Legal Assistant (Paralegal) Studies
School of Business & Computer Technologies
Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Rm. E257 · (570) 327-4517
Our Offerings, Faculty, and Student Opportunities
- ABA-approved associate and baccalaureate paralegal degrees
- ABA-approved certificate in Health Care/Paralegal Studies
- A wide range of course offerings, such as Legal Research & Writing, Real Property Law, Civil Litigation, Family Law, Administrative Law, Estate and Trust Administration, Criminal Law, Bankruptcy Law, Law Office Management, Consumer Law, Legal Ethics, Insurance, and Interviewing/Counseling/Negotiation
- 300-hour internship with a legal employer, involving real-world application of concepts taught in the classroom
- Small classroom sizes and personalized attention
- Extensive law library with federal and state sources and fully-networked and Internet-accessible computerized research capabilities
- Our paralegal faculty include:
- Licensed attorneys with practical experience in civil and criminal law and diverse teaching backgrounds
- Recipients of Penn College Excellence in Teaching Awards
- A former judge who served on a United Nations committee studying war crimes
- Professional association with state and local bar associations, the local Paralegal Association, and the student-organized Penn College Legal Society
- Our graduates include:
- Paralegals with a broad range of legal employers
- Law school graduates, practicing law
The Profession
The paralegal profession offers challenging job opportunities with competitive salary and benefit packages in a broad range of professional environments, such as law firms, corporations, health care, financial institutions, real estate companies, government agencies, court systems, insurance companies, and community service agencies.
- One of the fastest growing professions by government job studies
- Average nationwide salary exceeding $40,000
NOTE: Paralegals cannot practice law and must work under attorney supervision.
Legal Assistant News
Free Income-Tax Assistance Program Returns to Penn College
January 2008
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, in which a dozen Penn College students helped hundreds of local residents prepare returns last year, soon will resume at the college’s Madigan Library. The free program will be offered from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday from Feb. 4 until April 10. Taxpayer services are not available when the college is closed or when students are on Spring Break (March 17-24). The site – Room 102 on the library’s first floor – is for walk-ins only; appointments are not accepted.
Legal Assistant Major Distinguishes Herself With National Honor
November 2007
A sophomore in Penn College’s legal assistant/paralegal studies bachelor-degree major has been chosen as a 2007 American FFA Degree recipient representing Pennsylvania. Jessica M. Kessler, of Beavertown, received the prestigious award from the National FFA Organization, which – originally called the Future Farmers of America – has broadened its membership to individuals outside the agricultural vocation.
Speakers Address Health-Care Compliance, Identity Theft
October 2007
"Identity Theft and Health-Care Compliances," the final event in Penn College's informative observance of
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
, was held Thursday afternoon in the Madigan Library's second-floor reading loft. Speakers for the event were Monica R. Turri, compliance officer for Susquehanna Health (in left photo), who discussed protection of medical records under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; and Karen Orwan, security officer for Omega Bank, and Brenda Bittner, Omega's branch development and education coordinator, who addressed ways to combat identify theft.Bar Association Reapproves College’s Legal Assistant Majors
May 2007
The American Bar Association has granted reapproval to Penn College’s legal assistant majors, one of only 14 programs in Pennsylvania to be recognized in that fashion. “This notification reaffirms the high quality of the instruction, advising, work-based experiences and job placement provided by our paralegal studies faculty and college for our certificate and associate- and bachelor-degree-seeking students,” said Edward A. Henninger, dean of business and computer technologies.
Lycoming County Paralegal Association Establishes Scholarship
September 2006
The Lycoming County Paralegal Association is honoring one of its members by establishing a scholarship fund for legal assistant/paralegal students at Penn College.