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Paralegal Associate’s

Classroom to Career

Upon successful completion of the Paralegal Associate’s program, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the education and training required of a paralegal and recognize the guidelines and ethical responsibilities of the profession and the importance of legal research and writing.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, origin and structure of the American legal system, identify and use major tools, software, and sources of American law.
  3. Explain the difference between criminal and civil law and interpret various categories of civil law, such as torts, contract law, corporate law, property law, family law, and wills and estates.
  4. Draft basic legal documents such as complaints, answers, and contracts, interview clients, conduct independent research of non-legal matters and simple legal questions, and draft legal memoranda.

The paralegal associate’s degree program at American National University is approved by the ABA (American Bar Association). 

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

The coursework and instructors will prepare graduates to take the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), and other legal organizations.

In addition to the program outcomes listed, students will have the opportunity to earn their Lexis+ Paralegal Certificate as part of PLG207 Legal Research and Writing course.

Check out our “Not-What-You-Would-Expect” Guide to Paralegal Careers to learn more about this high-demand field.

Online Tuition Comparison

Total tuition for an associate’s degree in Paralegal at ANU is only $31,740. Large online colleges with course-based programs are 5% – 110% higher and do not include fees or textbooks.(1) ANU tuition includes all fees (application, course, technology, graduation, etc.), textbooks, and lab equipment (where applicable).

Course Information

Paralegal Associate (PLG): 92 Credits

GLOBAL LEARN CLASSES

Paralegal Courses

OFFERED TIMES

Core Courses: 2 Hours Weekly

Elective Courses: Every Other Week 

Required Program Courses: 28 total credit hours required

This course provides students with an overview of what a paralegal should be prepared for in the workplace. All of the basic areas of paralegal studies are covered: careers, ethics and professional responsibility, pretrial preparation, trial procedures, criminal law, legal interviewing and investigation, legal research and analysis, computer-assisted legal research, legal writing, and the impact technology is having on the profession. This course also provides instruction in substantive law, including bankruptcy, contracts, intellectual property, torts, product liability, real property, estates, business organizations, and family law.

(Prereq. – ENG102, Prereq.) This course is designed to provide an introduction into the basic principals in the study and practice of legal research and writing. Students will learn the methods and tools necessary to conduct legal research and analysis and how to write legal documents. Students will also obtain the Lexis+(R) Paralegal Certification.

(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) This course introduces the students to the fundamental concepts of family law as they pertain to marriage and divorce. Topics covered in the course include ethics, adoption, divorce, marriage, child support and custody, and the agreements encountered in family law.

(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) This course goes through the general concepts of civil law and then proceeds to the intentional torts and defenses, followed by an in-depth examination of negligence law. From there, the student will learn about product liability, business torts, ethics, and an explanation of the impact of insurance coverage on bringing and defending tort cases. This course discusses how technology is impacting the day-to-day practice of law and the impact it can have on practitioners.

This course is designed to furnish the student with relevant and interesting experiences relating to the career of a legal office assistant. This course presents basic legal concepts in law and outlines the various documents used in these fields.

(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) This course combines the theories and principles of law with the practical paralegal skills, ethics, and the goals and needs of the paralegal profession. Students will learn about client counseling and investigative techniques and processes, draft pleadings and motions, explore the discovery process, and learn about what the paralegal’s role is in assisting at trial. This course also examines how technology relates to the civil litigation arena.

(Prereq. – PLG102 and PLG207) A theoretical and practical survey of the statutory law of crimes, evidence, and criminal procedure including an examination of sample pleadings and motions. Topics include the elements of specific crimes, formal procedures from pre-trial to post-trial, actual courtroom strategies, and the practical concerns involved in both the prosecution and defense of criminal cases. Constitutional safeguards and procedures from arrest through trial, sentencing, punishment, and appeal are also studied.

Program Electives: (Select 9) 36 total credit hours required

  • PLG216 Estate Administration and Elder Law
  • PLG218 Intellectual Property
  • PLG219 Labor and Employment Law
  • PLG220 Immigration and Citizenship
  • PLG232 Bankruptcy and Collections Procedures
  • PLG299 Paralegal Externship
  • BUS+ Business Elective
  • BUS+ Business Elective
  • BUS+ Business Elective
  • BUS+ Business Elective
  • COM151 The Microsoft® Office
  • COM235 Spreadsheet Applications

*At least 4 Elective Choices MUST have a PLG Prefix

Note(s):

For all courses: See course description for applicable prerequisites.

* This program requires this General Education course or equivalent.

+Business Elective – Student may choose from any business course being offered.

For program disclosure information, please visit https://an.edu/about-us/consumer-disclosure

General Education: 28 Credits (At least 1 from each discipline) 

Written and Oral Communication

  • ENG102 English Composition*
  • ENG126 Oral Communication

Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic

  • LOG215 Thinking Critically
  • MAT101 Understanding Mathematics
  • MAT214 Algebra
  • MAT220 Algebra and Basic Statistics

Arts and Humanities

  • ETH205 Ethics
  • GEN241 Cultural Appreciation

Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • HIS290 American History 1945-Present
  • POL202 Political Science
  • PSY127 Psychology
  • PSY200 Human Growth and Development
  • SOC103 General Sociology

Physical/Natural Science

  • BIO101 Introduction to Biology
  • CHM105 General, Organic Biochemistry
  • ENV101 Environmental Science
Review the TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS for blended and online programs.

Ms. Wendy Notz, J.D.

Dean and Department Chair of Paralegal Studies

Welcomes you to the Paralegal Department.

(1) Online tuition pages on the internet at:

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