Students can now achieve a minor by completing 18 hours in Paralegal Studies, including four core courses and two electives. As structured, the minor should fit within the elective options of most UNO major programs. Paralegal courses are offered at the UNO Lakefront Campus, the Downtown Center, the Jefferson Center, and in Slidell. Students in Paralegal Studies are first introduced to the fundamental concepts of legal ethics, legal research and writing, and litigation. They are then prepared to expand their knowledge into a variety of legal fields, such as family law, real estate, wills and trusts, commercial, medical, maritime and environmental law.
Students completing the minor have both practical and professional opportunities.
On the practical side, many students study in order to gain a greater appreciation of their legal rights. From involvement in a fender-bender to the settlement of a parental estate, knowledge of the law empowers a person to make better decisions. Other students are interested in the professional application of paralegal studies, either by going on to law school, or by pursuing a paralegal career. Students wishing to become paralegal professionals need 9 class hours beyond the minor in advanced paralegal courses, which could include an internship. If earned from UNO, the certificate carries American Bar Association approval.