transfer of credits for paralegal courses completed at paralegal programs that were not approved by ABA’s Standing Committee on Paralegals at the time the courses were taken.

Consistent with Tulane SoPA’s credit transfer policy, students pursing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies may be permitted to transfer in up to 6 credits (2 classes) of the 27 required legal studies/paralegal course credits, provided each course (1) meets all SoPA course transfer requirements; (2) was completed at a paralegal or legal studies program that was approved by ABA’s Standing Committee on Paralegals at the time the class was completed; and (3) has been reviewed and approved by the Paralegal Studies Program Director.

Note: Paralegals are trained professionals who work under the supervision of licensed attorneys. Paralegals are not lawyers and are not permitted to practice law or to provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

To ensure compliance with ABA requirements, all students must complete at least 9 credits of Paralegal coursework (three PARA classes) via in-person or synchronous transmission format.  The Paralegal Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate requires completion of 27 credits:  

Course List

Course ID	Title	Credits
Major Core Courses (Offered every semester, in online or remote format)		21
PARA 2010	Introduction to the Legal System
PARA 3020	Legal Research I
PARA 3030	Legal Writing I *
PARA 3050	Litigation I
PARA 3060	Litigation II *
PARA 3070	Legal Technology I
PARA 4190	Legal Ethics
Select one:		3
PARA 4100	Legal Technology II
PARA 4200	Legal Research and Writing II
Internship **		3
PARA 5900	Paralegal Studies Practicum
Total Credit Hours		27

*

Preceding course is a prerequisite.

**

Students already employed as paralegals may apply to waive PARA 5900 Paralegal Studies Practicum (3 c.h.) and replace the course with a PARA 4000-level elective from the list below.

Course List

Course ID	Title	Credits
Major Electives
PARA 4030	Louisiana Succession Practice	3
PARA 4040	Real Property Practice	3
PARA 4050	Family Law	3
PARA 4060	Advanced Discovery and Evidence	3
PARA 4070	Immigration Law Practice	3
PARA 4080	Criminal Law	3
PARA 4100	Legal Technology II	3
PARA 4160	Interviewing and Investigation	3
PARA 4180	Bankruptcy Practice	3
PARA 4200	Legal Research and Writing II	3
PARA 4240	Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law	3
PARA 4250	Civil Rights Law	3
PARA 4280	Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice	3
PARA 4300	Louisiana Notary Law	3
PARA 4310	Employment Law	3
PARA 4330	White Collar Crime	3
PARA 4350	Law and Government in American Society	3
PARA 4380	Evidence Law	3

^{Program String and Field of Study: PAPBC_GR, PARA}

For more information, contact the School of Professional Advancement.