Paralegal Studies
at Westchester Community College
Approved By The American Bar Association
The Paralegal Program:
The Westchester Community College Paralegal Program offers comprehensive,
intensive, and hands-on training for Paralegals/Legal Assistants. Within the
curriculum, the five mandatory courses (Introduction to Paralegal Studies,
Litigation, Legal Research and Writing, Computer Applications for the Law
Office, and Paralegal Internship) provide students with the core knowledge
needed in the legal environment. The Paralegal Studies students then pick
five other electives within the program to round out their legal assistant
education. See the Course Offerings link for a full list of electives and
course descriptions.
Graduating paralegals have the skills needed to be immediately
employable. This is because the courses in the program are designed to
provide hands-on experience which is required of legal assistants and
paralegals.
Goals of the
Paralegal Studies Curriculum
Job Growth:
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment
opportunities for paralegals/legal assistants are "projected to grow 28
percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all
occupations." In 1996, the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor statistics
estimated number of paralegals employed were 113,000 and by 2008, that
number would grow to 220,000 (a 95% increase in the number of positions).
The estimate turned out to be low. According to the Occupation Handbook
distributed by the Labor Department, the number of paralegals employed was
263,800, hence, a 133% increase in jobs.
Under the supervision of attorneys, job opportunities exist in law offices, government agencies, court
systems, banks, insurance and title companies, and corporations. The
Department of Labor predicts that demand for paralegals is expected to grow
as an increasing population requires additional legal services, especially
in areas such as intellectual property, healthcare, international, elder,
sexual harassment, and environmental law. Entrepreneurs with paralegal
degrees have become their own bosses by becoming freelance legal assistants.
Thinking about Law School:
Although the program is specifically designed to train paralegals and
legal assistants, it provides an excellent pre-law education. Many graduates
of the program have enrolled in law schools throughout the state. Graduates
have been accepted into law schools at Columbia University, New York
University, and Pace University. Of those entering law school, the majority
of them have maintained academic honors.
Diversity in the Program:
The Paralegal Studies Program is rich in cultural, educational, and age
diversity. Students from around the world have enrolled in the Program. Some
of these students enrolled right out of high school energized to enter into
the world of law. Others are changing careers and have already graduated
from four-year colleges. Still other students have used the Paralegal
Program as their stepping stone to law school. The Program has had graduates
from Cambridge University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and
other fine institutions. The age range of the legal assistant students is
also extremely diverse. Students as young as 17 years old and as old 75
years old have been enrolled in the program. This range of cultural,
educational, and age diversity creates a unique educational setting.
For further information contact:
Phone: 914-606-6566
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