Paralegal Degree Program Offered in Jefferson City

10/29/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

William Woods University is offering Jefferson City area residents the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree-completion program in paralegal studies without quitting work.

The program will begin with an open house enrollment meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at WWU’s Jefferson City site, 919 Wildwood. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the university prior to then, but walk-ins will be accepted. Call 1-800-995-3199 or contact WWU by email at evening@williamwoods.edu.
 
The program is a 42-semester hour, 14-course sequence designed for the working professional interested in entering the legal profession with a baccalaureate in paralegal studies. Admission requirements include the completion of 25 semester credit hours.     
 
William Woods University has been educating paralegals for more than 25 years on its main campus in Fulton. Peggy Nickerson, coordinator of the paralegal studies program, cites U.S. Department of Labor statistics as one of the reasons to expand the program. According to the department’s report, the paralegal profession remains a top 10 growth career for the 21st century. 
 
“As the number and complexity of lawsuits continues to grow, so will the need for paralegals,” Nickerson says. 
 
A degree in paralegal studies allows a person to function as a paralegal or legal assistant (the terms are often interchangeable). Paralegals are members of the professional legal staff (not the clerical staff) who are employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. 
 
A paralegal can work in all types of legal environments, including law offices, governmental agencies, financial institutions, health organizations, corporations, insurance companies, courts and both prosecutor and defenders’ offices. 
 
The paralegal degree-completion program “is representative of the innovative, professions-oriented programs of study for which William Woods is noted,” Dr. Michael Westerfield, WWU vice president, said. 
 
More information on the university’s evening programs is available at www.williamwoods.edu/evening.