LEGAL ASSISTANT
Center and South Campuses
Students admitted to the Legal Assistant program are encouraged to attend a scheduled orientation session within their first year. Students do not need to complete the orientation prior to registering for classes. Please call 586.445.7167 to make arrangements.
Legal Assistant courses are geared to prepare a student to relieve an attorney from those portions of the legal practice that require routine legal processes. At the completion of this program, the student will be able to assist and work under the control and supervision of an attorney but must not practice law or give legal advice.
The goals of the Legal Assistant program are that students will:
- Know their ethical and professional responsibilities as professional members of the legal services delivery team.
- Be able to conduct legal research, accurately prepare legal forms and documents, know the purpose and function of legal pleadings, and conduct and summarize factual investigations.
- Know the purpose and function of discovery and use electronic evidence.
- Know substantive law in family law, wills and estates, real estate, administrative law, bankruptcy, court procedure, corporations and other business organizations.
- Demonstrate competence in related courses in general education, business law, accounting, communications, mathematics, office management, keyboarding, and computer information systems.
In order to receive a Macomb Community College Associate of Applied Science degree in Legal Assistant, a minimum of 15 semester hours must be taken at Macomb. At least 10 of those 15 semester hours must be taken in Legal Assistant specialty courses. No more than 6 semester hours of legal specialty courses may be obtained through Credit for Prior Learning.
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Legal Assistant program is approved by the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago Illinois 60610.
Program advisor Professor Jennifer Gornicki can be reached at 586.445.7176.
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
(Minimum 67 Semester Hours)
A. Career Preparation and Related Courses
| Course |
Course Title |
Suggested
Sequence |
Sem
Hrs |
| BLAW-1080 |
Business Law 1 |
X |
|
|
|
4.0 |
| LEGA-2010 |
Michigan Legal System & Ethics |
X |
|
|
|
2.0 |
| AND |
|
| ACCT-1070 |
Accounting for Entrepreneurs |
X |
X |
|
|
3.0 |
| OR |
|
| ACCT-1080 |
Principles of Accounting 1 |
X |
X |
|
|
4.0 |
| AND |
|
| BCOM-2050 |
Business Communications |
X |
X |
|
|
4.0 |
| ITCS-1010 |
Computer & Information Processing Principles |
X |
X |
|
|
4.0 |
| BLAW-1090 |
Business Law 2 |
|
X |
|
|
4.0 |
| LEGA-2030 |
Legal Research & Writing 1 |
|
X |
|
|
3.0 |
| LEGA-2100 |
Mechanics of Real Estate Law |
|
X |
X |
|
3.0 |
| LEGA-2120 |
Administration of Estates |
|
X |
X |
|
2.0 |
| BCOM-2060 |
Advanced Business Communication |
|
|
X |
X |
4.0 |
| LEGA-2040 |
Legal Research & Writing 2 |
|
|
X |
X |
3.0 |
| LEGA-2090 |
Legal Procedure |
|
|
|
X |
4.0 |
| LEGA-2210 |
Electronic Evidence & Discovery |
|
|
|
X |
4.0 |
| AND 5-6 semester hours from the following: |
| HHSC-1700 |
Medical Terminology |
X |
|
|
|
3.0 |
| LEGA-2110 |
Principles of Family Law |
|
X |
X |
|
2.0 |
| LEGA-2180 |
Business Associations |
|
|
X |
X |
2.0 |
| LEGA-2220 |
Computerized Litigation Support Concepts (CLSC) |
|
|
X |
X |
3.0 |
| CRER-2510 |
Internship Seminar |
|
|
X |
X |
1.0 |
| LEGA-2130 |
Proceedings Under the Federal Bankruptcy Code & Debt Collection |
|
|
|
X |
2.0 |
| LEGA-2160 |
Proceedings Under Administrative Agencies |
|
|
|
X |
2.0 |
| LEGA-2170 |
Criminal Law & Procedures |
|
|
|
X |
2.0 |
| BUSN-1010 |
Business Enterprise |
|
|
|
X |
3.0 |
| |
49.0-51.0 |
B. Arts and Sciences Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minimum sem hrs 18
Students should plan Arts and Sciences courses with a counselor, academic advisor, or program advisor.
Under Group I.B., it is recommended that students take ENGL-1220, Composition 2.
Under Group IV of the Arts and Sciences Courses required for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree, the following courses are preferred for the Legal Assistant program per the American Bar Association.
| Course |
Course Title |
Sem
Hrs |
| ARTT-2610 |
Art of the Western World 1 |
3.0 |
| ARTT-2620 |
Art of the Western World 2 |
3.0 |
| MUSC-1030 |
Music Appreciation |
3.0 |
| MUSC-2710 |
Music History & Literature to 1750 |
3.0 |
| MUSC-2720 |
Music History & Literature Since 1750 |
3.0 |
| THEA-1100 |
Introduction to the Theater |
3.0 |
| OR |
|
| Other courses from Creative Writing, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Literature and Philosophy are acceptable. |
C. Elective Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . none required