Associate of Arts

Paralegal Studies (Effective 10/20/2025)

Program

60 credits, 20 months, 80 weeks

The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies program is designed to prepare students for the requirements of work as a paralegal in the current and emerging legal workplace. In addition to foundational skills in paralegal sciences, graduates of the program will also be competent in the areas of conducting electronic discovery and working in a technologically mature office environment.

Following the completion of the program, a graduate should have the ability to:

  • Perform client support functions.
  • Perform attorney support function.
  • Conduct investigative research.
  • Conduct legal research.
  • Prepare litigation legal documents.
  • Prepare for trial.
  • Prepare administrative level documents.
  • Prepare business communications.
  • Provide clerical support.

All of these functions will be presented within the context of the current and future electronic legal office and the basic knowledge of electronic discovery.

The following is a list of example occupations that one could pursue (this is just a sample, as job titles and names continue to change in industry):

  • Litigation Paralegal
  • Legal Support Specialist
  • Legal Assistant
  • Litigation Clerk and Legal Executive Assistant
  • Discovery Paralegal

include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • 23-2010.0 – Paralegals and Legal Assistants
  • 23-2093.0 – Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
  • 23-2099.00 – Legal Support Workers, All other

*Detailed information surrounding these classifications can be found at the following website: www.bls.gov.

In order to graduate and receive an Associate of Arts degree in paralegal studies, students must earn a minimum of 60 semester credits for the courses in the curriculum and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Core Courses

Course Code
Title
Credits
3

This course explores the procedures associated with e-discovery. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) and electronically stored information (ESI) fundamentals and the opportunity to build practical e-discovery paralegal skills. Topics include the pre-trial litigation process and the forms and phases of general discovery.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This class will help students develop a comprehensive understanding of the early phases of the EDRM (Information Governance through Processing). Students will focus on the communication skills and paperwork needed to keep necessary parties informed. This class is designed to help students begin to manage e-discovery projects for a law firm.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This class provides students with an opportunity to develop and practice skills relating to the latter stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) framework using actual eDiscovery software that is used in the legal profession. Students will gain hands-on eDiscovery experience and learn best practices related to eDiscovery workflow and projects.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course presents the role of paralegals in the legal system, introduces paralegal skills, and explores career opportunities. It highlights the ethical and professional guidelines that govern the paralegal field. It also introduces the sources of law, an overview of courts, and alternative dispute resolution systems.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course introduces future paralegals to all facets of contract preparation, including ethical, practical, and professional issues. Students practice drafting contracts for equipment, real estate, and business sales, while reviewing current case law, completing critical thinking assignments involving attorney briefings and legal cases.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course expands the skills of the paralegal student in performing legal research and writing, emphasizing case briefing and legal analysis. It provides students with experience using research tools and search engines available in the legal field.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course provides students with an understanding of the nature, formation and regulation of business organizations. Students will not only learn fundamental applications of business law, but also will be able to put those basics into practice after reading a multitude of real-world examples and performing several skill assessment activities.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course provides a basic understanding of personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, and civil rights litigation. Students develop skills in applying law to fact patterns as well as utilizing rules of state and federal civil procedure.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course focuses on the paralegal's role in a family law practice and the opportunity to develop practical skills for family law practice paralegals. Topics include fundamental concepts of family law, including jurisdictional issues, paternity issues, adoption, formal and informal marriages, divorce, annulment, marital property, and the parent-child relationship with emphasis on the paralegal's role.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course involves the study of both substantive and procedural criminal law, the different stages of the criminal process from the prospect of both prosecution and defense. Topics include the classifications and elements of state and federal crimes, constitutional civil rights, procedural and evidentiary rules, criminal trial litigation preparation.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course is designed to provide students with practical experience using the knowledge that they have gained in the program. Students will have the opportunity to prepare detailed pleadings, draft pre-trial motions, and write discovery requests in addition to learning about deposition preparation. This class additionally explores the role of paralegals in alternative dispute resolution and provides them with a chance to develop their skills relating to trial preparation and presentation in the electronic courtroom.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

Sub-Total Credits
45

Note: Bryan University strives to deliver students the most up to date courses possible. Students should always refer to the course syllabus for textbook information.

General Education Courses

Course Code
Title
Credits
3

This course introduces the concepts and theories of interpersonal communication. Students will explore the process and functions of communication, developing relationships, communication strategies and skills, and interpersonal language skills, including conflict management.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course covers written communication skills with an emphasis on understanding the writing process, analyzing readings, and practicing writing for personal and professional applications.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course begins with a review of real numbers and algebraic expressions before covering algebra topics including linear equations and inequalities, lines and functions, systems, exponents, polynomials, and factoring.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

A course covering the foundational concepts related to human behavior. Topics include the human mind, human behavior, and important experiments and research in the field of psychology.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

Sub-Total Credits
15

Note: Bryan University strives to deliver students the most up to date courses possible. Students should always refer to the course syllabus for textbook information.

Total Credits
60