Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Paralegal Studies

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 Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies is designed for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and wish to continue their education. It provides students with the technical skills and specialized knowledge to work under the supervision of lawyers in federal and state agencies or court systems, in a variety of legal service settings, in private law offices or corporate legal departments, and in a multitude of other public and private organizations where familiarity with government regulation and legal processes is required. The program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Note: Students obtaining a certificate 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.
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

Legal Studies Exit Exam

The Legal Studies Exit Exam is a graduation requirement for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 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 graduationprior 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