Post-Bachelor's Paralegal Certificate
Program Overview
Post-Bachelor's Paralegal Certificate
Overview
The Wilmington University Paralegal Certificate allows students to concentrate their studies in the specific content areas relevant to the profession. It is designed to provide the education needed to begin a paralegal career working under the supervision of an attorney or advance an existing career in related fields.
Purpose
The purpose of the Paralegal Certificate is to provide students with the education needed to begin a paralegal career or advance an existing career in related fields. Because certificate programs are valued by those in the legal field, it is perfect for those who want to enhance their marketability, make a career change, or simply expand their career options.
Program of Study
The certificate program was designed by paralegals and attorneys to concentrate exclusively on the skills and knowledge needed by working professionals. The program includes a core curriculum of eight classes (24 credits), but can be tailored to the individual student through the selection of two substantive courses. Students who already possess a bachelor's degree or are actively pursuing a bachelor's degree at Wilmington University will be permitted to enroll in the Certificate program, but will not receive a certificate until conferral of a bachelor's degree.
General Requirements
Each prospective student must submit the following:
- An undergraduate application for admission.
- An official transcript showing completion of a bachelor's degree.
- No more than two courses (6 credits) may be transferred into this certificate program.
Program Competencies
In addition to demonstrating college-level proficiency in the Wilmington University undergraduate competencies, Paralegal Certificate graduates will also be able to:
- Locate, evaluate, use, and communicate legal and non-legal information effectively and appropriately.
- Apply legal and ethical principles to guide professional behaviors and decision-making.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the use, management, assessment, and application of technology in the legal environment.
- Exercise critical thinking strategies, including reasoning, problem-solving, analysis, and evaluation in the legal context.
- Demonstrate effective written communication of legal issues, concepts, and authority, utilizing the Bluebook Uniform System of Citation.
- Exercise effective interpersonal skills, including building and enhancing interpersonal relationships, and interacting effectively with others.
Legal Specialties
Students must take a minimum of eighteen (18) credits of "legal specialty" courses to earn a Post-Bachelor's Paralegal Certificate. The eighteen (18) credits may be satisfied with a combination of transfer courses and courses taken at Wilmington University. A legal specialty is defined by the American Bar Association (ABA) as a course that covers substantive law or legal procedures or processes, has been developed for paralegals, emphasizes practical paralegal skills, and meets the ABA's instructional requirements.
Face-to-Face Requirement
Students must take a minimum of nine (9) credits of legal specialty courses through traditional, face-to-face or synchronous classroom instruction. This requirement may be satisfied through any combination of semester, block, or hybrid courses.
Transfer Policy
The Paralegal Certificate may accept in transfer equivalent courses considered legal specialties that are taken at another institution. A maximum of six (6) credits of legal specialty courses may be accepted for equivalent LES courses.
Credit Through Alternate Sources
The award of credit for legal specialty courses through portfolio assessment or by examination is coordinated by the Legal Studies program chair to ensure that the quality and integrity of the program are maintained. Any award of credit requires the approval of the Program Chair upon demonstration that the credits can be classified as legal specialty, meets the course objectives and practical skills to be developed for the course for which credit is being awarded, meets the needs of the legal community the program serves, and is comparable to course work offered within the program. A maximum of fifteen (15) credits may be earned through portfolio assessment, and a maximum of fifteen (15) credits may be earned through examination.
Minimum Grade Policy
The Legal Studies program has set a minimum passing grade of "C" for LES 200, LES 220, LES 225, LES 226, and LES 228. Students receiving a grade lower than "C" in any of these courses must retake that course.
Curriculum
Courses
The following courses are required:
- LES 200 Legal Ethics
- LES 220 Introduction to Legal Studies
- LES 225 Legal Research
- LES 226 Legal Writing
- LES 228 Civil Procedure
- LES 491 Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies Students must also select two courses from the following:
- LES 302 Business Organizations
- LES 306 Family Law
- LES 309 Bankruptcy
- LES 321 Real Estate, Transfer, and Ownership Law
- LES 311 Estates, Trusts, and Probates
- LES 317 Contracts
- LES 323 Law & Practice in Human Services
- LES 327 Intellectual Property
- LES 328 Personal Injury and Malpractice
- LES 330 Cyberlaw
- LES 331 Electronic Discovery
- LES 350 Interviewing & Investigating
- LES 405 Delaware Practice
- LES 440 Advanced Litigation Skills
- LES 490 Internship in Legal Studies Alternatively, with the approval of the Program Chair, students may take:
- CRJ 316 Criminal Law
- CRJ 411 Criminal Evidence and Procedures
- HRM 400 Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management
- HSC 325 Healthcare Compliance
Total Credits
The total credits required for the Legal Studies Certificate is 24.