One of the top-of-the-line areas of concentration offered at Southwest Tennessee Community College is the Paralegal Studies program. Gwynne Hutton is the Program Coordinator. Students are instructed by a highly qualified and passionate faculty who are responsive to the needs of both their students and the communities served by the college. Working together they provide an environment where students may acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the paralegal field. STCC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and graduates may transfer to the University of Memphis under an articulation agreement and complete a four year degree in Paralegal Studies in the University College.
Paralegal students may select from four areas of concentration:
- Real Estate
- Corporate and Banking
- Litigation
- General Practice
Why Southwest Tennessee Community College is head and shoulders above the rest: 
According to STCC President Nathan Essex, "Our Paralegal Studies faculty is a very strong, caring and dedicated group who takes a personal interest in their students. They remain on the cutting edge of their discipline through continuous professional development. Faculty members judge themselves based on the success of their students. They have created an extraordinarily warm and engaging learning environment that their students find to be very challenging and rewarding." |
The transition between classroom theory and successfully performing on the job is paramount. Southwest Tennessee Community College offers a Cooperative Education program in which the college and the local business community combine their efforts to provide the students with a more relevant and meaningful educational experience. Students train for their future in the job world, completing lessons in both the classroom and the law environment, a combination that enables them see the relationship between their classroom work and their forthcoming professions.
Students who complete the co-op experience an increased awareness of the relevance to education, increased motivation and maturity. Completing a cop-op introduces the student to the world of work and, unlike the internship, provides the student with an opportunity to earn while learning. Only students who exhibit the necessary maturity and accompanying skills and ability will be recommended to employers.
