Continuing Education snapped her up, and by 1993, she had helped get the program through a rigorous self-study report leading to approval by the American Bar Association. Louisiana's only non-credit certificate program. It's a popular program, says Charlotte. Besides leading to a career as a paralegal, the certificate can serve as a second degree to a profession like accounting or as a precursor to law school. It is sometimes an alternative to law school.
Some college graduates gain a marketable job skill from it.
Graduates can interview clients and witnesses, draft pleadings, answer discovery, summarize medical records and depositions, do legal research in books or on legal databases, and prepare all manner of documents and pleadings for trial. A good paralegal, says Charlotte, is organized, efficient, competent, self-directed and able to communicate with people from all walks of life. While most of the students in Continuing Ed's programs are from Baton Rouge, some travel from as far away as New York City. Charlotte relates easily to students and their aspirations. They have no idea how much impact it can make, but it does.