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Program:
Mercy College offers a four-year major concentration in Legal Studies with a specialization in Paralegal Studies leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree. The program, approved by the American Bar Association , is designed for students seeking a career as a paralegal.
Graduates of the Paralegal Studies program are trained specialists who can manage law office operations, assist attorneys in drafting legal documents, handle legal problems and assume clerical duties routinely performed by attorneys. Graduates are also capable of conducting legal research, designing and developing new procedures and analyzing and reviewing legal documents.
This Mercy College program is structured to meet the needs of the legal profession by providing students with a practical legally oriented education which leads to the attainment of marketable skills. The program was developed in response to the growing need for trained assistants in the legal profession. Future career directions point to an increasing demand through the next decade for those graduates able to provide paralegal support services to law firms, businesses, labor unions and government.
The Mercy College Legal Studies: Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) . Our ABA Advisory Committee consists of judges, lawyers, paralegals and community leaders. Our program is a Member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.
"I highly recommend Mercy College to anyone looking for an excellent place to continue their education, but especially to those who, like me, are looking for a new career and an institution that will help in both the academics and in the real-world experience needed to succeed."
Maria Sanders, '06
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Program Contacts:
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Diana D'Amico Juettner, JD
Program Director & Co-Chair
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
djuettner@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7546
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Hind Culhane, EdD
Co-Chair, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
hculhane@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7376
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Career Opportunities:
Paralegals are employed in law offices, government positions, corporations, the finance, insurance or real estate industries. Career opportunities include paralegals, legal assistants, and law office managers.
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Curriculum:
Students in the paralegal program are given a fundamental background in various areas of the law, introduced to the ethical standards governing paralegals and attorneys, taught how to draft and review legal documents so they can assist attorneys in the practice of law.
Students also will learn to select, compare and use technical information from such references as statutes, judicial opinions, digests, encyclopedias, practice manuals, CD ROM's, electronic data bases and the internet.
For the complete course curriculum click here.
"The Paralegal Program at Mercy College is one of the best that I have seen in the tri-state area. I highly recommend it. I have found that having the background in law comes in handy not only in the legal field but in everyday life."
Christina Ingrassia, '05
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Campuses where program is offered:
Bronx, Dobbs Ferry and White Plains with some courses offered online.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the Mercy College Paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)?
Yes, the Legal Studies major with a specialization in Paralegal Studies is approved by the Standing Committee on Paralegals of the American Bar Association (ABA).
What is a paralegal?
"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 who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible." ABA definition.
Are there professional paralegal organizations that a paralegal can join?
Yes. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and the National Association of Legal Assistants
Do you have an internship program?
Yes, we offer an opportunity to all students who wish to gain experience as a paralegal to work in a legal setting through our cooperative education program.
Have you established a LEX (Lambda Epsilon Chi) Chapter at Mercy College?
Yes, we have a LEX chapter at Mercy College. Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) is the National Paralegal Honor Society instituted by the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) in 1997 to recognize men and women who have demonstrated "superior academic performance" in paralegal studies. The induction ceremony for membership into the Mercy College Chapter is held in May of each academic year. Students who qualify for membership into LEX are notified of their eligibility by the Program Director for Legal Studies.
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