Legal Studies & Paralegal, (CTE)

Depends. What is your aspiration? Are you seeking career-technical training to launch a new career? or are you looking to transfer to a four-year college?

Legal Studies & Paralegal Training (LSPT) program provides students will with versatility. The program’s mission emphasizes developing core competencies inherent to both options. Students will find program curriculum that is designed to build a solid foundation from which to demonstrate the requisite core competencies that broadly prepare graduates for either workplace or educational success. 

By offering a blended learning and training experience, program graduates are utilizing their AAS degree as following:    

Industry (employment) –

• Fluor IDAHO
• HCA Healthcare
• Bonneville County – Prosecutor & Public Defender
• Jerome County – Juvenile Probation

Transfer –

• Lewis & Clark – transfer into BAS-Paralegal Studies
• ISU – (soon to offer) into BAS-Paralegal Studies

Paralegals organize, compile, communicate and manage workflow in law offices and law-related fields.

Typical duties of a paralegal include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct client interviews and maintain general contact with the client.
• Locate and interview witnesses.
• Conduct investigations, statistical and documentary research.
• Conduct legal research.
• Draft legal documents, correspondence, and pleadings.
• Summarize depositions, interrogatories, and testimony.
• Attend executions of wills, real estate closings, depositions, court or administrative hearings, and trials with the attorney.
• Author and sign correspondence provided the paralegal status is clearly indicated and the correspondence does not contain independent legal opinions or legal advice.

While the paralegal profession has its beginnings in law firms, today, many paralegals work in various corporations and business organizations including banks, insurance companies and health organizations, and government.

Four semesters for those enrolled in the AAS degree and Two semesters for the Intermediate Technical Certificate.

Program curriculum is created to be hands-on. Emphasis is given to helping students develop a solid educational foundation while developing employability skills. Real world case studies are implemented in classes to aid students in critical thinking skills needed to effectively apply learning concepts to support problem-solving strategies.

No. Class sizes are small which allows for more faculty interaction. The program is hands-on so lecture is often punctuated with workshops where students often spend class time refining assessments before grading and learning how to apply learning concepts. The program blends individual with collaborative projects, which many students find particularly helpful. 

No. Applicants are encouraged to consult with an enrollment advisor in Admission to discuss transcripts and course placement.

Students may enter into the program on a part- or full-time basis. Generally, first-year legal courses are offered twice a week from 8:00 a.m. to noon and second-year students following a similar pattern. Required general education classes are scheduled around legal classes, therefore a student may be on campus more thaStudents may enter into the program on a part- or full-time basis. Generally, first-year legal courses are offered twice a week from 8:00 a.m. to noon and second-year students following a similar pattern. Required general education classes are scheduled around legal classes, therefore a student may be on campus more than twice a week depending on how the course schedule is planned.

This program offers a limited number of online courses in the second year, only.

Contract Admission to speak with an enrollment advisor to discuss the application process.