Sinclair Community College
Paralegal
Interested in the Legal World? Jump in with Sinclair’s Paralegal Department
The American Bar Association defines a paralegal, or legal assistant, as “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.”
The paralegal program at Sinclair provides you with a wealth of knowledge to help you prepare to work in the legal community or even begin a pre-law educational path.
This program might be for you if:
- You enjoy conducting research, solving problems and communicating the results.
- You are interested in learning more about law and its practices.
- You would like to gain experience to prepare for law school.
- You want to work as a part of a legal team or just gain hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
Paralegals are valued members of the legal community. The Dayton Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association and the American Bar Association have recognized this fact by offering memberships in their associations to paralegals. The challenge of the paralegal career area is as broad as the law itself. The Sinclair Paralegal Program has been developed to provide training that can meet this challenge.
Certificate Programs
No Certificates Currently Offered
Even though there are no certificate programs currently being offered, there are still options if you would like to learn more about paralegal, pre-law, and legal studies. If you would just like to learn more about the program, you can register to take the principle courses (PAR 105 and PAR 106) to determine your interest in paralegal studies.
The paralegal department does offer an emphasis for an Associate of Applied Science degree program. View the degree programs tab to learn more.
Degree Programs
Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal
Student Success: Nearly a thousand graduates of Sinclair’s Paralegal program now work in the legal profession and business world. Established in 1978, Sinclair’s was the first paralegal Program in the area, and the first in the area to be approved by the American Bar Association. Definition of Paralegal: The American Bar Association defines a paralegal, or legal assistant, as “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.” Program Outcomes: The Paralegal Program provides a practical, interactive learning environment to prepare ethical, competent paralegals. They acquire analytical, communication, and technical skills necessary to excel in a diverse legal community. Students who successfully complete the program will be able to: 1. Competently analyze substantive and procedural issues which arise in the law to prepare and interpret documents. 2. Exemplify a high standard of ethical and professional behavior as a member of a legal team. 3. Competently conduct factual and legal research and communicate the results clearly and concisely. 4. Demonstrate fluency in information technology. Curriculum: The Paralegal Program includes legal theory and practical assignments that incorporate ethical legal practices and extensive training in technology used in the legal field. All paralegal students are required to complete an attorney -supervised internship for hands-on experience using paralegal skills. Eligibility: Students must be accepted into the Paralegal Program before beginning paralegal courses. Applicants who are able to perform at the college level in math, English, and reading are eligible for the program. Successful completion of Paralegal Principles (PAR 105) and co-requirement Paralegal Principles Technology (PAR 106) are required before students may enroll in other paralegal courses. Students must earn a “C” or better in all paralegal courses to pass. Official Program Recognition: This program is approved by the American Bar Association, and fully accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a specialized accreditation recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). All full-time faculty are licensed attorneys. Three faculty members have been honored with NISOD Teaching Excellence Awards, and one retired program chair is recognized by Sinclair as a Professor Emeritus.
Interested in learning more about this degree program?
- View the curriculum now »
- Visit the Paralegal Web site »
- Talk with an admissions counselor by calling 1-888-722-2883 or visiting one of our convenient locations.
Already know the program that is right for you?
Fill out an online admissions application to get started or visit the Sinclair Admissions Web site to find out more.
Transfer Opportunities
Make the most of your education by starting at Sinclair Community College. Our quality programs and low tuition make it a great place to start even if you intend to further your education beyond an associate degree or certificate. You would be surprised at the money you could save by completing your first two years of study at Sinclair—just take a look at our low tuition and see the savings for yourself. You can also learn more by visiting Sinclair’s Transfer Web site »
Articulation & Transfer Agreements
Sinclair works directly with many four-year schools in Ohio and beyond to ensure the college credit you earn will transfer easily to those schools. By developing articulation agreements, formal agreements between colleges detailing the recognition of college credit between the schools, you will know you are meeting the requirements needed at the four-year school of your choice. Learn more about articulation and transfer »
Paralegal Agreements
Sinclair Community College has worked to develop program-specific agreements to assist you in a more seamless process when transferring from a specific Sinclair degree program to a bachelor’s degree program in the same area of study.
Programs & Articulation Agreements
Paralegal, Associate of Applied Science
Articulation agreements are in place for transfer to:
- Ohio University (Criminal Justice)
- University of Cincinnati (Paralegal Studies)
Transferring Individual Classes
In addition to transferring with a degree, college credit for many courses, including some paralegal program requirements, are accepted at other colleges and universities. Learn more about course equivalency »
General Agreements
While at Sinclair, if you plan to complete any associate degree program, there are agreements in place to help you easily transfer into a variety of bachelor’s degree completion programs.
Your transfer opportunities
may include:
- Antioch University McGregor
- Franklin University
- Kaplan University
- Ohio Dominican University
- Ohio University
- Purdue University
- Strayer University
- Wilberforce University
- Wright State University
- and more…
Ohio Transfer Module
The Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degree programs fulfill the requirements for the Ohio Transfer Module at other public colleges and universities. Students in applied associate degree programs may complete some individual transfer module courses within their degree program or continue beyond their program to complete the entire transfer module.
Upon completion of the Ohio Transfer Module, students will be able to enter most Ohio four-year colleges and universities as a junior with your general education requirements completed. Find out more about the Ohio Transfer Module…
Please Note: Sinclair continues to work with other colleges and universities to provide more opportunities through new articulation and transfer agreements. Please consult with an academic advisor for the most up-to-date information.
Related Programs
Sinclair Community College offers a wide variety of certificate and degree programs. With so many to choose from, we are sure that you can find a program that suits your needs. If you are interested in the paralegal program, you might also be interested in learning more about these programs at Sinclair: