Paralegal Certificate

The Paralegal Certificate program prepares students to assist lawyers and administrators of law-related occupations in providing efficient legal services to the public. The program of study includes law-related courses and legal specialty courses.

Quick Facts

Overview

Students who already have an associate in science, associate in art, bachelor's or higher degree may earn a paralegal certificate upon successful completion of the paralegal courses only. Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom or online synchronous instruction as required by the American Bar Association*.

Delivery Method: Online Synchronous* (Zoom) & Asynchronous

Important Links

Paralegal Certificate Curriculum PDF

Paralegal Application

Transferring Paralegal Credits

Paralegal Course Outlines and Descriptions

Free College Tuition - North Star Promise Scholarship

Time to Complete

The Paralegal Certificate program can be completed in one year if started in the summer, otherwise, it takes three semesters to complete. Taking classes on a part-time basis will require additional semesters.

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Costs

Tuition & Fees:
$210.86 per credit (30 credits)
$220.48 per fully online credit

Tuition Details

What You Will Learn

• Demonstrate an understanding of the sources of law, legal procedure, and operation of legal systems within state and federal government and apply that knowledge to the work of paralegals.

• Successfully complete projects performed by paralegals in the various substantive areas of law.

• Demonstrate ability to use word processing, spreadsheets, data base and case management software as they are used in the legal profession.

• Conduct legal research using print and electronic resources, apply results to fact situations, and report findings in an appropriate format.

• Understand and apply the Rules of Professional Conduct as they relate to the practice of law and demonstrate ethical behaviors in all settings.

After NHCC

NHCC's Paralegal Certificate program is approved by the American Bar Association. After completing the Paralegal Certificate program, graduates are prepared for entry into a paralegal career. Paralegal Certificate courses provide presently employed paralegals an opportunity to enhance their legal knowledge and skills. The Paralegal program does not train graduates to provide legal services directly to the public. Any person who attempts to provide legal services directly to the public, but is not licensed to practice law, engages in the illegal and unauthorized practice of law.

Should I Get a Certificate or an AS Degree?

If you already have an AS, AA, or bachelor's degree, a Paralegal Certificate would prepare you for a career assisting lawyers and administrators of law-related occupations in providing efficient legal services to the public.

If you don't already have an AS, AA, or bachelor's degree, you will need a Paralegal AS degree to start your career assisting lawyers and administrators of law-related occupations in providing efficient legal services to the public.

Paralegal Program Highlights

American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Program
Highest-Rated Community College Paralegal Program in Minnesota according to Minnesota Lawyer Reader Rankings
Online Synchronous Education – Entire program may be completed online, evening courses
First and only ABA-approved paralegal program in the country to provide paralegal education to incarcerated students in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Corrections
88% job placement rate within 6 months of graduation
Advisory Committee made up of members working in the field as lawyers, paralegals, and in business for companies including, Cargill, Fredrickson & Byron, Target Corporation, Red Wing Shoes, Maslon, Hennepin County, Toro Corporation, Taft Law

graphic showing ABA approved program and award

two female students with a laptop speaking to someone across a table

Career Outlook

National Projected Job Growth Rate: 12% (2020-2030)

Median Hourly Wage in Minnesota: $29.88

Potential Job Titles

Paralegal
Law library assistant
Court clerk
Title examiner
Contract specialist
Legal compliance
Law firm administrator
Mediator
Court advocate
Litigation docket manager
Contract administrator
Regulatory analyst
Claims analyst
Nurse paralegal

Where NHCC Paralegal Grads Work

10th Judicial District
Anoka County Attorney's Office
Boston Scientific
Cigna Legal
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hennepin County
Medtronic
U.S. Attorney's Office
Taft Law Firm
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
And many more!

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Paralegal Program Admissions

After completing all of the admissions steps to the college, students must complete a Paralegal Application and make an appointment with a Paralegal Advisor for review. Contact Advising at 763-424-0703 to schedule your appointment.

Paralegal Credits: Information on transferring legal specialty credits into the NHCC Paralegal Program.

Program Details

The goal of the paralegal program is to deliver a comprehensive paralegal education that will graduate ethical, employable, competent professionals for careers in the legal field. Our paralegal program prepares students to assist lawyers and administrators of law-related occupations in providing efficient legal services to the public. The specialty courses are the core of the program and include the following areas of law: legal research and writing, contracts, family law, property, wills and estate administration, criminal law and litigation. The Paralegal Program does not train graduates to provide legal services directly to the public. Any person who attempts to provide legal services directly to the public, but is not licensed to practice law, engages in the illegal and unauthorized practice of law.

To prepare students for emerging trends in the legal profession, NHCC's paralegal program offers an elective course in Intellectual Property that covers the major areas of intellectual property law in the United States: trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. In addition, students taking the Computer Applications course are introduced to the use of specialized e-discovery software to better prepare them for the workplace.

Meet Our Instructors

Licensed attorneys teach the legal specialty courses offered at North Hennepin. The faculty is active in the profession and most maintain private law practices in addition to their teaching responsibilities. The depth of experience of the faculty ensures that you will receive practical and timely information relevant to paralegal duties.

Visit the Paralegal Instructors page.

Instructor Bios:

Employment Outlook

You can perform legal work for attorneys in private law firms, government agencies or large corporations with a Paralegal AS or Paralegal Certificate from North Hennepin Community College. Paralegal duties vary according to the nature of employment, level of experience, and level of education. Examples of tasks include:

Interviewing clients and witnesses
Performing research and investigating facts
Drafting documents and correspondence
Conducting compliance and regulatory activity
Conducting a variety of transactional services
Managing attorney's case load

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the demand for paralegals is still high. North Hennepin maintains alliances with local placement agencies and temporary agencies to further enhance the student's job seeking activity. Education and experience are the two most important factors in securing the most challenging and highest paying positions – you can get them both at North Hennepin Community College.

Useful Resources

The following links to non-NHCC websites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement:

Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA)
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. (NALA)
Standing Committee on Paralegals, American Bar Association (ABA)
American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE)

NHCC's tuition is among the most affordable in Minnesota.

Graph showing the costs of various colleges with NHCC as the lowest cost

Financial Aid

Scholarships are money you don't have to repay
Grants are money you don't have to repay
North Star Promise - Free College Tuition for eligible students

Program Roadmaps

Program roadmaps provide students with a guide to understand the recommended course sequence to complete their degree.

Paralegal Certificate Road Map

Paralegal Curriculum

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Curriculum

Print Curriculum

Program Courses
Course Code	Title	Course Outlines	Goal Areas	Credits
PLEG 1111	Introduction to Law and Paralegal Studies	View-PLEG 1111	n/a	3
PLEG 1210	Computer Applications in the Legal Profession	View-PLEG 1210	n/a	2
PLEG 1411	Litigation I	View-PLEG 1411	n/a	3
PLEG 1412	Litigation II	View-PLEG 1412	n/a	3
PLEG 2211	Legal Research and Writing I	View-PLEG 2211	n/a	3
PLEG 2212	Legal Research and Writing II	View-PLEG 2212	n/a	3
PLEG 2930	Legal Studies Seminar and Internship	View-PLEG 2930	n/a	3

Program Electives
Course Code	Title	Course Outlines	Goal Areas	Credits
Must take at least 10 credits
PLEG 1330	Family Law or	View-PLEG 1330	n/a	3
PLEG 1430	Alternative Dispute Resolution or	View-PLEG 1430	n/a	1
PLEG 1510	Intellectual Property or	View-PLEG 1510	n/a	2
PLEG 1610	Immigration Law or	View-PLEG 1610	n/a	3
PLEG 1990	Paralegal Special Topics or	View-PLEG 1990	n/a	1-4
PLEG 2310	Criminal Law and Procedure or	View-PLEG 2310	n/a	3
PLEG 2430	Torts & Personal Injury Law or	View-PLEG 2430	n/a	3
PLEG 2510	Contracts and Business Organizations or	View-PLEG 2510	n/a	3
PLEG 2620	Property or	View-PLEG 2620	n/a	3
PLEG 2710	Wills, Trusts and Estate Administration or	View-PLEG 2710	n/a	3
PLEG 2810	Employment Search for Paralegals	View-PLEG 2810	n/a	1

NHCC Residency and GPA
10 Credits must be earned at NHCC

Total Credits Required

Program Overview

2024-2025

This program prepares students to assist lawyers and administrators of law-related occupations in providing efficient legal services to the public. The program of study includes law-related courses and legal specialty courses.

Students who already possess a(n) Associate in Science, Associate in Art, Bachelor's or higher degree may apply for a paralegal certificate upon successful completion of the paralegal courses only.

The paralegal courses are offered primarily in the evening. Courses prepare students for entry into a paralegal career and provide presently employed paralegals an opportunity to enhance their legal knowledge and skills. The Paralegal program does not train graduates to provide legal services directly to the public. Any person who attempts to provide legal services directly to the public, but is not licensed to practice law, engages in the illegal and unauthorized practice of law. The Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom or online synchronous classroom instruction as required by the American Bar Association.

Students wishing to enroll in the Paralegal Program must complete an Admission Request. Students must make an appointment to meet with an advisor to present the Admission Request for processing. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Counseling and Advising Office at 763-424-0703.

Program Outcomes

Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World:

Demonstrate an understanding of the sources of law, legal procedure, and operation of legal systems within state and federal government and apply that knowledge to the work of paralegals.

Intellectual and Practical Skills:

Demonstrate written, verbal, and interpersonal skills appropriate to various legal and business settings.
Think critically and creatively analyze, synthesize, and organize information.
Demonstrate ability to use word processing, spreadsheets, data base and case management software as they are used in the legal profession.

Personal and Social Responsibility:

Understand and apply the Rules of Professional Conduct as they relate to the practice of law and demonstrate ethical behaviors in all settings.

Integrative Learning:

Conduct legal research using print and electronic resources, apply results to fact situations, and report findings in an appropriate format.
Successfully complete projects performed by paralegals in the various substantive areas of law.

This program prepares students to perform paralegal work in private law firms, government agencies or large corporations or transfer to a four year institution in this discipline.

Program Goal: Deliver a comprehensive paralegal education that will graduate ethical, employable, competent professionals for careers in the legal field.

Program Outcomes: Upon completion of the paralegal program, NHCC graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the sources of law, legal procedure, and operation of legal systems within state and federal government and apply that knowledge to the work of paralegals.

2. Understand and apply the Rules of Professional Conduct to the practice of law and demonstrate ethical behaviors in all settings.

3. Demonstrate written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills appropriate to various legal and business settings.

4. Think critically and creatively analyze, synthesize, and organize information.

5. Conduct legal research using print and electronic resources, apply results to fact situations, and report findings in an appropriate format.

6. Successfully complete projects performed by paralegals in the various substantive areas of law.

7. Demonstrate ability to use word processing, spreadsheets, data base and case management software as they are used in the legal profession.

Program Maps

Program roadmaps provide students with a guide to understand the recommended course sequence to complete their degree.

Paralegal Certificate Road Map

Career Opportunities

Information on careers, including career descriptions, salary data, and employment outlook is available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and O*Net Online website.

Transfer Information

If you are planning on transferring to another institution, follow the guidelines available on our transfer resources web page to help you plan the process: Transfer Information

Degree Information

Certificates may be earned for successful completion of courses in a specialized program of study with a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C). A certificate shall include 9 to 30 semester credits. At least one-third of the total credits required for each certificate must be completed at North Hennepin Community College.

Developmental Courses Some students may need preparatory course(s) in Math and/or English. Courses numbered below 1000 will not apply toward a degree.

Equal Opportunity Employer and Disability Access Information North Hennepin Community College is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and an equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 7634930555 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 18006273529.

Criminal Offense Notice If you have been arrested, charged, or convicted of any criminal offense, you should investigate the impact that the arrest, charge or conviction may have on your chances of employment in the field you intend to study or your chances to obtain federal, state, and other higher education financial aid.

Accreditation

North Hennepin Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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