Paralegal Studies Certificate

Start your career as a Paralegal at Fairleigh Dickinson University! 

Fairleigh Dickinson University is proud to announce the launch of its Paralegal Studies Certificate program. This program is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the “Modern Paralegal” with a curriculum that emphasizes the roles that Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technology, and Ethics play in the field.

This program is designed for adult learners who…

  • have earned an associate’s degree (or equivalent credits) and are interested in entering the paralegal field.
  • are already established paralegals who would like to enhance their skillsets by learning about new technologies and trends in the field.
  • are professionals who are interested in learning the responsibilities of a paralegal.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate fundamental paralegal knowledge with legal concepts, terminology, and procedures.
    1. Understand and apply basic substantive legal concepts including civil litigation, contracts, constitutional law.
    2. Identify relevant areas of law and legal authorities (cases, statutes, regulations).
    3. Demonstrate how the legal system functions and the appropriate role/ethical boundaries of paralegals within it.
  2. Conduct effective legal research and produce professional legal writing.
    1. Conduct legal research using both traditional and computerized legal research tools.
    2. Draft legal documents such as motions, pleadings or other legal documents.
    3. Prepare clear, effective written communication appropriate for legal settings.
  3. Apply legal ethics and professional responsibility standards.
    1. Apply ethical concepts to real legal situations and hypothetical examples.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of professional responsibility in the legal environment.
    3. Operate as a paralegal with integrity, confidentiality, and ethical judgment as required.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the state and federal court systems.
    1. Understand the fundamental differences between the state and federal court systems.
    2. Carry out tasks such as document support, court filing and other procedural processes.
  5. Apply critical thinking and analytical reasoning to legal problems.
    1. Analyze factual situations to identify and articulate legal issues.
    2. Demonstrate critical thinking in the management of legal projects.
    3. Apply legal reasoning to real-world scenarios and legal problems.
  6. Utilize legal technology effectively.
    1. Demonstrate a knowledge of current legal technologies used in modern legal practice.

Program Curriculum

The program employs a cohort system. Students begin the program in the Fall and follow a curriculum that includes nine 8-week core courses, and one optional Advanced Technology Course. The required core courses and optional elective include:

The required course curriculum is 337.5 contact hours. The entire program with the optional course is 375 contact hours.

Grading

The Paralegal Program is a non-credit certificate program. All courses are evaluated using a Pass/High Pass/No credit grading schema.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the certificate program, students must have an earned associate’s degree, or college work equivalent to a minimum of 60 college credits. For those without an earned associate’s degree, an overall GPA of 2.00 is required for the college work completed. Prior to registering for coursework, individuals will be asked to submit an Eligibility Verification Form. Once eligibility has been verified, individuals will be provided with a link to the program’s registration platform.

Modality and Program Structure

Courses will be offered using a HyFlex approach. HyFlex courses (or “hybrid-flexible” courses) combine face-to-face, synchronous online, and asynchronous online learning modalities, allowing students to choose their path of participation. In-person courses will be held on the Metropolitan campus in Hackensack, NJ. This model is based on the principle of learner choice and ensures accessibility for all students. In addition to taking HyFlex classes, individuals will have the ability to complete the Paralegal Certificate Program as full-time or part-time students.

Contact Information

For additional information, or to be notified when the program’s Eligibility Verification Form is available, please email Valory Mulhall at v.mulhall@fdu.edu.