The American Bar Association defines a paralegal as a person "who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible." The Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies provides students with the specialized skills and knowledge to build a career performing substantive legal work under the supervision of a lawyer, in accordance with American Bar Association standards, or to work in a variety of public service and government agencies where familiarity with government regulation and legal processes is required. The program is approved by the American Bar Association.

The Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies is coordinated with the Bachelor of Arts Legal Studies. Students obtaining the Associate degree may apply their core courses and general education credits toward completion of the baccalaureate degree.

Note: Students obtaining a degree are not authorized to provide direct legal services to the public. The program offers training for paraprofessionals who are authorized to perform substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The program does not train lawyers.

Students who complete this program will:

1. Produce superior university-level written documents and oral reports.
2. Identify and accurately apply the rules of professional ethics governing lawyers and nonlawyer staff, and the rules governing the unauthorized practice of law in Alaska.
3. Interpret and accurately apply legal terminology and foundational principles of substantive and procedural law in the analysis of legal issues.
4. Develop and execute legal research plans using law library resources and commonly used legal research databases.
5. Synthesize primary and secondary legal authorities and draft memoranda of legal analysis.
6. Prepare legal investigation/discovery plans and draft legal pleadings that conform to the rules of civil procedure and incorporate standard techniques and resources for managing a case in litigation.
7. Relate legal rules and doctrines to client problems in the performance of entry-level paralegal duties in a private law firm, public legal service agency, or law department.

2012-2013 Program Information

Recommended Course Sequence
Steps to Success
2012-2013 Advising Sheet

Undergraduate Legal Studies program catalog copy
JUST - Justice catalog course descriptions 
LEGL - Legal Studies catalog course descriptions

The Legal Studies Exit Exam is a graduation requirement for the Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program. The examination will only be administered twice in a given semester. Students who plan to graduate in the fall or spring semester should contact the Justice Center at 786-1810 to reserve a seat. Summer graduates will need to schedule a date to take the required exam the previous spring semester.

In order to participate, students must apply for graduation prior to the scheduled exam date.

In fall 2013, the Exit Exam will be scheduled twice in November. Check back here during the semester for exam dates/times - TBA