Chicago, IL. – The House of Delegates of the American Bar Association (ABA), acting on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Paralegals, granted initial approval to the Paralegal Studies Program at CGTC.
The paralegal studies program prepares students to work as a member of the legal team employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity to perform specific delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
The Standing Committee on Paralegals develops and promotes policies relating to the education, employment, training, and effective use of paralegals. The Standing Committee, through its Approval Commission, continues to serve as the body to set standards for paralegal education. In addition to overseeing the approval process, the Standing Committee monitors trends in the field and provides information for those persons interested in becoming paralegals.
“Benefits of graduating from an ABA approved program include a 100% placement rate; all credits articulate to four-year programs that are ABA approved; Increased pay and opportunities as a member of a legal team,” said Jacqueline Hightower, Program Chair. “The ABA is a big deal in the world!”
The Paralegal Studies program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the paralegal profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement.
The program of study emphasizes opportunities that provide students with specialized legal knowledge and skills required to aid lawyers in the delivery of legal services. The knowledge and skills emphasized in this program includes ethical obligations in the legal profession; legal research of state and federal laws; drafting legal correspondence and documents; family law matters; real property law concepts; criminal law and procedures; civil litigation, tort law, contracts, and wills.
There are only six programs in Georgia that are ABA approved, the requirements for approval are strictly analyzed and reviewed, the mission and approval process are available at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/approval-resources/general_approval_process_information/
For additional information, please contact Jacqueline Hightower, Program Chair. Jhightower@centralgatech.edu