Paralegal Studies Degree

Paralegal Studies

Offered at: Westminster, Larimer, Online

Paralegal Studies = Unlimited career options

You can work in the private sector, courts and other government agencies. You can work for non-profits and community-based legal services. Specialize in aviation law, litigation, personal injury, real estate, family law, children’s advocacy, victim’s assistance, mediation, patents and other intellectual property, elder law, or some other field. See gainful employment information.

You don’t have to make a decision right away. Take some classes and see what interests you.

Paralegal Studies program

An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Paralegal Studies degree will provide you with training in a wide variety of legal areas, including contracts and property law, as well as legal ethics, research, and writing. Choose electives in fields that interest you most – such as family law, administrative law, evidence, criminal law, probate and estates, employment law, and intellectual property law. See course descriptions for paralegal studies.

Want to get started faster? Choose a one-year certificate for a Legal Assistant.

A variety of paralegal career possibilities

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates more than a 20 percent increase in demand for paralegals and legal assistants in the 10-year period up to 2018 – with as many as 104,000 new jobs across the country. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment forecasts more than a hundred job openings each year in Colorado alone.

Paralegals work under the supervision of an attorney, and their work includes preparing legal documents, researching and compiling information, and communicating with clients. Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as computer literacy skills, are important to the paralegal.

Gain practical experience as a paralegal

FRCC’s paralegal program gives you personal support and hands-on experience. Our instructors focus on your success.

In one of your classes, called Cooperative Education, you will be placed in a work setting to see firsthand what it is like to be a paralegal. We will work with you to choose an appropriate work site, establish learning objectives, and coordinate your learning activities with the employer or supervisor.

Classroom and online paralegal classes

This program is offered partly online. You will complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction. The classroom courses – Legal Research, Legal Writing, Civil Litigation I, and Legal Ethics – will be offered each semester in the evening so you can work and go to class. In the future, other classroom courses may be added.