The Kutztown University Criminal Justice Program offers students a chance to simultaneously obtain a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice and to complete an American Bar Association approved Paralegal Studies Program. Students who select this option take seven Paralegal Courses from instructors provided through our alliance with the Paralegal Studies Program of Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC). The Concentration in paralegal studies replaces the major course Concomitant and Arts and Sciences Electives. The program entails the study of the paralegal profession as well as the limitations imposed by unauthorized practice of law.

All courses are offered on the Kutztown University campus by LCCC staff.

Paralegal Career Opportunities

Approximately 58 of the current 416 criminal justice majors (as of Fall 2006) are enrolled in Paralegal Studies. There are many rationales for completing Paralegal Studies. Some intend to do full-time paralegal work for law firms upon graduation, following in the footsteps of several recent Criminal Justice graduates. Others see it as giving them an "edge-up" when they eventually attend law school. Still others see the additional certification as giving them a competitive advantage when they apply to criminal justice agencies.

Program requirements

The concentration consists of the following required courses:
PLG 120 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
PLG 150 Torts and Personal Injury Law
PLG 200 Civil Litigation
PLG 215 Law Office Management
PLG 220 Contract Law and Business Organizational Law
PLG 245 Legal Research and Writing

In addition, each student must select a total of three credits from the following:
PLG 125 Workers' Compensation Law for Paralegals
PLG 130 Social Security Disability Practice for Paralegals
PLG 135 Legal Interviewing
PLG 230 Estates and Trusts
PLG 235 Family Law
PLG 240 Bankruptcy Law
PLG 250 Legal Internship
PLG 255 Legal Writing

Kutztown Students enrolled in the Paralegal Studies Program must complete all 21 PLG credits for them to transfer to Kutztown University.

For more information on this program, contact either the Criminal Justice Program office at (484) 646-4265 or the program coordinator at LCCC: Diane Tallarita, (610) 799-1594, e-mail dtallarita@lccc.edu