The Paralegal/Legal Assisting program is designed to prepare individuals to work in a variety of legal settings. Individuals assist attorneys in private, public, corporate, or administrative areas. The skills learned (research, analytical skills, investigation, written and oral communication, exercising judgment, preparing documents, etc.) will enable graduates to work in a variety of settings such as corporate legal departments, human resource or personnel offices, in banks - trust or real estate departments, local government and court offices, title agencies, billing and collections, insurance, administrative agencies (workers compensation, social security, EPA, etc.) and community or non-profit agencies. Jobs which utilize paralegal skills and talents can be found in every industry and profession.

Rhodes State Paralegal Program does not prepare students to practice law. Graduates do not provide legal services directly to the public (except as provided by law).

This is a practical, skill-based program. Students receive extensive course work and hands-on training in computer skills, basic and general legal knowledge, legal research and writing skills, accounting and business law. Individuals perform specific tasks and complete case studies involving probate, family law, debt collections and bankruptcy, real estate procedures and title searches, administrative process, and criminal law. At the end of the course work, each student completes an internship in a legal, business or government setting gaining valuable practical experience

The Paralegal/Legal Assisting program exists to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful for entry level jobs relating to the legal field. The curriculum includes skills and technical concepts applicable to potential employers in the legal profession as well as business and industy. Graduates also obtain the necessary coursework to further their education towards a baccalaureate degree. Rhodes State paralegal program does not prepare students to practice law. The program does not provide legal services directly to the public.

Paralegals and legal assistants are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. Some employment growth stems from law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hiring paralegals to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services. The majority of job openings for paralegals in the future will be new jobs created by employment growth, but additional job openings will arise as people leave the occupation. Despite projections of fast employment growth, competition for jobs should continue as many people seek to go into this profession; however, highly skilled, formally trained paralegals have excellent employment potential.

Job opportunities for paralegals will expand in the public sector as well. Community legal-service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, aged, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts also should continue to hire paralegals in increasing numbers.

Rhodes State’s Paralegal/Legal Assisting Program is approved by The American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60610 (Ohio prohibits the practice of law by non-lawyers.)

This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), 11520 West 119th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66213.

Accredited Programs

ACBSP Reporting

Quality Assurance Report - February 2011
Quality Assurance Response
Quality Assurance Feedback
ACBSP Self Study

Rhodes State College 2009 Graduate Status Report

Students are encouraged to meet quarterly with their assigned academic advisor, faculty advisor or program chair to ensure appropriate sequencing of course work, planning for full-time or part-time course work, transferring to a four-year institution, or to address other educational questions. Each student must complete his/her degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 to be eligible for the Associate of Applied Business Degree.

Students must attain a “C” grade in each paralegal/technical course (LEG and BUS prefix). Any Paralegal/Legal Assisting course in which a grade below a “C” is received must be repeated. Students must receive a “C” grade in COM-111 English Composition before enrolling in LEG-111 Legal Research and Writing II.