Paralegal/Legal Assistant, Assoc. of Applied Science

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree helps students qualify as legal assistants aiding lawyers with procedural activities in the practice of law. These activities include research, alternative dispute resolution, interviewing witnesses and drafting motions, interrogatories and pleadings. Legal assistants may work in government agencies, in corporations that have in-house attorneys and in private law firms or they may prefer to freelance. The paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing occupations in Maryland and the demand for legal assistants in the Washington Metropolitan Area is high. The Paralegal/Legal Assistant A.A.S. is a career degree that enables a student to directly enter the workforce. However, the credits earned do transfer to a number of four-year institutions, including Excelsior College and the University of Maryland University College. The certificate is well-suited for individuals who want to upgrade their skills or get a promotion and credits earned may be applied toward the A.A.S. degree.