Partially Online Paralegal Studies Overview

Students enrolled in South University Savannah campus’ Partially Online Paralegal Studies program work toward an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Paralegal Studies.  South University Savannah’s program provides educational preparation for graduates to become paralegals or legal assistants. 

This partially online Paralegal Studies program also provides a strong academic foundation for transfer into the South University Bachelor of Science (BS ) Legal Studies degree program. Students must complete specialized course work and a supervised externship in selected legal settings such as private law firms, state or federal agencies, real estate firms, title companies, banks or offices at the court house to obtain their degrees.  Extensive practical training prepares graduates working under the supervision of a licensed attorney to perform many tasks in a legal office, including but not limited to, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing legal documents and otherwise assisting attorneys with the preparation of their cases.  A paralegal is a person who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals and legal assistants may not give legal advice, set fees, or represent clients in court.  All students in our legal studies programs receive instruction in legal ethics and how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law

The ABA has approved the South University Paralegal and Legal Studies Programs at Savannah, GA., Montgomery, AL., West Palm Beach, FL., and Columbia, SC.  Only the South University program at Savannah has had courses approved in an alternative (online) delivery format by the ABA.  Additionally, those who enroll in the partially online Paralegal and Legal Studies Programs in Savannah must complete LGS 1001 Introduction to Paralegalism, LGS 1005 Legal Research and Writing I, LGS 1006 Legal Research and Writing II and LGS 2001 Civil Litigation in the traditional classroom format on a South University campus or other institution that meets our transfer criteria.

Employment Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses." "Experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best job prospects."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to any of the programs at South University online programs, the prospective student must be a high school graduate from an acceptable high school or the equivalent (e.g. GED) with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and be required to complete the University administered placement test during their first session of attendance, or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student. South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation.

Partially Online Paralegal Studies - 92 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies are required to take a total of 23 courses as follows:

• 10 General Education Courses - 40 credits
• 2 Foundation Courses - 8 credits
• 11 Major courses - 44 credits

General Education Curriculum - 40 Credits
Students are required to take 10 general education courses as follows:

Professional Development - 8 Credits
Students are required to take 2 professional development courses as follows:

ITS1000 - Computer and Internet Literacy

This course is for students to obtain basic knowledge and skills in using computer office production software and internet features. A broad range of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and internet usage concepts will be covered. Students will also use computer and communications technology to develop information literacy skills.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

UVC1000 - Strategies for Success

Designed to help entering students develop a more effective approach to college success, this course emphasizes positive self-evaluation, goal-setting, and motivation; practical skills of successful students; effective use of the library and the many sources of information available; and the concepts and tools of critical thinking, and their applications.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Basic Communications - 16 Credits
Students are required to take 4 basic communications courses as follows:

ENG1001 - Composition I

Students will be introduced to college-level writing processes, including theme, composition, and research. Emphasis will be placed on refining individual skills, writing styles and voices, and on writing procedures. Selected readings in prose, drama, and poetry supplement the course and provide topics for discussion and writing assignments.

Prerequisite(s): ENG0099 or Exemption

Credits: 4

ENG1002 - Composition II / Literature

This course is designed to introduce the student to fiction, poetry, and drama and, through literary analysis and interpretation, to develop the life skills of critical thinking and written expression.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

ENG2001 - Composition III

The goal of this course is to refine the student's reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. By analyzing ineffective arguments and constructing effective ones, the student will discover how ambiguity, evasiveness, vagueness, and obscurity weaken his or her credibility as a writer.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

SPC1026 - Public Speaking

Students will develop and refine presentation skills focusing on compiling, organizing and outlining the research material in preparation for the assignments.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Mathematics and Statistics - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 mathematics and statistics course as follows:

MAT1500 - College Mathematics

College Mathematics covers the fundamentals of several areas of mathematics, including set theory, logic, geometry, graph theory, probability, and statistics.

Prerequisite(s): MAT0099

Credits: 4

Arts and Humanities- 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 arts and humanities course as follows:

HUM1002 - History of Art from the Middle Ages to Modern Times

This course is a history of art from the Renaissance to the Modern period. The concepts, artists, works, and styles of the periods will be studied. Students will analyze the design and artistic concepts common to all art work, and will also cover the external themes and influences that shaped art at various point in history and across cultures.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001

Credits: 4

Natural Sciences - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 natural sciences course as follows:

BIO1020 - Biology I

Principles of Biology I is the first in a two-course sequence in biology. The course introduces biology, scientific methods, biological chemistry, cells, energy for life, basic genetics, and biotechnology. The course also compares human and plant organization and function. The student will also complete writing assignments that will introduce the student to scientific literature.

Prerequisite(s): and ENG1001 Co/Pre-Requisite MAT0099

Credits: 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 social and behavioral sciences course as follows:

SOC1001 - Introduction to Sociology

This course, a scientific study of human social activity, will provide the student with a new way of looking at the world. In learning about the sociological perspective, the student will be challenged to see the general in the particular, the strange in the familiar, and the importance of the global perspective.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Foundation Curriculum - 8 Credits
Students are required to take 2 foundation courses as follows:

BUS1038 - Business Law I

Business Law I is a study of the development of American law and procedure covering information, operation, completion of contracts, and consumer protection. This course also includes a study of the Uniform Commercial Code. Both the text and case study methods are utilized.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

BUS2038 - Business Law II

This course covers the law of business entities, including agencies, partnerships, and corporations.  This course will include a discussion of personal real property concepts, and a study of sales, negotiable instruments, agency and employment law.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum - 44 Credits
Students are required to take 11 major courses. 

*All students enrolling in the partially online program offered through the Savannah campus must document that at least 4 legal specialty courses comprising at least 16 quarter hours of credit were completed in a traditional classroom format.  Students choose 3 of the following courses in their Major Curriculum to meet the traditional classroom requirements: LGS1001, LGS1004, LGS1006, LGS2001, LGS2002, LGS2003, and LGS2004.  Students must complete LGS1005 in a traditional classroom format.

LGS1001 - Introduction to Paralegalism

This course examines the American legal system with emphasis on the methods and institutions of the law. The rights and responsibilities of paralegals, both professional and ethical, are described. Duties and opportunities for paralegals are discussed. Law office management procedures are introduced to the student.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

LGS1004 - Torts and Remedies

The course familiarizes the student with the substantive law of torts. A tort is a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract that causes injury for which our legal system provides a remedy. Concentration will be in three main areas - intentional torts, strict liability torts, and negligence law. The student will study torts related to property, personal injury, and economic relations. The course will also examine various equitable remedies. Finally, students will analyze the specific elements required to establish defenses, damages, and immunities.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001

Credits: 4

LGS1005 - Legal Research and Writing I

This course is designed to familiarize the student with primary and secondary sources of law, judicial reports, statutes, citators, digests, annotated law reports, and legal treatises and periodicals. It enables the student to undertake, under the supervision of a lawyer, legal research and preparation of memoranda and briefs.

Prerequisite(s): ENG1001 LGS1001

Credits: 4

LGS1006 - Legal Research and Writing II

This course is the follow-up to LGS 1005/Research and Writing I. In this course, the student will continue to experience "legal method" by conducting detailed research and by preparing legal briefs and memoranda. This course is intended to enhance the basic legal method skills developed in the LGS 1005 course. The concentration will be on library research, including computer- assisted and test-assisted methods, giving special emphasis to Westlaw and other legal research online databases. Students will be required to present conclusions of their research in concise, grammatically correct, well-reasoned legal briefs and memoranda.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001 LGS1005

Credits: 4

LGS2001 - Civil Litigation - 11 week

This course examines civil procedures and the court system, including the role of judges, attorneys, and juries. Venue, jurisdiction, and ethical considerations are studied. The course enables students, under the supervision and control of an attorney, to assist in pretrial practice including drafting complaints, answers, and pretrial motions; preparing pretrial witnesses, conducting preliminary investigations; and assisting the attorney in the preparation of the case for trial.

Prerequisite(s): LGS2001

Credits: 4

LGS2007 - Computers in the Legal Office

This course introduces paralegal students to the uses of computer software in the law office including drafting legal documents, legal timekeeping and billing, docket control and litigation support. Other specialized legal software is introduced as appropriate. During hands-on training with macros, merges and tables, the student will use the advanced features of software document assembly and office procedure programs to complete complex operations and save time in the law office. Students will learn how to design, maintain and complete forms processing. Organizing the computer directories and files for easy retrieval and use in the law office will be covered. The course will, additionally cover Power Point presentations for trial.

Prerequisite(s): ITS1000 LGS1001

Credits: 4

Core Electives - 16 Credits

Students are required to take 4 core electives courses as follows:

LGS2003 - Estate Planning and Probate

This course examines the transferring of assets, trusts, wills, gifts, administration of decedents' estates, federal and state taxes and administrator's responsibilities. Students will be exposed to the practical application of estate planning through the hands-on review of considerations, problems, and documents related to this area. They will also use and become familiar with software designed to expedite the process of drafting legal documents.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001

Credits: 4

LGS2004 - Criminal Law

This course familiarizes the student with substantive criminal law and criminal procedures. It enables the student, under the supervision of a lawyer, to prepare pre-trial pleadings, interview witnesses, and conduct trial and post-trial proceedings. This course shall contain a survey of the vast field called "criminal law." The course will begin with a discussion of the source of much of today's criminal law, the great English legal tradition of the "common law." A general review of the guiding legal principles of the criminal law, the principles of criminal liability, including the liability of multiple actors; uncompleted crimes and defenses will be carefully examined. Specific crimes such as murder, burglary, rape, arson, theft, and various "public disorder" crimes will be studied, also. Theories of prosecution and punishment will be analyzed. A discussion on computer and Internet related crimes will be discussed as well. It will be a primary focus of this course to give each student a practical, useful understanding of criminal law, criminal procedure, and the criminal justice system. The use of the actual criminal laws of the state will be stressed. The roles of the various participants in the system will be explained and examined (judges, lawyers, victims, peace officers, etc.). The discussions will stress the relationship between the material being studied by the class and the material's application to the daily functions of our community's and nation's courts.This course will provide students with a working knowledge of the laws that have the most practical significance for practicing environmental lawyers and paralegals.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001

Credits: 4

LGS2010 - Bankruptcy Law

This course provides an overview of the federal bankruptcy law and rights of creditors and debtors. Emphasis is placed upon bankruptcy procedures in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Upon completion, students under the supervision of an attorney should be able to prepare and file bankruptcy forms, collection letters, and UCC search and post-judgment collection such as garnishment.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001

Credits: 4

LGS2030 - Administrative Law

This course presents basic concepts of administrative law and procedure in federal and state agencies. Topics include representing clients before administrative bodies, agency operation, adjudication, constitutional questions, statutory issues, and appeals.

Prerequisite(s): LGS1001

Credits: 4

Capstone - 4 Credits
Students are required to take 1 capstone course as follows:

LGS2099 - Paralegal Externship (11 - week course)

In this course, students are given the opportunity to validate their skills through a 120-hour supervised, unpaid externship experience. Students are assigned to private legal offices, government legal departments, or corporate legal departments where they perform the various responsibilities of the paralegal. Students must contact the paralegal department chairperson the quarter before enrolling in this course regarding approval of site selection and schedule. The student will be placed in an attorney's office, corporate or governmental legal department where he or she will perform legal and administrative duties appropriate to the paralegal field. Students are expected to perform their work and duties in a professional manner. Each student is required to meet with the extern coordinator at a regularly scheduled class meeting for purposes of providing an opportunity for interaction with other students and the coordinator. This creates an environment where the students will receive guidance and answers to pertinent questions. During the course, the students are required to complete certain assignments and a final written report.

Prerequisite(s): All required paralegal courses or co-completion thereof

Credits: 4

Developmental Courses

Placement tests in Algebra and English are administered to determine if a student needs additional preparation in either of these areas.  If a need is indicated, accepted applicants are placed in developmental courses on the basis of their entrance/placement test scores and/or transfer credit.  Students must successfully complete or place out of developmental courses in order to progress in the program. Developmental course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame and incremental completion rate calculations.

ENG0099 - Principles of Composition

Principles of Composition provides students with a brief review of grammar and mechanics, and an in-depth introduction to writing. The focus is on writing as a process, finding and organizing ideas, composing a first draft, and rewriting subsequent drafts and proofreading.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

MAT0099 - Principles of Algebra

This course introduces those principles of algebra that are needed for intermediate and college algebra. Students must earn the grade of C to pass this course. Note: This course is offered for institutional credit only.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Ready to take the next step?

Our admissions representatives talk to students in situations like yours every day, and will prepare you with all of the opportunities, challenges, and expectations that come with a healthcare education at South University Online.