There is a growing demand for paralegals in the law profession. Paralegals perform a variety of crucial tasks, including legal research, drafting legal documents, and interviewing clients.
The Paralegal Studies program was initiated by the OU Law Center in 1968, and the program was approved by the American Bar Association in 1978.
Our curriculum stresses understanding and reasoning rather than rote learning of facts. Our legal specialty courses are taught by practicing lawyers and paralegals who bring their real-world experience into the classroom.
The paralegal studies certificate program is flexible and convenient, with Saturday (synchronous) and online courses (9 credits must be completed synchronously).
Graduates from the Paralegal Studies program will be qualified to work with lawyers in public and private law practice, in the judiciary, corporations and government. Graduates will be qualified to perform a variety of tasks, including legal research and drafting legal documents.
A paralegal is trained to work under the general supervision of a lawyer, performing tasks which traditionally have been performed by lawyers. The responsibilities of the paralegal are professional and distinct from routine clerical duties. In the performance of these various tasks, the paralegal, lawyer and clerical staff provide increased efficiency in the delivery of legal services to the client. The paralegal may interview clients, research legal issues, prepare documents and assist in litigation, allowing the supervising lawyer to provide quality representation at lower cost to the client.
Paralegals cannot give legal advice, accept cases, set legal fees, represent clients in court or perform any legal service without the supervision of a licensed lawyer.