Rutgers, which already offers a self-paced, online paralegal certificate course, will team with the Center for Legal Studies of Golden, Colo., to bring an 84-hour, instructor-led, weekend curriculum to New Brunswick starting Oct. 2. Students who successfully complete the program will receive 8.4 CEUs. The 300-hour, online curriculum carries 30 CEUs.
Citing U.S. Department of Labor estimates that employment in the paralegal profession will increase 28 percent by 2018, William Leipold Jr., associate vice president for academic programs and operations in Rutgers’ Division of Continuing Studies, said, “Paralegals play a critical role in our legal system. Their growing responsibilities involve research, preparation, review, analysis, organization and official filings, and the Labor Department says the current average paralegal salary is $44,480.
“Our new paralegal course is an important addition to the portfolio of programs offered by Rutgers’ Center for Continuing Professional Development as we strive to serve the needs of the current and future workforce.”
Students in the new paralegal course will be trained to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. Sessions will cover such areas as legal terminology, documents, ethics and the litigation process; the rules of evidence and civil procedure; identifying relevant authority; legal research and legal research practice; and legal writing and the appellate procedure. The program can be completed in as little as eight weeks.
The Center for Legal Studies has worked with more than 100 prestigious colleges and universities during the past 30 years to offer continuing education in legal studies at a significant savings in cost and time over what would be required of students enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
For more information about the new paralegal course, including fees, visit www.ccpd.rutgers.edu or call 732-932-1458.
Media Contact: Margaret O'Donnell
732-932-1458, ext. 4218
E-mail: margodon@docs.rutgers.edu