Paralegal Program Details

Completion Options

• Paralegal, AAS
• Paralegal, Certificate
• Bachelor's Degree - 2+2 Program with Grand View University

Graduates are ​​employed in:

• Private law firms
• Courts
• Public agencies
• Legal departments of large companies

Skills & Abilities needed:

• Good reading skills
• Effective communication skills
• Strong technical writing skills
• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• Basic computer skills

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Program Goals:

The overall program goal is to prepare students for careers as paralegals working under the supervision of lawyers in the private and public sector.

The goals of the program are to:

• educate students to be able to provide a broad spectrum of services needed by attorneys,
• provide students with an in-depth understanding of substantive knowledge and legal procedure to complete detailed legal work under the supervision of lawyers,
• provide adequate theoretical knowledge to communicate successfully with attorneys and clients in a general law practice,
• be responsive to the needs of students with diverse educational background and work experiences who wish to upgrade their skills or train for a new profession, and
• help meet the goals of those desiring further education by providing courses that may be transferred and applied toward a four-year degree.

Program Objectives:

1. To prepare students with an overall general education that gives them substantive knowledge and develops communication, quantitative and analytical skills.
2. To provide students with an understanding of the federal and state court systems.
3. To provide students with substantive knowledge of a number of areas of the law.
4. To prepare students to draft legal documents including:
   1. legal pleadings, such as a petition, answer, original notice and jury demand,
   2. discovery, motions and other legal documents, and
   3. affidavits, witness statements, fact summaries, case briefs, and letters.
5. To prepare students to use technology to accomplish tasks in the legal environment, including electronic discovery.
6. To prepare students to engage in legal and factual research using traditional and computerized legal research methods.
7. To develop student's analytical and judgmental abilities by teaching deductive and inductive reasoning in the application of legal principles to fact situations that pose legal problems.
8. To develop students’ organizational skill as they are applied to the legal setting.
9. To develop students’ ability to communicate effectively in the professional legal environment.
10. To develop students' understanding of the Iowa Rules of Professional Responsibility and how they apply to paralegals and attorneys.
11. To provide students with the ability to make ethical decisions in the legal environment.
12. To understand the emerging role of the paralegal and the place of the paralegal in expanding the delivery of legal services.
13. To stay abreast of changes in the legal profession and incorporate the needs of the workplace into the curriculum.
14. To maintain good relations with the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Association of Paralegals and to work collaboratively with these groups to improve and increase the utilization of paralegals in the workplace.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

What Is A Paralegal?

"A paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible." (American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals)

The Paralegal is designed to prepare students for work in general practice law firms, courts, public agencies, legal departments of companies and other law-related positions. Students should explore career options and employment opportunities to be certain they will meet employers' requirements. A paralegal may not provide legal services directly to the general public.

How Is A Paralegal Utilized?

The primary purpose of a paralegal is to enable an attorney to be more efficient in delivering quality legal representation. A paralegal can perform specifically delegated substantive work in a timely and cost-effective manner, allowing attorneys to concentrate on more complex legal work. Paralegals perform a variety of tasks.

Tasks commonly performed by the paralegal (UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LAWYER) are as follows:

1. Research case and statutory law, and prepare memoranda.
2. Prepare routine pleadings, interrogatories, and answers to interrogatories, affidavits and related instruments.
3. Conduct civil and criminal investigations.
4. Maintain one or more systems concerning such areas of the law as corporations, estate planning, family law, probate, real estate, tax and litigation.
5. Maintain docket control, including notification of clients, witnesses and attorneys.
6. Prepare routine memoranda, correspondence and reports.
7. Function as a real estate closing clerk preparing required documents and closing statements.
8. Perform various office administrative functions.
9. Conduct fact-finding interviews with clients and witnesses and conduct medical and scientific research.
10. Make filings and record searches.
11. Prepare tax returns.
12. Prepare corporate filings and maintain current minute books.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

DMACC and Grand View University have teamed up to create a 2+2 Paralegal Program.

This program is open to students of all ages who have an interest in being part of the legal profession.

Also known as legal assistants, Paralegals are trained to assist attorneys to deliver legal services to clients. Working under the supervision of an attorney, Paralegals perform many essential duties. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Start in DMACC’s Paralegal Program, approved by the American Bar Association, at the DMACC Urban Campus, and then seamlessly advance into Grand View University’s outstanding Paralegal Studies Program which offers online options, allowing you to continue to work in the field while earning a Bachelor’s Degree.

Paralegal Duties performed under the supervision of an attorney

• Research case and statutory law, and prepare memoranda.
• Prepare and draft routine pleadings, interrogatories, motions, affidavits and related instruments.
• Conduct civil and criminal investigations.
• Maintain docket control, including notification of clients, witnesses and attorneys.
• Prepare routine memoranda, correspondence and reports.
• Function as a real estate closing clerk preparing required documents and closing statements.
• Perform various office administrative functions.
• Conduct fact-finding interviews with clients and witnesses and conduct medical and scientific research.
• Make filings and record searches.
• Prepare tax returns.
• Prepare corporate filings and maintain current minute books.

Work Environment

• Law Firms
• Corporations
• Nonprofits
• Government
• Court rooms
• Banks, Finance and Insurance
• Accounting and Real Estate

Necessary Skills

• Effective Communications
• Critical Thinking
• Analytical reasoning
• Organizational and detail oriented
• Strong technical Writing
• Legal Research
• Computer Proficiency

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For more information on the 2+2 Paralegal Studies, contact:

DMACC Paralegal Program
Hillary Johnson
515-248-7214
hmjohnson6@dmacc.edu

Grand View University
Ginger Hermon
515-263-6183
ghermon@grandview.edu