2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

Program Director: Flaherty
Program Faculty: Bellone, Kelder, Tow

Students may matriculate in the following, offered by the Education and Human Services Department:

Applied Legal Studies (ALS)

• Degree Programs in Applied Legal Studies
• Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies
• Minor Concentration in Applied Legal Studies

The ALS program at Suffolk offers theoretical and practical education for individuals who wish to work in a law office or law-related setting, or who wish to explore the study of law in preparation for further education. In recent years, non-lawyer professionals such as paralegals have been assuming many responsibilities in a law office environment. In ALS, Suffolk offers an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a minor toward the bachelor’s degree and a largely post-baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

The courses in this program are intended primarily as a law employment credential, though these classes are beneficial to anyone hoping to attend law school or to those who wish to study law as undergraduates. Paralegals work in law offices, corporations, government agencies, insurance companies, public legal assistance agencies or other facilities under the supervision of an attorney, and are lay persons not licensed to practice law independently.

Suffolk University’s Applied Legal Studies and Paralegal Certificate programs are approved by the American Bar Association, a guarantee of quality in legal education.

Awards to Applied Legal Studies Students

Outstanding ALS Student Awards are given to students in the Paralegal Certificate program and in the degree programs each spring. Criteria include grade point average, service to the University, and completion of at least one-half of the academic schedule. Generally these awards are presented to senior or graduating students.  Awards for Excellence in Legal Research and Writing are given each year to students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in EHS 361, Legal Research and Writing I, and/or EHS 385, Legal Research and Writing II.

Suffolk University is a charter member of Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX), the National Paralegal Honor Society. Each spring, graduating ALS seniors and those completing the Paralegal Certificate who demonstrate superior academic accomplishment will be invited to be inducted into LEX.

Potential Tracks for ALS Students

Students are invited to use the following lists as aids to selecting courses toward completion of their program, but are not required to choose a track. Students in the Applied Legal Studies program may choose to concentrate in a particular area of law, as preparation for work in a specific field, or because of interest in the area. Below are four potential tracks for ALS students.

EHS 362 Civil Litigation (required course)
EHS 370  Administrative Law and Worker’s Compensation (elective course)
EHS 371  Law of Bankruptcy, Credit, and Debt (elective course)
EHS 378  Advanced Litigation and Trial Practice (elective course)

EHS 362 Civil Litigation (required course)
EHS 363  Law of Contracts (required course)
EHS 374  Torts:  Personal Injury Law (elective course)
EHS 378  Advanced Litigation and Trial Practice (elective course)

Track 3. Corporate/Business

EHS 366 Corporate Law (elective course)
EHS 376  Business Entities and Securities Law (elective course)
EHS 384 Intellectual Property (elective course)
EHS 390 Employment and Labor Law (elective course)
EHS 396 International Law (elective course)

Track 4. Family Law

EHS 365  Wills and Probate (elective course)
EHS 369 Family Law (elective course)
EHS 391/751 Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Neglect (elective course)
EHS 393 Estate Planning and Elder Law (elective course)

Bachelor’s Degrees

Students may pursue either a B.A. or B.S. in Education and Human Services with a major in Applied Legal Studies. Students must complete forty-four hours (eleven courses) in their ALS major and the required courses for the chosen degree. Of the eleven major courses, students must take seven required courses and may choose four of the ALS electives offered.

Students are encouraged to save major courses for the sophomore year and beyond; many ALS courses require sophomore status.

Transfer students from non-ABA approved programs working toward a bachelor’s degree in Applied Legal Studies must take at least six ALS courses while in residence at Suffolk University.

Transfer students from an ABA-approved program must take at least five ALS courses while in residence at Suffolk University.

Required Courses (B.A. and B.S. only)

EHS 264 Introduction to Law and the Legal System
EHS 360 Fundamentals of Paralegal Practice
EHS 361 Legal Research and Writing I
EHS 362 Civil Litigation
EHS 363 Law of Contracts
EHS 381 Paralegal Internship
EHS 385 Legal Research and Writing II

EHS 265 Law and Ethics
EHS 266 Criminal Law
EHS 365  Wills and Probate
EHS 366  Corporate Law
EHS 367  Criminal Litigation
EHS 368  Real Estate Law
EHS 369  Family Law
EHS 370  Administrative Law and Worker’s Compensation
EHS 371  Law of Bankruptcy, Credit and Debt
EHS 372  Environmental Law
EHS 374  Tort:  Personal Injury Law
EHS 375  Using Computers in the Law Office
EHS 376  Business Entities and Securities Law
EHS 378  Advanced Litigation and Trial Practice
EHS 380  Administrative Advocacy and Procedure
EHS 383  Immigration Law
EHS 384  Intellectual Property
EHS 390  Employment and Labor Law
EHS 391  Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
EHS 393  Estate Planning and Elder Law
EHS 396  International Law

Associate’s Degree

Students desiring to obtain a degree in two years may pursue an Associate in Science in Applied Legal Studies (A.S.A.L.S.). Students must complete thirty-two hours (eight courses) in their major and the required courses for the chosen degree. Of those eight courses, students must take five required courses and may choose three of the advanced ALS electives offered. One of those electives may be an internship working as a paralegal (EHS 381) after the student has completed at least fifteen hours of Applied Legal Studies coursework.

In their first year, students are encouraged to take only required courses, and should note that EHS 264, 265, and 266 are not classes that can count toward an ALS requirement for the associate’s degree.

Transfer students working toward an associate’s degree must take five ALS courses at Suffolk and two of the five courses must be required.

For a list of required and elective courses, see the Certificate Program in this section.

Admissions Requirements

All candidates desiring to be considered for admission to the Certificate in Paralegal Studies must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

1.  Have earned 30 general education credits from an accredited post secondary institution; or

2.  Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

If a candidate lacks the preceding education qualification, then option number 3 may be satisfied:

3.  Be recommended in writing by (a) supervising attorney(s) who will attest to the candidate’s successful employment for the equivalent of two years of performing suitable and significant tasks in an appropriate law-related setting, and consequent qualification for the study of law without the completion of general education coursework. Admission under option 3 is at the discretion of the Director, as no more than 10% of those admitted may come under this option.

Please note that all students who wish to complete a Paralegal Certificate program must apply for admission through the Undergraduate Admissions Office, including current Suffolk undergraduates.  Current undergraduate students at Suffolk MAY NOT apply to the Certificate program before their junior year, though they may take paralegal classes toward the Certificate in their first two years.

The Certificate in Paralegal Studies program consists of eight four-credit courses: 5 required courses and 3 electives, for a total of 32 credit hours. Students are encouraged to take the required courses as early in their studies as possible. Please note that EHS 361 – Legal Research and Writing I is only guaranteed to be offered in the fall, and EHS 385 – Legal Research and Writing II is only guaranteed to be offered in the spring. Students should also note that EHS 264, EHS 265, and EHS 266 are not classes that can count toward the certificate.  Certificate students must achieve a GPA of at least 2.0 in their ALS classes in order to receive a certificate.

Required Courses (Certificate and A.S.A.L.S. only)

EHS 360   Fundamentals of Paralegal Practice
EHS 361  Legal Research and Writing I
EHS 362 Civil Litigation
EHS 363 Law of Contracts
EHS 385  Legal Research and Writing II

Elective Courses

EHS 365  Wills and Probate
EHS 366  Corporate Law
EHS 367  Criminal Litigation
EHS 368  Real Estate Law
EHS 369  Family Law
EHS 370  Administrative Law and Worker’s Compensation
EHS 371  Law of Bankruptcy, Credit, and Debt
EHS 372  Environmental Law
EHS 374  Torts:  Personal Injury Law
EHS 375  Using Computers in the Law Office
EHS 376  Business Entities and Securities Law
EHS 378  Advanced Litigation and Trial Practice
EHS 380  Administrative Advocacy and Procedure
EHS 381  Paralegal Internship
EHS 383  Immigration Law
EHS 384  Intellectual Property
EHS 390  Employment and Labor Law
EHS 391  Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
EHS 393  Estate Planning and Elder Law
EHS 396  International Law

Minor in Applied Legal Studies

Students may elect a minor by completing a total of 20 credit hours of ALS courses, distributed as follows:

EHS 360   Fundamentals of Paralegal Practice (4 credits)
EHS 361   Legal Research and Writing I (4 credits; offered fall semester)
EHS 362   Civil Litigation and Procedure (4 credits)

Students may choose any other two 300 level ALS classes (8 credits).
ALS minors must see an advisor in the Applied Legal Studies Program.