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Paralegal - Associate in Applied Science Degree

Program Requirements:

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Admission Type:

General College Admission
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Locations:

Grand Strand

Contact:

Admissions
(843) 347-3186

Paralegal

The Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Degree is a well-rounded education for students seeking a paralegal career. HGTC’s Paralegal Program prepares students to work under the direct supervision of an attorney to conduct legal research, draft legal documents, interact with clients, other legal professionals and the courts, analyze and comply with procedural issues, and implement detailed office procedures for the efficient handling of matters in specialized fields of law.

Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) Statement: Paralegals must work under the supervision of a licensed attorney and are not authorized to practice law in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 40-5-310). 

HGTC's Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

Specific Admission Requirements for Program

  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Transferring Courses:
    • No more than 50% of the transferring students’ legal specialty paralegal courses may be transferred from another institution. Each legal specialty course submitted for transfer consideration is evaluated by the program director.
    • Transferability is based on course content, hours and modality of instruction, and the grade earned in the course by the student. College transcripts and syllabi are reviewed to determine whether acceptance of transfer credits is appropriate.
    • The transferring institution's paralegal program must be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the courses must be substantially similar to that of the course description contained within the HGTC college catalog.
    • No legal specialty courses will be transferable into HGTC, regardless of American Bar Association Approval status, if the courses were completed by the student more than 5 years from the date of transfer.
  • Computer skills are required for any paralegal position.

Course Sequence and Progression Requirements
A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for all LEG-prefixed courses for progression and graduation. Most Paralegal (LEG) courses are offered only once each year, so following the recommended course sequence is extremely important.

Career Outlook

The paralegal job is a wonderful way to gain expertise and experience in the legal profession and to grow into a capable professional with a vast array of opportunities and career paths. Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agencies. 

Employers of HGTC Alumni Include:

  • Private-practice law firms
  • Governmental offices or agencies
  • Private sector corporations or companies

For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

Career Pathways

Previous education and work experience could qualify for Credit for Prior Learning, saving you time and money.
Go to the University Transfer page for more information.

For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.

For more information, contact:
Donna McQueen - (843) 477-2006

Curriculum Sequence

First Semester - Fall Course Title Semester
Credit Hours
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
LEG 120 Torts 3
LEG 135 Introduction to Law and Ethics 3
LEG 232 Law Office Management 3
  TOTAL 12
Second Semester - Spring    
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
LEG 233 Wills, Trusts and Probate 3
LEG 214 Property Law 3
PSC 201 American Government 3
  TOTAL 12
Third Semester - Summer    
HIS 201 American History: Discovery to 1877 3
or    
HIS 202 American History: 1877 to Present  
LEG 121 Business Law 3
PSY 201 General Psychology 3
  TOTAL 9
Fourth Semester - Fall    
LEG 132 Legal Bibliography 3
LEG 201 Civil Litigation I 3
LEG 212 Workers Compensation 3
or    
LEG 231 Criminal Law  
LEG 213 Family Law 3
SPC 205 Public Speaking 3
  TOTAL 15
Fifth Semester - Spring    
LEG 202 Civil Litigation II 3
LEG 230 Legal Writing 3
LEG 245 Real Estate Law I 3
MAT 110 College Algebra 3
or    
MAT 120 Probability and Statistics  
or    
MAT 155 Contemporary Mathematics  
  TOTAL 12
Sixth Semester - Summer    
LEG 242 Law Practice Workshop (Internship)* 3
LEG 252 Business Applications in the Law Office 3
  TOTAL 6
  TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 66
  The internship is not offered through synchronous learning.