Office of Public Relations

Pomona, NJ 08240

 

Stockton College Offers Paralegal Program

 

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Available

For Immediate Release

Monday, August 29, 2005

Contact: Tim Kelly

Stockton Public Relations

(609) 652-4950

 

GALLOWAY TWP., NJ - The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is offering a new Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, designed to provide students with the substantive knowledge and practical skills to enter the workforce in this dynamic field.

 

According to the latest available figures of the United States Department of Labor, there were 200,000 paralegal occupations in 2002, with that number expected to grow nearly 30 percent by 2012. This is nearly double the expected increase in all jobs nationwide, said Deb Figart, Stocktons Dean of Graduate Studies.

 

To help meet the overall need for increased legal services, attorneys are hiring and delegating more tasks to paralegals. These professionals assist attorneys with such tasks as preparing contracts, agreements and other documents and interacting with clients in other ways. Figart said paralegals, or legal assistants, can be found in law firms, corporate and legal departments, government offices - almost any type of organization. It is not a stretch to say the need for qualified paralegal professionals has permeated almost every phase of the American workforce, she said.

 

Although the current educational requirement for most paralegal positions is an Associates degree, the standard is changing. Many employers are looking for what the American Bar Association recommends: a four year baccalaureate degree, plus the post-baccalaureate certificate program to gain a paralegal license. The starting annual salary for paralegals with these credentials is in the $40,000 to $60,000 range, according to Figart. The range depends on geographic location, demand, and other factors, she said. Anyway you look at it that is a pretty decent starting salary in todays economy.

 

Stocktons program offers internships, job search assistance from a program associate and many other benefits. Students will have full access to Stocktons library, computer labs and other facilities.

 

Flexible course offerings and hours are available.

 

For more information, call (609) 652-4298 or visit our website: http:/graduate.stockton.edu