These courses, approved by the American Bar Association, are designed to qualify students for entry-level positions in the paralegal field. Students who have earned an Associate in Arts (A.A.), an Associate in Science (A.S.) or a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by a regional member of the Commission of Higher Education can complete this program in a short amount of time. Community College of Philadelphia trains paralegals who must operate under the supervision of a licensed attorney and are prohibited from practicing law. Students with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree may also be eligible; see College Catalog for entrance requirements.
All students seeking the Paralegal Studies Proficiency Certificate are advised that they must complete 9 credit hours of legal specialty classes in a traditional face-to-face/remote synchronous classroom format. Courses in a traditional face-to-face/remote synchronous format include those meeting entirely in the classroom and classroom hours of hybrid sections. Legal specialty classes are those designed by PLS. Students are urged to meet with a paralegal advisor prior to registering for courses and are cautioned that a proficiency certificate will not be awarded until this requirement is met.