Students may pursue either a BA or BS in government with a major in applied legal studies. Students must complete 44 credits (11 courses) in their ALS major and the required courses for the chosen degree. Of the eleven major courses, students must take seven required courses and may choose four of the ALS electives offered.
Students are encouraged to save major courses for the sophomore year and beyond; many ALS courses require sophomore status.
Transfer students from non-ABA approved programs working toward a bachelor’s degree in applied legal studies must take at least six ALS courses while in residence at Suffolk University.
Transfer students from an ABA-approved program must take at least five ALS courses while in residence at Suffolk University.
4.00
Introduction to civil, criminal and constitutional law, with special focus on procedural law and the federal and state court systems. Limitations of the courts, forms of remedies, the law of equity and institutional sources of American law will also be studied. Introduction to judicial cases and brief writing. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
4.00
Introduces the student to the responsibilities of paralegals and to the culture of the legal profession. Topics include the development of paralegalism as a profession, the definition of the practice of law, ethical considerations, interviewing techniques, legal research, law office management, and client relationships. Normally offered each semester.
4.00
How to use the law library, perform legal research, write legal analysis in memorandum form, and use computers as a research tool. Initial focus is on learning how to find legal materials, including federal and state case law, statutory law, and administrative law. Use of finding tools such as digests, encyclopedias, and CALR will be studied, as will Shepardizing. Focus also on legal writing, from letters through case analysis. Normally offered fall semester. Sophomore Status Required
4.00
The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
4.00
The existence and validity of a contract is determined by specific rules. Students will learn about formation through offer and acceptance, contract enforceability, the necessity of consideration, and breach of contract and will draft contract provisions as a paralegal might in a law office. Normally offered each semester. Sophomore status required.
Social Science
Senior standing and at least 15 hours of paralegal courses, or instructors permission.
4.00
A one-semester internship in either a law office, a governmental agency, insurance company, or a for-profit or non-profit corporation, depending on the positions available during each semester. Once a week seminars will discuss such topics as ethical considerations in a law office, experiences gained as a paralegal interns, and seeking paralegal employment. For specific placements/information, students must contact the Director of Paralegal Studies prior to the start of each semester. Prerequisites: Senior status and at least 15 hours of Paralegal Studies or permission of instructor. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered spring and summer. ECR
Expanded Classroom Requirement
Take ALS-361;
4.00
Building on the skills in ALS 361 - Legal Research & Writing I, this course continues the focus on learning how to find legal materials and how to summarize research results. Writing skills will be strengthened through various exercises and revisions. Skill development in legal analysis, writing legal memoranda, and using computer assisted legal research with Westlaw and Lexis will be emphasized. Normally offered spring semester.
4.00
This course examines criminal law in the United States from a broad perspective. It will present the general principles and doctrines that affect the whole criminal law, such as elements of criminal offenses, defenses to crime, and perspectives on crime and criminal law. In addition, students will learn the elements of specific crimes, such as homicide, criminal sexual conduct, terrorism and related crimes, crimes against public morals, and crimes against property. Discussions of the direction of the criminal law and constitutional limitations on government will be presented as preparation for future study.
Cultural Diversity Opt A
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
Corporations are unique business entities and specialized citizens of the state. This course will examine the special rules for establishing and maintaining a corporation, including the nature of corporations and their legal relationships with governments, individuals, and other business entities. Students will learn about the role of paralegals in corporate law offices, including document management and production, corporate litigation processes, and maintaining corporate compliance. Normally offered alternate years.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
This course will present common law real estate principles and the effect of federal agencies on the buying and selling of real property. Sample forms including leases, purchase and sale agreements, and closing forms are reviewed and drafted. Normally offered alternate years.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
Family law includes marriage, divorce, support, custody, property division, and abuse prevention petitions. Essentially an area of state law, it is often the backbone of general practice law firms. The role of paralegals in a family law office will be studied. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-362;
4.00
Many civil suits arise when the negligence of an individual creates injury to another. Elements of negligence law and specific types of cases such as automobile accidents and medical malpractice will be studied, with an emphasis on practical aspects of drafting and research for the prospective paralegal. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-362
4.00
The role of computers and software in the law office as it affects the paralegal Lectures and hands-on applications will focus on the changing technology of computer hardware through fact scenarios that students will use to track changes from introduction to resolution in litigation. Focus on software applications involving word processing, spreadsheets, billing, diary and scheduling, research, and use of the Internet. Normally offered alternate years.
ALS 362, or permission of instructor
4.00
Building on the skills introduced in ALS 362, Civil Litigation, this course will provide a thorough study of the rules of evidence, the process of discovery, and the preparation of a case for a trial, as well as the roles of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation in litigation and other legal disputes. Theory will be combined with practical applications for prospective paralegals, such as deposition abstracting, gathering and preserving evidence, and techniques on how to prepare a case for ADR. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
Study of the immigration and nationality laws of the United States focusing on the interplay of the administrative agencies which administer those laws: Justice Department, Labor Department, and State Department. Topics include the immigrant selection system; the issuance of non-immigrant visas; grounds for excluding aliens and waiver of excludability; grounds for removal; change of status, and refugee and asylum status. Special emphasis on the paralegals role in representing and communicating sensitively with aliens. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
A survey of the law of the protection of ideas, trade secrets, inventions, artistic creations, and reputation. The course will briefly review the bases for patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection, the distinction among the various forms of intellectual property, and the statutory and common law methods of enforcing rights. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360; or instructors permission
4.00
An opportunity to learn the history of domestic violence including battering, child abuse and child neglect, and the legal response to it. Focus will be on Massachusetts Law and its response, especially the Abuse Prevention Act, its application and enforcement, and on laws protecting children from abuse and neglect. Filings, law office issues and special issues in dealing with battered women and abused and neglected children will be included with the psychological issues, cultural issues, and advocacy possibilities. Normally offered yearly. Sophomore status required. Cultural Diversity A
Cultural Diversity Opt A
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
With the globalization of the world economy, legal professional and business people require knowledge of international law more than ever. This course offers students a survey of selected materials in public international law. Covered will be the practical and theoretical issues of international law, from the Law of the Sea to business implications to definitions of war and international concepts of justice. Normally offered yearly.
Social Science
Students are invited to use the following lists as aids to selecting courses toward completion of their program, but are not required to choose a track. Students in the applied legal studies program may choose to concentrate in a particular area of law, as preparation for work in a specific field, or because of interest in the area. Below are four potential tracks for ALS students.
4.00
The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
ALS 362, or permission of instructor
4.00
Building on the skills introduced in ALS 362, Civil Litigation, this course will provide a thorough study of the rules of evidence, the process of discovery, and the preparation of a case for a trial, as well as the roles of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation in litigation and other legal disputes. Theory will be combined with practical applications for prospective paralegals, such as deposition abstracting, gathering and preserving evidence, and techniques on how to prepare a case for ADR. Normally offered yearly.
4.00
The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
4.00
The existence and validity of a contract is determined by specific rules. Students will learn about formation through offer and acceptance, contract enforceability, the necessity of consideration, and breach of contract and will draft contract provisions as a paralegal might in a law office. Normally offered each semester. Sophomore status required.
Social Science
Take ALS-362;
4.00
Many civil suits arise when the negligence of an individual creates injury to another. Elements of negligence law and specific types of cases such as automobile accidents and medical malpractice will be studied, with an emphasis on practical aspects of drafting and research for the prospective paralegal. Normally offered yearly.
ALS 362, or permission of instructor
4.00
Building on the skills introduced in ALS 362, Civil Litigation, this course will provide a thorough study of the rules of evidence, the process of discovery, and the preparation of a case for a trial, as well as the roles of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation in litigation and other legal disputes. Theory will be combined with practical applications for prospective paralegals, such as deposition abstracting, gathering and preserving evidence, and techniques on how to prepare a case for ADR. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
Corporations are unique business entities and specialized citizens of the state. This course will examine the special rules for establishing and maintaining a corporation, including the nature of corporations and their legal relationships with governments, individuals, and other business entities. Students will learn about the role of paralegals in corporate law offices, including document management and production, corporate litigation processes, and maintaining corporate compliance. Normally offered alternate years.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
A survey of the law of the protection of ideas, trade secrets, inventions, artistic creations, and reputation. The course will briefly review the bases for patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection, the distinction among the various forms of intellectual property, and the statutory and common law methods of enforcing rights. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
With the globalization of the world economy, legal professional and business people require knowledge of international law more than ever. This course offers students a survey of selected materials in public international law. Covered will be the practical and theoretical issues of international law, from the Law of the Sea to business implications to definitions of war and international concepts of justice. Normally offered yearly.
Social Science
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or Instructors permission
4.00
State laws affect the disposition of an individuals estate at death, and upon death, the estate must be probated in court. Focus on estate information gathering, drafting of wills, and the probate of estates for those with and without wills. Emphasis on the role of the paralegal in a law office handling wills and probate. Prerequisites: ALS 360 or 363 or permission of instructor. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
Family law includes marriage, divorce, support, custody, property division, and abuse prevention petitions. Essentially an area of state law, it is often the backbone of general practice law firms. The role of paralegals in a family law office will be studied. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360; or instructors permission
4.00
An opportunity to learn the history of domestic violence including battering, child abuse and child neglect, and the legal response to it. Focus will be on Massachusetts Law and its response, especially the Abuse Prevention Act, its application and enforcement, and on laws protecting children from abuse and neglect. Filings, law office issues and special issues in dealing with battered women and abused and neglected children will be included with the psychological issues, cultural issues, and advocacy possibilities. Normally offered yearly. Sophomore status required. Cultural Diversity A
Cultural Diversity Opt A
Students may elect a minor in Applied Legal Studies by completing 5 courses (20 credits) of ALS courses, distributed as follows:
4.00
Introduces the student to the responsibilities of paralegals and to the culture of the legal profession. Topics include the development of paralegalism as a profession, the definition of the practice of law, ethical considerations, interviewing techniques, legal research, law office management, and client relationships. Normally offered each semester.
4.00
How to use the law library, perform legal research, write legal analysis in memorandum form, and use computers as a research tool. Initial focus is on learning how to find legal materials, including federal and state case law, statutory law, and administrative law. Use of finding tools such as digests, encyclopedias, and CALR will be studied, as will Shepardizing. Focus also on legal writing, from letters through case analysis. Normally offered fall semester. Sophomore Status Required
4.00
The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
ALS minors must see an advisor in the Applied Legal Studies program.
Students desiring to obtain a degree in two years may pursue an Associate in Science in Paralegal Studies (A.S.P.S.). Students must complete 32 credits (8 courses) in their major and the required courses for the chosen degree. Of those eight courses, students must take five required courses and may choose three of the advanced ALS electives offered. One of those electives may be an internship working as a paralegal (ALS 381) after the student has completed at least fifteen hours of applied legal studies coursework.
In their first year, students are encouraged to take only required courses, and should note that ALS 264, 265, and 266 are not classes that can count toward an ALS requirement for the associate’s degree.
Transfer students working toward an associate’s degree must take five ALS courses at Suffolk and two of the five courses must be required.
For a list of required and elective courses, see the Certificate Program page.
All candidates desiring to be considered for admission to the Certificate in Paralegal Studies must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
Admission under option 3 is at the discretion of the director, as no more than 10% of those admitted may come under this option.
Please note: All students who wish to complete a paralegal certificate program must apply for admission through the Undergraduate Admissions Office, including current Suffolk undergraduates. Current undergraduate students at Suffolk MAY NOT apply to the certificate program before their junior year, though they may take paralegal classes toward the certificate in their first two years.
The Certificate in Paralegal Studies program consists of eight four-credit courses: 5 required courses and 3 electives, for a total of 32 credits. Students are encouraged to take the required courses as early in their studies as possible. Please note that ALS 361 – Legal Research and Writing I is only guaranteed to be offered in the fall, and ALS 385 – Legal Research and Writing II is only guaranteed to be offered in the spring. Students should also note that ALS 264, ALS 265, and ALS 266 are not classes that can count toward the certificate. Certificate students must achieve a GPA of at least 2.0 in their ALS classes in order to receive a certificate.
4.00
Introduces the student to the responsibilities of paralegals and to the culture of the legal profession. Topics include the development of paralegalism as a profession, the definition of the practice of law, ethical considerations, interviewing techniques, legal research, law office management, and client relationships. Normally offered each semester.
4.00
How to use the law library, perform legal research, write legal analysis in memorandum form, and use computers as a research tool. Initial focus is on learning how to find legal materials, including federal and state case law, statutory law, and administrative law. Use of finding tools such as digests, encyclopedias, and CALR will be studied, as will Shepardizing. Focus also on legal writing, from letters through case analysis. Normally offered fall semester. Sophomore Status Required
4.00
The Rules of Civil Procedure dictate the steps taken in state and federal lawsuits. This course will acquaint students with rules and the practical requirements of the rules, from filing a complaint to clarifying a judgment and to the duties of paralegals in a litigation office. Normally offered each semester.
Social Science
4.00
The existence and validity of a contract is determined by specific rules. Students will learn about formation through offer and acceptance, contract enforceability, the necessity of consideration, and breach of contract and will draft contract provisions as a paralegal might in a law office. Normally offered each semester. Sophomore status required.
Social Science
Take ALS-361;
4.00
Building on the skills in ALS 361 - Legal Research & Writing I, this course continues the focus on learning how to find legal materials and how to summarize research results. Writing skills will be strengthened through various exercises and revisions. Skill development in legal analysis, writing legal memoranda, and using computer assisted legal research with Westlaw and Lexis will be emphasized. Normally offered spring semester.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or Instructors permission
4.00
State laws affect the disposition of an individuals estate at death, and upon death, the estate must be probated in court. Focus on estate information gathering, drafting of wills, and the probate of estates for those with and without wills. Emphasis on the role of the paralegal in a law office handling wills and probate. Prerequisites: ALS 360 or 363 or permission of instructor. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
Corporations are unique business entities and specialized citizens of the state. This course will examine the special rules for establishing and maintaining a corporation, including the nature of corporations and their legal relationships with governments, individuals, and other business entities. Students will learn about the role of paralegals in corporate law offices, including document management and production, corporate litigation processes, and maintaining corporate compliance. Normally offered alternate years.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
This course will present common law real estate principles and the effect of federal agencies on the buying and selling of real property. Sample forms including leases, purchase and sale agreements, and closing forms are reviewed and drafted. Normally offered alternate years.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
Family law includes marriage, divorce, support, custody, property division, and abuse prevention petitions. Essentially an area of state law, it is often the backbone of general practice law firms. The role of paralegals in a family law office will be studied. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-362;
4.00
Many civil suits arise when the negligence of an individual creates injury to another. Elements of negligence law and specific types of cases such as automobile accidents and medical malpractice will be studied, with an emphasis on practical aspects of drafting and research for the prospective paralegal. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-362
4.00
The role of computers and software in the law office as it affects the paralegal Lectures and hands-on applications will focus on the changing technology of computer hardware through fact scenarios that students will use to track changes from introduction to resolution in litigation. Focus on software applications involving word processing, spreadsheets, billing, diary and scheduling, research, and use of the Internet. Normally offered alternate years.
ALS 362, or permission of instructor
4.00
Building on the skills introduced in ALS 362, Civil Litigation, this course will provide a thorough study of the rules of evidence, the process of discovery, and the preparation of a case for a trial, as well as the roles of arbitration, mediation, and negotiation in litigation and other legal disputes. Theory will be combined with practical applications for prospective paralegals, such as deposition abstracting, gathering and preserving evidence, and techniques on how to prepare a case for ADR. Normally offered yearly.
Senior standing and at least 15 hours of paralegal courses, or instructors permission.
4.00
A one-semester internship in either a law office, a governmental agency, insurance company, or a for-profit or non-profit corporation, depending on the positions available during each semester. Once a week seminars will discuss such topics as ethical considerations in a law office, experiences gained as a paralegal interns, and seeking paralegal employment. For specific placements/information, students must contact the Director of Paralegal Studies prior to the start of each semester. Prerequisites: Senior status and at least 15 hours of Paralegal Studies or permission of instructor. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered spring and summer. ECR
Expanded Classroom Requirement
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
Study of the immigration and nationality laws of the United States focusing on the interplay of the administrative agencies which administer those laws: Justice Department, Labor Department, and State Department. Topics include the immigrant selection system; the issuance of non-immigrant visas; grounds for excluding aliens and waiver of excludability; grounds for removal; change of status, and refugee and asylum status. Special emphasis on the paralegals role in representing and communicating sensitively with aliens. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360;
4.00
A survey of the law of the protection of ideas, trade secrets, inventions, artistic creations, and reputation. The course will briefly review the bases for patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection, the distinction among the various forms of intellectual property, and the statutory and common law methods of enforcing rights. Normally offered yearly.
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360; or instructors permission
4.00
An opportunity to learn the history of domestic violence including battering, child abuse and child neglect, and the legal response to it. Focus will be on Massachusetts Law and its response, especially the Abuse Prevention Act, its application and enforcement, and on laws protecting children from abuse and neglect. Filings, law office issues and special issues in dealing with battered women and abused and neglected children will be included with the psychological issues, cultural issues, and advocacy possibilities. Normally offered yearly. Sophomore status required. Cultural Diversity A
Cultural Diversity Opt A
Take ALS-264 or ALS-360 or instructors permission
4.00
With the globalization of the world economy, legal professional and business people require knowledge of international law more than ever. This course offers students a survey of selected materials in public international law. Covered will be the practical and theoretical issues of international law, from the Law of the Sea to business implications to definitions of war and international concepts of justice. Normally offered yearly.
Social Science
| Last Completed Award Year: | 2011-12 |
| Program Name: | Certificate in Paralegal Studies |
| On-time Completion Rate: | 94% |
| Placement Rate: | |
| Occupations by SOC Code: | 23.2011.00 onetoneline.org** |
| Total Estimated Tuition & Fee Costs: | $29,798 |
| Books & Supply Costs: | $1,200 |
| Room & Board Costs: | $15,508 |
| Median Title IV Loan Debt: | $6,501 |
| Median Private Loan Debt: | $0 |
| Median Debt from Institutional Financing Plans or amount students were obligated to pay at program completion. | $0 |
