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published October 09, 2006
Judith Earley
For almost 100 years, MSU has produced highly qualified graduates for employment in the legal field; students are trained by immersion in critical thinking and analysis, legal and social science theory, conflict management, research, problem solving, and writing. In the Paralegal Studies program, each student receives the objective and wide-ranging education in the theoretical and practical aspects of law necessary for future work as a legal assistant.
The Paralegal Studies program is recommended for students who are interested in careers as paralegals/legal assistants, students who may want to attend law school but would like to prepare themselves for alternative careers in law, students who would like to focus on the more applied and practical aspects of law, and students who would like to test their levels of interest in law.
MSU's Paralegal Studies program is noted for being the first and only program at a New Jersey state college or university to receive American Bar Association approval. Undergraduate students complete the program as an academic minor or as a concentration within the Justice Studies major. Post-baccalaureate students study within a certificate program. Twenty-four credit hours are required for successful completion. The program can be completed in ten months, and it is recommended that the course of study be taken over a minimum of three semesters. Courses are offered during the spring, fall, and summer semesters, with day, evening, and weekend classes available.
Students can also choose optional areas of emphasis, which are unofficial clusters of courses related to their interests and career goals. Selecting an area of emphasis is not required, and emphases do not appear on student transcripts. Some current clusters are Hispanic Perspectives, Legal Information and Technology, and Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Law.
Within the Justice Studies major, there is a paralegal concentration that prepares students to work in law-related fields. These students are introduced to some of the broad social and cultural issues they will encounter within the justice system, and they gain exposure to both the theoretical and practical roles of the paralegal. Paralegal students at MSU take classes in the core subject areas of litigation, legal research, legal writing, and document drafting, as well as a variety of areas of law, including real estate law, criminal law, family law, patent and trademark law, and estate practice. Additionally, students study topics such as psychopathology, jury selection, and forensic psychology.
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