This program provides a solid foundation in the law and paralegal skills, including litigation preparation, document supervision, and legal research. Graduates may pursue career opportunities or job advancement in a legal environment such as a private law firm, corporate law department, or local, state, or federal agency. You will gain research and analytical skills along with technical competencies in specialized areas of law.

Kaplan University offers nine emphasis areas in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program: alternative dispute resolution, office management, personal injury, social security law, family law, corporate law, real estate law, legal technology, or employment law.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Emphasis: Learn the methods and techniques to successful arbitration, mediation, and conflict negotiation. You will learn the dynamics and methods related to litigation for resolving disputes, as well as how to effectively arbitrate legal proceedings in divorce, family, and employment cases. You may qualify for employment as a paralegal to law firms and legal aid agencies that specialize in labor, family law, and contract law mediation and arbitration.

Office Management Emphasis: Learn effective law office workflow coordination, team building, and law office procedures and record keeping. Graduates in this emphasis area may move into paralegal management positions.

Personal Injury Emphasis: Students are given the skills needed for work in the fields of personal injury and tort law, including negligence discovery, preparing briefs, analyzing case law, and presenting damages. You will learn about medical report analysis, malpractice litigation, product liability, and insurance claims. You may qualify for employment with personal injury and liability law firms or insurance companies.

Social Security Law Emphasis: Work on your own or for a law firm as a non-attorney client representative before the Social Security Administration (SSA). Lead clients through procedures, argues cases, and cross examine witnesses, just as an attorney would. You may also find work at the SSA.

Family Law Emphasis: Prepare to join a law practice that specializes in family matters, from child support, to adoptions, to divorce. Provide primary paralegal support for attorneys, including research, contacting courts and clients, and coordinating hearings.

Corporate Law Emphasis: Assist corporate attorneys in a broad range of business services, such as business planning, fundamental business formation and structuring financial provisions, joint ventures, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and more.

Real Estate Law Emphasis: Support attorneys who provide a broad range or services to organizations and individuals who are involved in the purchase, management leasing, and selling of real estate.

Employment Law Emphasis: Assist attorneys who handle both employee and employer issues, including wage disputes, discrimination, employment contracts, benefits litigation, collective bargaining, intellectual property disputes, and more.

Legal Technology Emphasis: Meet the growing need for paralegals and legal assistants with stronger technology and application skills. As a "manager of technology," you can play a key role in transitioning a legal office into a paperless environment. Your ability to streamline and support operations can be invaluable.

Who Should Take This Program?
Students looking to advance their current paralegal career or seeking entry-level employment in a paralegal field that requires a bachelor`s degree should consider this program.