Named after its Texas location, Amarillo College introduced a 2-year Associate in Applied Science, or A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies program in 1999. The ABA approved it in 2006. The program consists of 71 to 72 credits, which depends on whether the student chooses the two-credit Paralegal Studies Practicum or the three-credit Advanced Civil Litigation. Other core courses of the program include Cognitive Skills for the Legal Profession; Bankruptcy; Wills, Trusts and Probate Administration; and Law Office Management. General or related education requirements include courses in mathematics, word processing and English composition.
Headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, with three campuses statewide, Coastline Community College, or CCC, has an A.A.S. like Amarillo, albeit with 60 required credits. Students at CCC need up to 18 credits in subject areas such as English and computing. The core selections of the program include Intellectual Property, Computer Applications, Family Law and Elder Law.
The Baltimore City-based Community College of Baltimore County, or CCBC, not only offers an associate degree in paralegal studies, but a less intense certificate track as well. The A.A.S. requires 62 to 64 credits, with about a third of the curriculum consisting of general education courses. The certificate, conversely, consists of 31 credits: 22 in the core courses and nine credits in general education. Student must have an associate or bachelor's degree for admission into the certificate program. Paralegal courses include Real Estate Law for Paralegals, Vehicle Laws and Accident Investigation, Workers' Compensation for Paralegals and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Like CCBC, Illinois Central College, based in East Peoria, Illinois, offers a postbaccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies. It consists, however, of 37 credits, which is slightly more than the Baltimore-based institution. The curriculum includes an internship as well as courses such as administrative law and wills, trusts and estate administration.