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 Bylaws, Article 21.12

Paralegals work under the direct supervision of lawyers and can assist a lawyer in nearly every aspect of the lawyer's practice. Paralegals have found great satisfaction in gathering and organizing information and evidence for attorneys. They do legal research, prepare legal documents and court papers for lawyer review, and help attorneys prepare for trials or other hearings, and handle many other matters that may properly be delegated to the legal assistant. Paralegals not only work in law firms, but in corporate legal departments, banks, insurance companies, courts and government agencies.

The Paralegal Program at Vincennes University began operation in the fall of 1976. The program graduated its first students (five of them) in 1979, since that time, over 450 students have graduated from the program. The Paralegal Program received American Bar Association (ABA) approval in August 1985. The program joined the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) in 1996.

The Paralegal Program prepares graduates to be ready for employment as entry-level paralegals in both the public and private sector. Its specific objectives are:

• To give graduates an understanding of the ethical rules governing them and their employers and their responsibilities to the client and the profession.
• To give graduates an understanding of the role of courts and of law in society and their role in delivering competent and efficient legal service.
• To prepare graduates to draft legal documents for use in at least three areas of law.
• To evaluate curriculum on a regular basis and to make changes in the curriculum as the paralegal profession evolves.

The Paralegal Program is located in Davis Hall. The Division is under the supervision of Dean Dan L. Burgei. The department is under the supervision of Patrick D. Jennings. The Public Service Division located in Davis Hall, which is located along Second Street in Vincennes, Indiana

Larry W. Stearns supervises the Paralegal Program at Vincennes University. He can be reached at:

Larry W. Stearns, JD
Davis Hall #64 Room 124
Vincennes, University
Vincennes, Indiana 47591
Telephone: 812-888-5764
Email: lstearns@vinu.edu (office) or lstearns@charter.net (home)

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