• Paralegal Studies 

    Paralegal specialty courses are taught by experienced attorneys and LaGuardia’s program is approved by the American Bar Association.

  • Students who complete the Paralegal Studies curriculum, which is administered by the Business & Technology Department, will receive the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. The Paralegal Studies curriculum has been carefully designed to balance paralegal specialty and related courses with a broad liberal arts background. Students gain valuable practical experience through internships. LaGuardia's paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association. 

    “A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. (Adopted by the ABA in 1997) Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

  •  Advising Team

    In support of the LaGuardia’s mission to educate and graduate its students to become critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens, the College has undertaken a team approach toward advising, designed to support you in your major from orientation through graduation.

    Your Advising Team is made up of faculty, professional and peer advisors. They will guide you at every step during your college career. They are ready to help you:

    • Explore your major
    • Select introductory and advanced courses
    • Connect you with campus support services
    • Prepare an educational and career plan

    Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.


    Advisor Button

     Career Profile

    Paralegals, or legal assistants, assist lawyers in a wide range of activities. Lawyers remain responsible for paralegals’ work (in general, paralegals may not themselves give legal advice, set fees or represent clients in court). In the litigation area, for example, paralegals may interview prospective clients, research the law, prepare court documents and assist at trials. Paralegals who work on corporate legal matters may prepare contracts, maintain records and ensure that a corporation has complied with various statutes and government regulations. Paralegals who work on real estate matters may prepare mortgage agreements and other documents relating to real estate transactions and assist at closings.


    While the major employers of paralegals are private law firms, there are also job opportunities with government agencies, including district attorneys’ offices, and a variety of other employers. In addition, the curriculum may be highly suitable for students who contemplate pursuing other law-related careers, such as careers in law enforcement, or who seek a broad, practical knowledge of the law for its own sake.


    ”Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.”* According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2015 annual median income for paralegals was $48,810. The top 10 percent or paralegals and legal assistants earned an average of $79,010.*


    The employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 8 percent from 2014 to 2024.

     * Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm (visited September 02, 2016).


    Explore career possibilities on Career Connect.  

     Degree Map – Graduate in Two Years

    Current Students
    Log in to My LaGuardia to review your Degree Audit to find out what classes to take. Have questions about using Degree Audit? Visit LaGuardia's Degree Audit page for tutorials and how-to guides.

    Prospective Students
    Review the curriculum.

    Please note: Students will be held to the program and degree requirements of the year that they enter the College, unless the student changes their major in a different academic year. In that case, the student will be held to the current year requirements as listed in the catalog. Learn more.

    Degree Map
    Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

    For information about this program’s retention and graduation rate visit the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment website page.