• conduct interviews
• correspond with clients, counsel, and others on factual matters
• draft pleadings and other documents
• organize and maintain client files and forms
• assemble and analyze records
• index or summarize documents or transcripts
• locate and verify relevant data.

What employment opportunities exist for a paralegal/legal assistant in this geographical area?

Locally, paralegals have become valuable staff members assisting attorneys in the fields of litigation, probate administration, real estate, domestic relations, debtor/creditor rights, and law office management.  Job opportunities exist in law firms, real estate title companies, insurance companies, child support agencies, prosecutors' offices, and government agencies or offices.

What education program meets my goals?

Edison Community College offers a two-year associate degree and a post-baccalaureate certificate.  Students can earn a two-year degree that covers a broad spectrum of areas in which attorneys in this geographical area practice.   For those students already possessing a bachelor's degree, the post-baccalaureate certificate provides a focus on the legal specialty courses.  Finally, for those students who have office skills but would like to increase their knowledge in a particular area of the law, individual courses may be taken.

What salary can an entry-level paralegal expect?

Within the smaller communities, a beginning paralegal without prior law office experience can expect to earn $20,000-$27,000 a year.  Paralegals who choose to work in the larger cities can start out at $24,000-$28,000 a year, whereas paralegal/legal assistants with at least 5 years experience in the field can earn $26,000 to $40,000 a year.

What transfer possibilities exist should I want to continue my education after I receive my two-year degree?

Several four-year colleges and universities have been generous in accepting the credits from Edison's two-year career programs such that students have only two additional years to complete a bachelor's degree.  Specific articulation agreements with other four-year colleges that offer bachelor degrees in legal assisting/paralegal studies have been or can be negotiated for the benefit of the student.

How will the paralegal courses that I took at another college apply to Edison’s Paralegal Studies program?

Edison Community College follows the guidelines established in the Ohio Board of Regents’ Articulation and Transfer Policy, which applies to all state-assisted colleges and universities in the state of Ohio.

With respect to legal specialty courses taken at another college or institution, Edison will accept 12 semester credit hours in courses where the student has earned a grade of C or better and apply them to the program requirements. Credits from proprietary schools or non-ABA programs will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students may appeal the decision of Edison to apply credits for courses completed at these institutions by furnishing documented proof of the quality and integrity of the class.

To insure that the student will take 10 semester hours in the traditional classroom format, the following courses must be taken at Edison Community College.  To guarantee uncompromised quality, these courses will only be offered in the traditional classroom format.

• Litigation I  (LEG 231S--3 semester hours)

• Litigation II (LEG 232S--3 semester hours), and

            Four hours to be chosen from the following courses:

• Introduction to Legal Assisting (LEG 110S--3 hours) or Law Office Management (LEG 218S--3 hours) if no course dedicated to legal ethics has been taken. With approval of the LEG program coordinator, an LEG 299S section can be arranged to remedy specific subject matter deficiencies.

• Probate Administration (LEG 211S--4 hours)

• Real Estate Law (LEG 240S--3 hours) With approval of the LEG program coordinator, an LEG 299S section can be arranged to remedy specific subject matter deficiencies.

All LEG 299S sections will be specific segments of the traditional classroom courses, and course credit will be appropriately apportioned.

The student must submit an official transcript from an accredited institution to Edison’s Office of Registration and Records for evaluation.  A letter is sent to the student informing him/her of the evaluation of the transfer credits.  The student is then instructed to make an appointment with the Paralegal Studies program coordinator to discuss how the credits will be applied and to develop an academic plan.     

The transfer policy regarding the acceptance of paralegal course credit completed at another institution will be implemented as of January 1, 2009.