The Paralegal Studies program prepares students for work in the vast number of offices employing paralegals, including law offices, legal clinics, government agencies, corporations, and the courts. This is accomplished by instilling in students a love of law and introducing them to the laws and skills which must be learned to competently provide legal services. Associate degree students learn general legal concepts and procedures through twelve carefully chosen core courses. Students learn specialized skills, including legal research, legal writing, and legal document preparation by practical experience. These skills are emphasized in every course. In addition, students are introduced to law specific programs and services, including Westlaw, Loislaw, Summation Blaze, Timeslips, and Abacus Law. Graduates of this program may be eligible to sit for the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam, sponsored by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Please see the Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams section of this catalog for further details.