Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
If you want to pursue or advance a career as a paralegal, the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program will help you meet your career goals.
This degree program provides a solid foundation in the law and paralegal skills, built upon a broad liberal arts knowledge base. Graduates of this program may pursue career opportunities or job advancement in a legal environment such as a private law firm, corporate law department, or local, state, or federal agency where duties may include assisting with litigation preparation, document supervision, aiding attorneys in courtroom proceedings, and researching legal issues. The student will gain research and analytical skills along with technical competencies in various specialized areas of law.
Kaplan University offers three emphasis areas in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Office Management, and Personal Injury.
Who Should Take This Program?
This program is ideal for students looking to advance their current paralegal career or seeking entry-level employment in a paralegal field that requires a bachelor's degree.
What are the Career Opportunities?
This degree program will help prepare students to pursue opportunities in law firms, corporate law departments, and government agencies. Students can focus on an area of study that best fits their career and educational goals.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Emphasis
Students learn the methods and techniques to becoming a successful arbitrator, mediator, and conflict negotiation specialist. Students focus on learning the dynamics and methods related to litigation for resolving disputes. They will learn how to effectively arbitrate legal proceedings in divorce, family, and employment cases. Graduates may qualify for employment as paralegals to law firms and legal help agencies that specialize in labor, family law, and contract law mediation and arbitration.
Office Management Emphasis
Students may specialize in the area of law office management and help take their paralegal career to a management level at law firms and corporate legal departments. Students learn effective law office workflow coordination, team-building, and law office procedures and record keeping. Graduates in this emphasis may move into paralegal management positions.
Personal Injury Emphasis
Gain the skills to work in the field of personal injury and tort law, including negligence discovery, preparing briefs, analyzing case law, and presenting damages. Graduates with a personal injury academic focus will learn about medical report analysis, malpractice litigation, product liability, and insurance claims. They may qualify for employment with personal injury and liability law firms or insurance companies.
Advanced Start Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
If you already have your associate’s degree, the Advanced Start Paralegal Studies will give you the qualifications you need to increase your marketability in today’s job market, as well as your income. According to the Digest of Education, a bachelor’s degree means greater earnings over the course of your lifetime.
Our innovative program combines the career-oriented focus of a two-year degree with the academic curriculum of a four-year program, offering you the flexibility of joining the workforce while pursuing your lifelong goals. This bachelor’s degree program prepares you for advancement in paralegal studies with the knowledge, communication skills, critical thinking, and technical competencies required in the modern workplace. This degree accommodates both the student whose immediate educational goals are satisfied by the completion of a bachelor's degree, and the student who is planning to pursue graduate-level education in the paralegal studies field.
Kaplan University offers three emphasis areas in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Office Management, and Personal Injury. Please note that if you cannot meet the prerequisite listed below with prior academic credit or with an experiential learning portfolio, you will need to complete them with Kaplan University.
Who Should Take This Program?
This degree program is for students who already hold an A.A.S., A.S., or A.A. degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college and want to earn a four-year degree in order to advance a career in paralegal studies or to make a career change.
What are the Career Opportunities?
This degree program will help prepare students to pursue opportunities in law firms, corporate law departments, and government agencies. Students can focus on an area of study that best fits their career and educational goals.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Emphasis
Students learn the methods and techniques to becoming a successful arbitrator, mediator, and conflict negotiation specialist. Students focus on learning the dynamics and methods related to litigation for resolving disputes. They will learn how to effectively arbitrate legal proceedings in divorce, family, and employment cases. Graduates may qualify for employment as paralegals to law firms and legal help agencies that specialize in labor, family law, and contract law mediation and arbitration.
Office Management Emphasis
Students may specialize in the area of law office management and help take their paralegal career to a management level at law firms and corporate legal departments. Students learn effective law office workflow coordination, team-building, and law office procedures and record keeping. Graduates in this emphasis may move into paralegal management positions.
Personal Injury Emphasis
Gain the skills to work in the field of personal injury and tort law, including negligence discovery, preparing briefs, analyzing case law, and presenting damages. Graduates with a personal injury academic focus will learn about medical report analysis, malpractice litigation, product liability, and insurance claims. They may qualify for employment with personal injury and liability law firms or insurance companies.
Associate Degrees
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
If you want to advance your career or make a career change by entering the legal profession, the Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies will give you advantage you need to attain the position you want.
Our program helps you learn to communicate more effectively within the legal environment, synthesize important concepts from areas of legal specialization while demonstrating ethical decision-making skills, and develop effective legal research methods to solve problems. Comprehensive study in areas such as civil litigation, contracts, legal research, and criminal law will prepare you for diverse career opportunities in the field.
Who Should Take This Program?
This program is for students desiring to complete a two-year degree as a strong base for later pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, or for students who want to enhance their current skills and knowledge while earning a degree. Students accepted to the program can frequently transfer in paralegal work experience for academic credit.
What are the Career Opportunities?
This degree program prepares graduates for career opportunities in a variety of legal environments. Qualify for employment as a criminal law, litigation, or real estate paralegal, among other positions.
Certificate
Pathway to Paralegal Certificate
Our certificate program helps you increase your knowledge of the paralegal profession and provides an overall understanding of the American legal system. Students will study the civil litigation process, including fact gathering and investigation, case management and strategy, pleadings, motions, trial preparations, trial procedures, and post-trial procedures. You will also learn how to conduct legal research, appraise and evaluate legal sources, and incorporate these into relevant legal arguments.
Who Should Take This Program?
If you want to get a start in the paralegal profession, this is the program for you. For a better overall understanding of the American legal system and the professional ethics required for entry-level positions in the paralegal profession, start here.
What are the Career Opportunities?
This certificate prepares students for employment in a variety of legal environments. Qualify to work as a paralegal in personal injury law, environmental law, or a private legal practice.
