Paralegal

Certificate

The Certificates in Paralegal Studies assists students with transitioning into a legal career. Students will be attracted to this program if they desire a career change, already work in a legal field but require further training or are transferring from a community college and are looking to enter a growing and highly-employable field. The curriculum teaches students about law, paralegal roles, business organizations, contracts, research, legal technology (including AI tools) and more. Students are prepared for careers in various industries and provided with practical paralegal skills so that they can dive into this rapidly expanding profession right after graduation.

Part 1: 12 Units
Part 2: 12 Units

8 Courses

$500/course

Online+AI

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About the Program

The Certificates in Paralegal Studies is made up of 8 asynchronous online courses (college credit courses) that are aligned with paralegal foundations from NFPA and NALA, which is standard practice across the profession. This alignment provides students with specific training for paralegal certification exams such as the Certified Registered Paralegal (CRP) and Registered Paralegal from NPFA. In this course, students will use Jessup Academic Intelligence (Jessup+AI), our innovative new process for utilizing AI technology so that students can learn and interact with the material at their own pace. Students will receive a Christ-centered curriculum from Jessup’s accomplished faculty members while interacting with technology that shapes the course to each student’s skill set and desired outcome.

Learning Outcomes

Program Features

Courses

Learning Outcomes

Through their courses in Paralegal Studies, students completing the major will possess the ability to:

Identify an understanding of the paralegal profession, including the responsibilities and opportunities for paralegals in various practice areas.

Analyze governing principles of law in the areas of contracts, torts, criminal law, real property, business organizations and securities law.

Explain the stages of civil procedure, from pleadings and discovery through preparing for and presenting evidence at trial.

Demonstrate how to conduct legal research and analysis, draft legal documents and utilize legal technology, incorporating a Gospel worldview as an ethical servant-leader.

Program Features

Industry Growth: The paralegal and legal assistant industry expects growth of 12 percent between 2025 and 2030 (much faster than average). *BLS

Courses taught fCertification: Prepares graduates to take a certified paralegal exam (CRP/RP exam or CLA/CP exam). This foundation provides practical training to take the CRP or RP certification exam and be employed in a paralegal position.

ePortfolio: Students build an ePortfolio of over 20 industry-specific legal templates that can be shared with a prospective employer. The ePortfolio consists of case briefs, memoranda, legal research, etc. for prospective employers.

Certificate in 2 semesters—Transition into the field quickly with 8 courses.

Regional businesses, law firms and non-profits are all potential workplaces for our graduates. Many organizations need the type of expertise offered by a paralegal, especially those who are trained with the strong ethical framework we offer through Jessup. Non-profits such as hospitals, schools and churches will also benefit from hiring Jessup graduates as paralegals, legal assistants, legal analysts or legal department managers.

Government Agencies such as local, state (Sacramento) and federal government entities also benefit from hiring Jessup graduates as paralegals, legal assistants, legal analysts or legal department managers.

Courses

The eight courses are composed of: Certificate in Paralegal Studies Program Courses-
Beta Implementation Spring 2025

FOUNDATIONS Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Part 1

(PLS190) AI for Legal Professionals —3.0 units:
(PLS100) Introduction to Paralegal Studies—3.0 units:
(PLS110) Business Organizations and Contract Law—3.0 units:
(PLS290) Legal Research and Writing—3.0 units:

Certificate in Paralegal Studies: ADVANCED Part 2- 4 Courses (3 units) each: (12 total units): Anticipated implementation: Fall 2025
ADVANCED Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Part 2

(PLS320) Torts and Personal Injury Law—3.0 credits:
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal Studies
(PLS340) Litigation for Paralegals- 3.0 credits:
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal Studies
7.(PLS430) Criminal Law & Procedure – 3.0 credits:
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal Studies
(PLS321) Wills, Trusts & Estate Administration- 3.0 credits:
Prerequisite: Introduction to Paralegal Studies

Our goal is to set students on the path to success in the legal industry by giving them a solid biblical education and pertinent legal knowledge that incorporates the ethical use of AI from a global perspective.”