106 american bar association standing committee on paralegals report to the house of delegates

106

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
STANDING COMMITTEE ON PARALEGALS
REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association reapprove the following paralegal education programs: De Anza College, Paralegal Studies Program, Cupertino, CA; Miami-Dade College (Wolfson location), Paralegal Studies Program, Miami, FL; Des Moines Area Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Des Moines, IA; South Suburban College, Paralegal Program, South Holland, IL; Louisiana State University, Paralegal Studies Program, Baton Rouge, LA; Ferris State University, Legal Studies Program, Big Rapids, MI; Lansing Community College, Paralegal Program, Lansing, MI; Meredith College, Paralegal Program, Raleigh, NC; Bergen Community College, Paralegal Studies and Legal Nurse Consultant Programs, Paramus, NJ; Gloucester County College, Paralegal Education Program, Sewell, NJ; Westchester Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Valhalla, NY; Peirce College, Paralegal Studies Program, Philadelphia, PA; Florence-Darlington Technical College, Paralegal Studies Program, Florence, SC; San Jacinto College North, Paralegal Program, Houston, TX; and Milwaukee Area Technical College, Paralegal Program, Milwaukee, WI.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association withdraw the approval of Lamson College, Paralegal Program, Tempe, AZ; Central Georgia Technical College, Paralegal Studies Program, Macon, GA; Berkeley College, Paralegal Studies Program, West Paterson, NJ; and New York University, Paralegal Studies Program, New York, NY, at the request of the institutions, as of the adjournment of the 2013 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates, and the Center for Advanced Legal Studies, Paralegal Program, Houston, TX, at the request of the institution, effective March 25, 2013.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association extend the terms of approval until the February 2014 Midyear Meeting of the House of Delegates for the following programs: Community College of the Air Force, Paralegal Program, Maxwell AFB, AL; Gadsden State Community College, Paralegal Program, Gadsden, AL; Everest College Phoenix, Paralegal Program, Phoenix, AZ; Phoenix College, Paralegal Studies Program, Phoenix, AZ; California State University East Bay, Paralegal Studies Program, Hayward, CA; Fullerton College, Paralegal Studies Program, Fullerton, CA; University of California Riverside, Paralegal Certificate Program, Riverside, CA; University of California Santa Barbara, Paralegal Professional Certificate Program, Santa Barbara, CA; Manchester Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Manchester, CT; University of Hartford, Paralegal Studies Department, West Hartford, CT; Wesley College, Legal Studies Program, Dover, DE; Nova Southeastern University, Paralegal Studies Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Valencia College, Legal Assisting Program, Orlando, FL; University of North Georgia fka Gainesville State College, Paralegal Studies Program, Gainesville, GA; Elgin Community College, Paralegal Program, Elgin, IL; Illinois Central College North Campus, Paralegal Program, East Peoria, IL; Bay Path College, Legal Studies Program, Longmeadow, MA; North Shore Community College, Paralegal Program, Danvers, MA; Suffolk University, Paralegal Studies Program, Boston, MA; Harford Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Bel Air, MD; Davenport University, Paralegal Studies Program, Grand Rapids, MI; Henry Ford Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Dearborn, MI; Kellogg Community College, Paralegal Program, Battle Creek, MI; Madonna University, Paralegal Studies Program, Livonia, MI; Hamline University, Legal Studies Program, St. Paul, MN; Inver Hills Community College, Paralegal Program, Inver Grove Heights, MN; North Hennepin Community College, Paralegal Program, Brooklyn Park, MN; Webster University, Legal Studies Program, St. Louis, MO; University of Great Falls, Paralegal Studies Program, Great Falls, MT; Mercer County Community College, Paralegal Program, Trenton, NJ; Truckee Meadows Community College, Paralegal Program, Reno, NV; Bronx Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Bronx, NY; Marist College, Paralegal Program, Poughkeepsie, NY; Kent State University, Paralegal Studies Program, Kent, OH; Rhodes State College, Paralegal/Legal Studies Program, Lima, OH; University of Tulsa, Paralegal Studies Program, Tulsa, OK; Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Paralegal Studies Program, Oil City, PA; Delaware County Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Media, PA; Duquesne University, Paralegal Institute, Pittsburgh, PA; Gannon University, Legal Assistant Program, Erie, PA; Manor College, Department of Legal Studies, Jenkintown, PA; Pennsylvania College of Technology, Legal Assistant Program, Williamsport, PA; Villanova University, Paralegal Program, Villanova, PA; Roger Williams University, Paralegal Studies Program, Providence, RI; National American University, Paralegal Studies Program, Rapid City, SD; Roane State Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Harriman, TN; Volunteer State Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Gallatin, TN; Amarillo College, Paralegal Studies Program, Amarillo, TX; Lone Star College North Harris fka North Harris College, Paralegal Program, Houston, TX; Utah Valley University, Department of Legal Studies, Orem, UT; Marymount University, Paralegal Studies Program, Arlington, VA; Northern Virginia Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Alexandria, VA; Mountwest Community and Technical College fka Marshall Community and Technical College, Legal Assistant Program, Huntington, WV; Highline Community College, Paralegal Program, Des Moines, WA; and Tacoma Community College, Paralegal Program, Tacoma, WA.
REPORT
In August, 1973, the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association adopted the Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs as recommended by the Special Committee on Legal Assistants, now known as the Standing Committee on Paralegals. The Committee subsequently developed supporting evaluative criteria and procedures for seeking American Bar Association approval. Applications for approval were accepted formally beginning in the Fall of 1974.
Programs applying for approval are required to submit a self-evaluation report which provides a comprehensive description of the program, including but not limited to the following areas: organization and administration, financial support, curriculum, faculty, admissions, student services, advisory committee, library, and physical plant. An on-site visit to the program is conducted by representatives of the Association if the contents of the self-evaluation report indicate compliance with the ABA Guidelines.
Site evaluation teams are chaired by a member of the Approval Commission of the Standing Committee on Paralegals, or a specially designated past commissioner. The team includes a combination of lawyers, paralegals and paralegal educators. The purpose of the on-site visit is to verify the information provided in the self-evaluation report and to acquire supplementary information which can only be obtained through the person-to-person contact and the observation the on-site visit affords. The visit consists of a series of meetings with the program’s advisory committee, students, faculty and other individuals, such as the registrar, financial officer, placement coordinator and admissions and counseling staff. The team also observes legal specialty classes in session and may inspect various program data, such as detailed curriculum materials, admission and placement records, student evaluations of faculty members, and assessment materials.
Following the on-site visit a written report is prepared by team members. The Approval Commission reviews the evaluation report and makes its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Paralegals, which in turn, submits its recommendation to the American Bar Association House of Delegates for final action.
The following schools were recently evaluated for reapproval. Having demonstrated compliance with the Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs, the Standing Committee on Paralegals recommends that reapproval be granted to the following programs:
De Anza College, Paralegal Studies Program, Cupertino, CA

DeAnza College is a two-year community college accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The college offers an Associate of Arts degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Miami-Dade College (Wolfson location), Paralegal Studies Program, Miami, FL

Miami-Dade College is a four-year college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

Des Moines Area Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Des Moines, IA

Des Moines Area Community College is a two-year community college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Science degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

South Suburban College, Paralegal Program, South Holland, IL

South Suburban College is a two-year community college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Louisiana State University, Paralegal Studies Program, Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University is a four-year university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Ferris State University, Legal Studies Program, Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University is a four-year university accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Lansing Community College, Paralegal Program, Lansing, MI

Lansing Community College is a two-year community college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers and Associate of Business degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Meredith College, Paralegal Program, Raleigh, NC

Meredith College is a four-year college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Bergen Community College, Paralegal Studies and Legal Nurse Consultant Programs, Paramus, NJ

Bergen Community College is a two-year community college accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Legal Nurse Consultant certificate.

Gloucester County College, Paralegal Education Program, Sewell, NJ

Gloucester County College is a two-year community college accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Westchester Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Valhalla, NY

Westchester Community College is a two-year community college accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Peirce College, Paralegal Studies Program, Philadelphia, PA

Peirce College is a four-year college accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers a Bachelor of Science degree, an Associate of Science degree, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

Florence-Darlington Technical College, Paralegal Studies Program, Florence, SC

Florence-Darlington Technical College is a two-year technical college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

San Jacinto College North, Paralegal Program, Houston, TX

San Jacinto College North is a two-year community college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Paralegal Program, Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Area Technical College is a two-year technical college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies.

Applications for reapproval have been filed by the following schools and are currently being evaluated. Until the evaluation process has been completed, the Committee recommends that the term of approval for each program be extended until the 2014 Midyear Meeting of the American Bar Association House of Delegates.
Community College of the Air Force, Paralegal Program, Maxwell AFB, AL;

Gadsden State Community College, Paralegal Program, Gadsden, AL;

Everest College Phoenix, Paralegal Program, Phoenix, AZ;

Phoenix College, Paralegal Studies Program, Phoenix, AZ;

California State University East Bay, Paralegal Studies Program, Hayward, CA;

Fullerton College, Paralegal Studies Program, Fullerton, CA;

University of California Riverside, Paralegal Certificate Program, Riverside, CA;

University of California Santa Barbara, Paralegal Professional Certificate Program, Santa Barbara, CA;

Manchester Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Manchester, CT;

University of Hartford, Paralegal Studies Department, West Hartford, CT;

Wesley College, Legal Studies Program, Dover, DE;

Nova Southeastern University, Paralegal Studies Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL;

Valencia College, Legal Assisting Program, Orlando, FL;

University of North Georgia fka Gainesville State College, Paralegal Studies Program, Gainesville, GA;

Elgin Community College, Paralegal Program, Elgin, IL;

Illinois Central College North Campus, Paralegal Program, East Peoria, IL;

Bay Path College, Legal Studies Program, Longmeadow, MA;

North Shore Community College, Paralegal Program, Danvers, MA;

Suffolk University, Paralegal Studies Program, Boston, MA;

Harford Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Bel Air, MD;

Davenport University, Paralegal Studies Program, Grand Rapids, MI;

Henry Ford Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Dearborn, MI;

Kellogg Community College, Paralegal Program, Battle Creek, MI;

Madonna University, Paralegal Studies Program, Livonia, MI;

Hamline University, Legal Studies Program, St. Paul, MN;

Inver Hills Community College, Paralegal Program, Inver Grove Heights, MN;

North Hennepin Community College, Paralegal Program, Brooklyn Park, MN;

Webster University, Legal Studies Program, St. Louis, MO;

University of Great Falls, Paralegal Studies Program, Great Falls, MT;

Mercer County Community College, Paralegal Program, Trenton, NJ;

Truckee Meadows Community College, Paralegal Program, Reno, NV;

Bronx Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Bronx, NY;

Marist College, Paralegal Program, Poughkeepsie, NY;

Kent State University, Paralegal Studies Program, Kent, OH;

Rhodes State College, Paralegal/Legal Studies Program, Lima, OH;

University of Tulsa, Paralegal Studies Program, Tulsa, OK;

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Paralegal Studies Program, Oil City, PA;

Delaware County Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Media, PA;

Duquesne University, Paralegal Institute, Pittsburgh, PA;

Gannon University, Legal Assistant Program, Erie, PA;

Manor College, Department of Legal Studies, Jenkintown, PA;

Pennsylvania College of Technology, Legal Assistant Program, Williamsport, PA;

Villanova University, Paralegal Program, Villanova, PA;

Roger Williams University, Paralegal Studies Program, Providence, RI;

National American University, Paralegal Studies Program, Rapid City, SD;

Roane State Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Harriman, TN;

Volunteer State Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Gallatin, TN;

Amarillo College, Paralegal Studies Program, Amarillo, TX;

Lone Star College North Harris fka North Harris College, Paralegal Program, Houston, TX;

Utah Valley University, Department of Legal Studies, Orem, UT;

Marymount University, Paralegal Studies Program, Arlington, VA;

Northern Virginia Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Alexandria, VA;

Mountwest Community and Technical College fka Marshall Community and Technical College, Legal Assistant Program, Huntington, WV;

Highline Community College, Paralegal Program, Des Moines, WA; and

Tacoma Community College, Paralegal Program, Tacoma, WA.

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah Winfrey Keene, Chair

Standing Committee on Paralegals

August 2013

GENERAL INFORMATION FORM

Submitting Entity: Standing Committee on Paralegals

Submitted By: Deborah Winfrey Keene, Chair
1. Summary of Resolution(s).
Resolves that the House of Delegates grant reapproval to several paralegal education programs, withdraw the approval of five programs at the request of the institutions, and extend the term of approval to several paralegal education programs.
2. Approval by Submitting Entity.
April 23, 2013
3. Has this or a similar resolution been submitted to the House or Board

previously?
This resolution has not been previously submitted.
4. What existing Association policies are relevant to this resolution and how

would they be affected by its adoption?

This resolution supports the Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal

Education Programs, as adopted by the House of Delegates.
5. What urgency exists which requires action at this meeting of the House?
Action is timely.
6. Status of Legislation. (If applicable.)
N/A
7. Brief explanation regarding plans for implementation of the policy, if adopted by the House of Delegates.
Approved programs are notified of the action of the House of Delegates by the Standing Committee on Paralegals. The programs are monitored for compliance during the approval term by the Standing Committee.
8. Cost to the Association. (Both direct and indirect costs.)
None
9. Disclosure of Interest. (If applicable.)

N/A
10. Referrals.

None
11. Contact Person. (Prior to the meeting.)
Peggy C. Wallace, Staff Counsel

Standing Committee on Paralegals

American Bar Association

321 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60654

[phone]

12. Contact Person. (Who will present the report to the House.)
Deborah Winfrey Keene, Chair

Director, Paralegal Program, Lansing Community College

3500 W. Public Service Careers

P. O. Box 40010

Lansing, MI 48901-7210

[phone]

Cell: [phone]

E-Mail: [e-mail]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Summary of the Resolution

The Standing Committee on Paralegals resolve (s) that the House of Delegates

grant reapproval to fifteen programs, withdraw the approval of five programs, and extend the term of approval of fifty-five programs.

2. Summary of the issue which the Resolution Addresses
The programs recommended for reapproval in the enclosed report

meet the Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs.

3. An explanation of how the proposed policy position Will Address the Issue
The programs recommended for reapproval in this report have

followed the procedures required by the Association and are in compliance with

the Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs.
4. A summary of any minority views or opposition which have been identified
No other positions on this resolution have been taken by other Association

entities, affiliated organizations or other interested groups.