Paralegal

Paralegal Studies Certificate Program
Molloy University's Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA established standards for the education of paralegals, advancing the highest quality legal education, ethical conduct and legal professionalism. With this prestigious and respected designation Molloy is among the select group of the distinguished programs nationwide to have satisfied the ABA's rigorous process. 

Molloy's Paralegal Studies Program provides student's with a practical foundation in the substantive areas of the law, a strong ethical base and the ability to develop proficiency in both oral and written communication. Students are empowered with marketable skills to be prepared for employment as a paralegal or legal professional. Courses in this program take place in the evenings, some are in person, some are online/synchronous (although you may be learning from a distance, you will virtually attend a class session each week, at the same time as your instructor and classmates. This is a firm weekly time commitment. Some are Asynchronous (allows you to learn on your own schedule, within a certain timeframe. You can access and complete lectures, readings,  homework and other learning materials at any time. The time and day will not be listed).

Depending on your personal commitments and schedule you can take 1-5 courses per semester, take at your own pace- the more you take per semester the sooner you would complete the program. At the least it could take 2 semesters (1 years) to complete.

Where are paralegals needed? Pretty much everywhere! Because the law affects every aspect of our lives, there are jobs out there for individuals with paralegal skills in most areas of government, business and non-profit organizations. Below are a few specialties to consider while planning your paralegal education and career. 

Corporate paralegals, Real Estate and Title Insurance paralegals, Public Defender paralegals, Judicial paralegals, Government and Non-Government Organization paralegals, Nursing and Health Care paralegals.

Career Changers can benefit from this course of study. The Paralegal Studies Program teaches legal skills that can be utilized in combination with the  student's life experience to provide a better understanding of the legal system.

Entrance Requirement and Admission: A Bachelor's degree is strongly suggested however a student's life and work experience is applicable. For an Application to enroll contact the Continuing Education and Professional Studies office at 516 323-3550 or email conted@molloy.edu

or click here for application

Program Requirements: Student will receive a Certificate in Paralegal Studies upon completion of the requires course work and outlined below. Please note that the courses: Introduction to Legal Studies, Professional Responsibility in the Law, Legal Research and Writing and Litigation are required courses and would be the ones that may be prerequisites for some courses and therefore, should be taken first.  However, if there was a legitimate reason for taking a course without a prerequisite we would consider it.

 21 credits taken on a non-credit basis.

Required courses:         
Introduction to Legal Studies (3 Credits)
Professional Responsibility in the Law (1 Credit)
Legal Research and Writing (3 Credits)
Litigation (3 Credits)

Complete 8 credits from the following courses: not all are offered every semester
Tort Law (1 Credit)
Family Law (1 Credit)
Probate Law (1 Credit)
Real Property Law (1 Credit)
Technology in the Law Office (3 Credit)
Substantive Law and Drafting Essentials (3 Credit)
Professional Law Office Management (3 Credit)
Interviewing & Investigation (1 Credit)

Complete 3 credits from the following courses:
Elder Law (1 Credit)
Immigration Law (1 Credit)
Alternative Dispute Resolution (1 Credit)
Electronic Discover Skills (1 Credit)

Certificate
Once you complete the certificate requirements you can request a certificate of completion by emailing our records coordinator, Danielle Albanese at: dalbanese1@molloy.edu to request it.

Notary Public Course
We offer an additional course, "How to Become a Notary Public" throughout the year (upcoming schedule) This class is not required to complete the program, but becoming a notary is usually required of paralegals in most law offices. See information from New York State on becoming a Notary dos.ny.gov/notary-public

Faculty: Comprised of scholar professionals with experience and knowledge in the various fields of Law and Law Enforcement. 

Course Schedule and Plan of Study: Program courses are offered during the fall and spring semesters and we will also be offering the courses for the first time during the summer of 2025. You can proceed through the program at your own pace. Depending on your personal commitments and schedule you can take 1-5 courses per semester. At the least it could take 2 semesters (1 year) to complete the program. The program scheduling is also somewhat different in that we do have courses that start after the traditional fall and spring semesters have started. Therefore, in addition to classes starting in September and January, we also have classes that start in October and March, as well as in the summer. Courses are scheduled in the Fall, Spring and in 2025 we will also start offering some courses in the Summer semesters. You can begin your program in either semester. For the upcoming schedule of classes Click Here  

Tuition and Registration: Non-credit tuition is $5250 for the entire program. Textbooks are not included. Students who pay in full prior to attending classes receive a substantial discount. Payment plans are available.

Financial Assistance
When planning to attend a continuing education course or program, an important consideration is the cost, which may include tuition, books and travel. With Molloy College, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, various financial assistance options are available to help students afford tuition. Since most Continuing Education courses do not lead to a college degree, they are not eligible for the traditional forms of financial aid, such as TAP and Pell. Below are some links that may offer financial assistance.

Hempstead Works: https://www.hempsteadworks.com/

Department of Occupationalit) Resources: https://hempsteadny.gov/202/Occupational-Resources

Disability Services: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr

Legal Studies/Paralegal Information Session
Join us for a free information session to learn about our Paralegal Certificate Program, approved by the ABA (American Bar Association).This session will be led by Molloy University's experienced professionals and faculty who will offer real advice about the career path of Legal Studies as well as it's academic path.There will be discussion about both the satisfaction and challenges of begin a Paralegal along with the employment opportunities available once the program is completed.The session is generally held 4 times a year in October, January, April and June.There is no charge for this Information session however, we do ask that you register. The session is held via Zoom. Click here to register online or email us at: conted@molloy.edu or call us at: 516-323-3550. 

Questions?
Please contact Continuing Education and Professional Studies at 516.323.3550. Or Email