VGCC adding Paralegal degree program
Vance-Granville Community College will offer a two-year Paralegal Technology degree program, starting with the fall semester, which begins Aug. 19.
The new program, which will be based at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus near Louisburg, will prepare area residents to work under the supervision of attorneys by performing routine legal tasks and assisting with substantive legal work. Paralegals may interview clients, investigate facts, draft documents and perform legal research for attorneys, although they cannot independently give legal advice or represent clients in court. While most paralegals and legal assistants are employed by law firms, employment opportunities are also available in government agencies, banks, insurance agencies, and other business organizations.
Course work includes substantive and procedural legal knowledge in the areas of civil litigation, legal research and writing, real estate, family law, wills, estates, trusts, and commercial law. Three of the program’s courses are currently scheduled at the Franklin Campus this fall, including Introduction to Paralegal Study, Civil Injuries, and Civil Litigation I. Students must complete 68 credit hours, including general education credits, to earn the Associate in Applied Science degree.
“Our goals for the Paralegal Technology program are to develop skilled and diversified program graduates, and to meet the workforce needs of our region,” said Angela Gardner-Ragland, VGCC’s Dean of Business and Applied Technologies. “Local attorneys and court officials have told us that there is a need for well-trained paralegals, and the need is expected to grow.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants was projected to grow by 18 percent nationally between 2010 and 2020. “Graduates of our program will be qualified to work in the field immediately, but to increase their competitiveness in the job market, they will be encouraged to apply for certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants , the leading paralegal association in the United States,” Gardner-Ragland added.
Orientation and advising of new students will take place throughout the summer. For more information, call Antoinette Dickens at (252)-738-3609 .
To enroll in this program, the first step is to apply for admission. Click here for Admissions/Records .
