COURSE CURRICULUM

This Paralegal Studies concentration within the Legal Studies major is a professionally oriented track designed to prepare students for direct employment in legal support roles while also maintaining flexibility for graduate study or law school. Within a framework like that of the University of New Haven, the curriculum builds on a shared legal foundation that includes legal concepts, legal research and writing, civil procedure, constitutional law, administrative law, and legal ethics, ensuring students develop a strong understanding of how the American legal system functions in practice. A central emphasis is placed on communication and analytical reasoning, particularly through intensive legal writing courses and structured research training, which prepare students to draft legal documents, analyze case law, and support attorneys in litigation and transactional work. Students are also required to complete a quantitative or research-methods sequence drawn from psychology or criminal justice, strengthening their ability to interpret data, evaluate evidence, and apply systematic reasoning to legal problems. The paralegal concentration itself focuses heavily on applied legal skills, including advanced civil procedure, litigation processes, and a required technology-based legal course, reflecting the increasing role of digital tools in modern legal practice. Electives allow specialization in areas such as family law, estates and trusts, business organizations, real estate law, cyberlaw, taxation, criminal justice, and forensic science, enabling students to align their studies with specific career paths in law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Ethical responsibility and professional conduct remain central throughout the curriculum, reinforcing the limitations and responsibilities of paralegal practice, including working under attorney supervision and not providing direct legal services to the public. The program is further strengthened by experiential learning components such as internships and pre-internship training, ensuring that students graduate with practical workplace experience alongside academic preparation. Overall, the concentration is designed to produce highly employable legal support professionals with strong writing, research, analytical, and technical skills.