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NOTE: Admission to this program has been suspended. Information provided here is for advisement purposes only.
The Program
Syracuse University's Legal Studies Program prepares graduates for employment as paralegals/legal assistants in private law offices and public agencies, and other private sector positions, including insurance, real estate, corporate law, banking, title insurance, and abstracting.
Founded in 1979 by University College in cooperation with the judiciary and N.Y. State and Onondaga County Bar Associations, the program has the following accreditations:
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American Bar Association (ABA) approval since 1983.
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Institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).
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New York State Education Department approval for the degree and credit certificate in Legal Studies.
Four Programs of Study
NOTE: Admission to this program has been suspended. Information provided here is for advisement purposes only
- Bachelor's Degree:
The Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) degree in Legal Studies is a full 120-credit-hour program. The curriculum emphasizes desired competencies identified by employers. This degree can be completed entirely through evening classes.
- Credit Certificate:
Designed for students who already have at least the equivalent of an associate degree and want to continue on to a bachelor's degree or go right to work in the legal profession. Students must complete 26 credits in legal specialty courses. These eight courses can generally be completed in three semesters through evening classes.
- Postbaccalaureate Certificate:
Recommended for those who already have their bachelor's degree but want to obtain a credential in a specialized, challenging and lucrative field.
- Legal Studies Minor:
This 19-credit minor allows students to acquire a broad liberal arts understanding of law in the curriculum. The minor is not intended to prepare students to become paralegals and not approved by the American Bar Association for that purpose. It does, however, promote a greater understanding of the law as preparation for law school or in a career related to law.
ABA Definition of "Legal Assistant"
A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
— American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistants August 19, 1997
Note: Both the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association consider the terms Legal Assistant and Paralegal synonymous. You will often see the two terms used interchangeably.
Contact Information
Legal Studies Program
University College of Syracuse University
700 University Avenue, 4th Floor
Syracuse, NY 13244-2530
Phone 315-443-3299
Fax: 315-443-4410
E-mail: SULAP@uc.syr.edu
Web Site: http://suce.syr.edu/employers/lap
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