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Paralegal Studies

Join Us for a Legal Studies Virtual Information Session

Join us for a virtual information session on Thursday, January 16th at 6:00 p.m. to learn more about our exciting Legal Studies programs. Meet our outstanding faculty to receive information about in-demand career opportunities and specialty courses.

Register here: go.brookdalecc.edu/LegalStudiesInfoSession
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Start your career as a paralegal at Brookdale! Prepare for work as a paralegal working under the supervision of a lawyer in a law office, government, corporate, or other private sector legal settings.

The program offers both day and evening classes, full- and part-time enrollment, personal attention, and small classes – all designed to help you succeed.

The New Jersey State Bar Association defines a paralegal/ legal assistant as “an individual qualified through education, training or work experience who is retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity to perform, under the direction and supervision of a lawyer, specifically delegated substantive legal work, which for the most part requires sufficient knowledge of legal concepts and which, absent the paralegal or legal assistant, would be performed by a lawyer.”

You will be able to:

The Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., in its Preamble, provides that it is the responsibility of every paralegal/legal assistant to adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to live by general principles of proper conduct. The performance of duties of the paralegal/legal assistant is governed by specific canons of ethics in order that justice will be served and the goals of the profession attained.

Brookdale’s Paralegal Studies Program is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

Paralegal Studies Program Inquiry

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Legal Studies Degrees and Certificates

Brookdale offers the following degrees and certificates in Legal Studies; click on any degree to read more in our online catalog.

Paralegal Studies Program, A.A.S.

The purpose of this program is to train paralegals/legal assistants. It is not intended to be a program for training lawyers or legal administrators. A paralegal/legal assistant may not engage in the practice of law by accepting cases, giving legal advice, appearing in court, setting fees, etc. Engaging in the unauthorized practice of law is a criminal offense in the State of New Jersey.

The New Jersey State Bar Association defines a paralegal/ legal assistant as “an individual qualified through education, training or work experience who is retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity to perform, under the direction and supervision of a lawyer, specifically delegated substantive legal work, which for the most part requires sufficient knowledge of legal concepts and which, absent the paralegal or legal assistant, would be performed by a lawyer.”

The Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., in its Preamble, provides that it is the responsibility of every paralegal/legal assistant to adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to live by general principles of proper conduct. The performance of duties of the paralegal/legal assistant is governed by specific canons of ethics in order that justice will be served and the goals of the profession attained.

This program, while not designed for transfer, may transfer in part or in its entirety to four-year schools.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Paralegal Studies Academic Credit Certificate

This accelerated program is designed for students who possess a bachelor’s or associate degree and want to complete the requirements necessary to perform as a paralegal in a law office, corporate environment, or government office by offering the necessary paralegal courses to achieve competency in this profession.

The purpose of this certificate is to train paralegals/legal assistants. It is not intended to be a program for training lawyers or legal administrators. A paralegal/legal assistant may not engage in the practice of law by accepting cases, giving legal advice, appearing in court, setting fees, etc. Engaging in the unauthorized practice of law is a criminal offense in the State of New Jersey.

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Pre-Paralegal Studies – ACC

must possess associate’s or bachelor’s degree to be admitted

Link to prerequisites and requirements

Transfer Opportunities

Transfer Agreements by Academic Program: Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between Brookdale and other colleges and universities. These agreements define how the courses you complete at Brookdale will apply to your future bachelor’s degree when you transfer into a baccalaureate program.

Brookdale Community College is an Equal Opportunity educational institution. In order to promote this goal, the College makes positive efforts to ensure equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.