Legal Studies

Associate Degree Program

The practice of law is comprised of a team including paralegals. In modern law offices, paralegals are assuming a growing range of legal duties and perform many of the same tasks as lawyers. Delaware Tech’s ABA-approved Legal Studies program will prepare you to use a range of research methods and information necessary to complete a variety of legal activities including producing the documents necessary for a functioning law office. To supplement classroom knowledge and applications, you’ll also be required to complete an internship allowing you to gain the valuable work experience that employers seek. As a graduate of the program, you’ll be able to pursue career opportunities in federal, state and local governmental agencies, law firms, the court system, banks, insurance companies, private business, and corporations.

Students must take a minimum of 9 semester credits of legal specialty courses through traditional on campus face-to-face or synchronous web conferencing class instruction.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as provided by law.

Offered at the following campus(es): Dover, Georgetown

What You Can Do

In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions such as:

  • Paralegal
  • Legal assistant
  • Legal office manager
  • Legal records clerk

What You Will Learn

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

  1. Explain the present and potential role of the paralegal within the legal system.
  2. Produce documents necessary for a functioning law office.
  3. Comply with the profession's Code of Ethics within the legal system.
  4. Use a range of research methods and information necessary to complete a variety of legal activities.
  5. Apply acquired knowledge of legal specialty areas in the workplace.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

Semester 1

Number Course Title Credits
SSC 100First Year Seminar1
ENG 101Composition I3
PLG 170Intro to Legal System3
OAT 157Word Level I3
MAT 152Quantitative Reasoning3
ElectiveLegal Elective3

Semester 2

Number Course Title Credits
ENG 102Composition II3
PSY 121General Psychology3
ElectiveLegal Elective3
ElectiveLegal Elective3
ElectiveLegal Elective3

Semester 3

Number Course Title Credits
ENG 124Oral Communications3
ACC 101Accounting I3
PLG 280Legal Research & Writing3
ECO 111Macroeconomics3
ElectiveLegal Elective3
ElectiveSupport Elective4/3

Semester 4

Number Course Title Credits
POL 111Political Science3
ElectiveLegal Elective3
ElectiveLegal Elective3
PLG 290Paralegal Internship4

Approved Electives

Select seven (7) legal electives.

Number Course Title Credits
PLG 160Family Law3
PLG 172Law of Simple Contracts3
PLG 175Estate Administration and Probate3
PLG 270Criminal Law and Investigative Procedures3
PLG 271Real Property Law3
PLG 273Civil Procedure3
PLG 274Torts3
PLG 276Business Entities3
PLG 285Law Office Management & Procedures3

Select one (1) support elective.

Number Course Title Credits
ACC 162Computerized Accounting3
OAT 251Access3
OAT 152Excel3
OAT 258Word Level II3
OAT 159PowerPoint3
OAT 240Integrated Business Applications3
CLT 110Cross-Cultural Immersion3
SPA 133Using Beginning Spanish3
SPA 136Spanish Communication I4
BIO 100Medical Terminology3

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 63 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).

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Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?

This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!

Campus-Specific Program Information
Contact Dover

Jennifer Morton
Department Chair and Program Director
jmorton9@dtcc.edu
(302)259-6669

Link to ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission

The Dover campus program is approved by the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission; 321 North Clark Street; Chicago, Illinois 60654-7598; (312) 988-5617.

Contact Georgetown

Jennifer Morton
Department Chair and Program Director
jmorton9@dtcc.edu
(302)259-6669

Link to ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission

The Georgetown campus program is approved by the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission; 321 North Clark Street; Chicago, Illinois 60654-7598; (312) 988-5617.

This program is offered at the Dover and Georgetown campuses.

This program is offered at the Dover and Georgetown campuses.