Middlesex Community College is a public institution with locations in Bedford and Lowell, Massachusetts. The school opened in 1972 and has accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The college's Associate in Science program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Students can elect to take classes for the program during the day in Lowell or in the evenings in Bedford. Prior to enrolling in the course of study, students must take an introductory course in law and an English composition class. The program lasts for two years and includes coursework in litigation and legal research and writing. Students can then take elective courses based on what areas of law interest them. Among the options are mediation training, business law, real estate, contracts and criminal law. Students may also obtain a limited number of course credit for participating in community service projects through the college's service learning program.
Middlesex Community College participates in veterans' benefit and federal and state loan and grant programs and offers a limited number of scholarships and work-study placements. Job placement assistance is available.
Johnson County Community College is a public institution with accreditation through The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's campus in Overland Park, Kansas, serves as home to more than 20,000 students. The paralegal program at Johnson has American Bar Association approval.
The college offers both a certificate and an Associate of Arts in paralegal studies. To qualify for admission to the certificate program, students must already have an associate or bachelor's degree in another field. Students with no college experience enter the associate degree course of study. This program lasts for two years and requires all students to take classes in legal research, communications, composition, legal technology, civil litigation and legal analysis and writing. Elective courses include torts, law office management, environmental law and intellectual property. All students have the opportunity to complete up to two internships with local law firms prior to graduation.
In addition to participating in government aid programs, Johnson County Community College offers two scholarships exclusively for paralegal students. The school provides job placement assistance.
Portland Community College serves more than 80,000 full-, part-time and continuing education students in Portland, Oregon. The institution has accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and approval for its paralegal program through the American Bar Association.
The college's paralegal program takes two years to complete and culminates in an Associate of Applied Science. To enroll in the program, students must have previously taken a college-level course in writing or composition. Among the courses required for the program are ethics, law fundamentals, interviewing, legal computer research and library-based legal research. Electives include investigation techniques, income tax law, employment law, personal injury and bankruptcy.
A one-year certificate program in paralegal studies is also available for students with an undergraduate degree. Admission to the certificate program is restricted, and the Department Chair for paralegal studies must personally approve all students for entry.
Eligible students at Portland Community College can benefit from federal and state loans and grants, veterans' benefits, institutional scholarships and work-study placements. The college features job placement assistance. An on-site day care provides low-cost child care for students' children.