Career Architecture & Paralegal Studies

The Paralegal Studies program emphasizes career analysis, preparation and development in many important and critical ways. As part of our ABA approval, the program pays particular attention to educating and training students in the practical skills needed to be an outstanding paralegal, well-equipped to serve the community as a legal professional in a most competent and ethical manner. This process is continuous throughout the program, beginning first semester freshman year.


Self-Discovery:

  • Analyze your personality and character and evaluate yourself in relation to the skill sets that make a good paralegal, namely working well with and for others, using time effectively, multi-tasking, and being well-organized.
  • Write an essay describing your perception and understanding of what a paralegal is and what a paralegal does.
  • Research the numerous and varied career possibilities for paralegals and evaluate your fit with each considering your career goals and other personal factors.
  • Study the sources of law and how our laws evolve and change as our society’s values evolve and change.
  • Consider a paralegal’s role in the legal profession and how it is changing due to the regulation debate.
  • Write a reflection paper on the value of providing pro bono legal services upon completion of a law clinic course.


Career Development Foundations:

  • Gain an understanding of the paralegal profession from successful completion of the Intro course.

  • Research legal employers in Baltimore and Washington, as part of the Intro course, to gain a real understanding of career opportunities, salaries, experience requirements, and the like, specifically with reference to our geographic region.

  • Network with legal recruiters who guest speak at Intro classes; network with legal professionals at the annual Law Day event.

  • Learn about different legal specialty areas via successful completion of law curriculum requirements and elective courses.

  • Learn to prepare your resume, write cover letters and other professional correspondence, interview, dress for work, conduct yourself in a professional manner, and other workplace skills through participation in the Internship preparation course.

Career Exploration:

  • Participate in the Law in Maryland course by going on 40 hours of field trips to various legal settings in Maryland, including law firms, government agencies, and businesses.

  • Obtain part-time legal employment during your years of study to learn more about different kinds of legal employers and different legal specialty areas (the program director regularly posts student employment opportunities for paralegal majors).

  • Study various and diverse areas of the law through required and elective law courses.


Career Preparation:

  • Participate in a paralegal internship arranged through the paralegal program.

  • Participate in a law clinic course (or two) and provide pro bono legal services to the Baltimore community, for a grade and class credit.

  • Successfully complete many legal specialty courses which emphasize learning practical paralegal employment skills, such as performing legal research and writing, drafting legal documents, and briefing cases.

  • Successfully complete the Senior Seminar course in the area of either litigation practice or transactional law.