Just ask any career counselor. One of the hottest job markets over the next decade will be the paralegal.  It’s a career field that has grown dramatically since being officially recognized in 1967 by the American Bar Association.

According to the  American Bar Association, a 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.

As a legal assistant you’ll be an integral part of today’s legal profession.  Your duties might include:

• researching laws and investigating facts.
• preparing real estate transactions and estate administrations.
• assisting attorneys in litigation.
• drafting documents for attorneys.
• assisting lawyers at trial.
• writing letters.

WHY CHOOSE VU?
The American Bar Association (ABA) approves Vincennes University’s two-year Legal Assistant/Paralegal program.  When making employment decisions, employers often take note of the fact that a job candidate graduated from an ABA-approved program.  VU is also a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE).

EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL
A number of VU paralegal graduates have decided to continue their education with some even earning a license to practice law.  VU paralegal graduates can be found working not only in Indiana but also in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, and Florida.  Their employers include private law offices, corporate legal departments, federal government agencies, and petroleum companies.  Still others work for insurance companies, bank trust departments, utility companies, and publishers. 

Note: Recommended courses assume any developmental  requirements have been met.

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

Professor, Larry Stearns
Lstearns@vinu.edu
Lstearns@charter.net

Semester I
English Compostion I
or
Rhetoric & Research
Paralegal Profession & Ethics
Criminal Law and Procedure
Investigation and Tort Law
Speech or Interpersonal
      Communications

Semester II
English Compostion II
Land Transactions
Civil Procedures
The Paralegal in the
      Business World
Law Office Management
Social Science Elective

Semester III
Intermediate Algebra
Legal Research and Writing
Probate Law
Debtor-Creditor and
      Bankruptcy Law
Evidence and Litigation
Humanities Elective

Semester IV
Family Law
Research/Professional
      Seminar
Hum/Sci/Math Elective
Lab Science Elective
Social Science Elective