Legal Eagles Learn to Fly at Tri-C
律师助理学习项目是许多未来律师的第一步
法律系的. 法学院.
这些术语让人想起那些有着令人尊敬的名字的古老学校. Libraries with tall windows and large wooden tables. 书架上摆满了判例判例和数百年法律理论的书籍.
但如果这是你对现代法律教育的唯一看法,你应该再看看. 许多学生正在寻找非传统的方式来为进入法学院铺平道路. 的 Paralegal Studies program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) is one of them.
律师助理课程如何为最终成为一名律师奠定基础? Simply put, it’s all about practical knowledge and experience.
“律师助理在法律上相当于执业护士,” said Candice Storey, director of Tri-C’s Paralegal Studies program. “的y act as the attorney’s right-hand person. Under the supervision of an attorney, 律师助理可以执行以往由律师执行的各种任务, including drafting complaints, corresponding with clients and legal research.”
Though paralegals perform a wide range of tasks, 斯托里指出,律师仍然必须是提供法律建议的人, set legal fees, accept new clients and represent clients in court.
三c律师助理研究课程提供两年的副学士学位和一年的学位后证书课程. Both paths prepare students for paralegal careers, 但一些毕业生可能会选择进入法律预科学士学位课程,甚至直接进入法学院——这取决于他们之前的高等教育.
三c课程的学生必须花两个学期的时间进行法律研究和写作, along with courses that emphasize communication skills, legal technology and critical thinking. Prior to receiving their degree or certificate, students must also complete a practicum in a legal office, such as a private law firm, legal department of a company or public defender’s office.
乔迪•男爵, a 2017 graduate of the Tri-C program, 她说,她在克利夫兰联邦公设辩护人办公室的实习对她对诉讼的兴趣起了很大的作用.
“Tri-C’s program is well-known within the community,” said 男爵, 57, of Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood. “的y have a great reputation, 所以当坎迪斯(斯托雷)告诉公设辩护律师办公室,他们有人有兴趣在那里实习时, they didn’t blink. 的y knew I had the background necessary to work there.”
在销售领域工作多年后,巴伦决定继续接受法律教育 University of Akron School of Law 1月.
Well-rounded education
完成律师助理教育的学生通常会发现,他们在法学院的第一年比他们的同学准备得更好. 而三c的律师助理研究课程涵盖了许多学生在法学院第一年会发现的相同概念, Storey says the difference is in the application of the knowledge.
“尽管我们的毕业生发现他们在法学院学习的内容是一样的, they get it from two different perspectives,”她说。. “Our program focuses on practical skills, 比如起草法律文书,在法庭上归档法律文件. 在法学院,他们更注重理论技能,比如为一个案件展开辩论.”
蒂娜·拉米什维利(Tina Ramishvili)是该项目2018年的毕业生,当她进入哈佛大学时,她亲眼看到了这种优势 Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.
Born in the country of Georgia, 拉米什维利于2015年移居美国,当时他正在华盛顿大学完成政治学学位 Baltic International Academy in Riga, Latvia. She expects to graduate from Cleveland-Marshall in 2022.
俗话说,律师助理比律师懂得更多,因为他们做的工作太多了,” said Ramishvili, 25, 帕尔玛的. “当你进入法学院时,我看到了拥有这些知识基础是多么重要. And Tri-C’s program prepared me tremendously. 不仅是法律,还有更基本的东西,比如英语,因为英语不是我的母语. 的y helped me with so much.”
许多其他学生被三一学院的项目所吸引,是因为它既具有挑战性,又具有支持性. 它提供了一个在法律领域工作的挑战和严格的不加修饰的观点,同时仍然提供鼓励,使学生追求自己的梦想.
“From the professors all the way up to the director, 他们都非常支持你,鼓励你去追求自己的目标,” said Donnell Walker, who graduated from Tri-C with a paralegal certificate in 2018.
现年33岁的沃克来自沃伦斯维尔高地,今年秋天将进入克利夫兰-马歇尔大学. 他还在克利夫兰州立大学攻读公共管理硕士学位.
“我希望有一天能成为一名联邦法官,三一学院是我的跳板,”他说. “I keep in touch with people from the paralegal program, so that support is still there even after you graduate.”
Growing in numbers
男爵, Ramishvili和Walker是在四年制大学继续深造的三名c律师助理毕业生中的三人. Following the 2018-2019 academic year, 该校18%的律师助理毕业生转学到后续机构. That’s up from 15% following the 2017-2018 academic year.
Some pursue an advanced law degree, 而另一些人则把他们的律师助理技能运用到其他学习领域.
“Legal skills are applicable in a lot of areas,” Storey said. “I think many students are drawn to that. You develop critical thinking and analysis skills, which can be very useful in other disciplines and vocations. 在我们的课程中,我们努力让我们的学生掌握每一项必要的技能. 这是我们在法律界享有盛誉的一个重要原因.”
的 Tri-C Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association. 的 program enrolls new students every semester, with an average of 125 students in the program at a given time. For more information, visit the program page on the Tri-C website.
沃克说:“没有人认为考三科是成为律师或法官的途径,但他们应该这么做。. “的 knowledge you gain, 如果你愿意努力工作,你就会对自己有信心——这是非常宝贵的. I recommend Tri-C to anyone looking to take that first step.”
July 21, 2020
Erik Cassano, 216-987-3577 or 埃里克.cassano@chriswaldegar.com