ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs
Chattanooga State Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37406-1097
Director: Kenneth Goldsmith
Telephone: 423.697.4795
Fax: 423.697.2539
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: 2 yrs
Internships: Elective
For more information:
www.chattanoogastate.edu
Description: The Paralegal Studies Program of Chattanooga State
is housed at the Center for Applied Legal Studies in Chattanooga.
Paralegal is one of several legal career choices offered at the
site. Students who complete the 61 hour program may continue to
work toward a BS degree online through the Tennessee Board of
Regents or transfer to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
to work on the BS degree in Legal Assisting. Our program has approximately
100 students, with about one-third taking night classes.
Kaplan Career Institute (f/k/a Southeastern Career College)
Paralegal Studies Program
750 Envious Lane
Nashville, TN 37217
Director: William C. Hansen
Telephone: 615.279.8328
Fax: 866.835.5801
Type of Institution: Proprietary
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science; General Practice Paralegal Certificate
Minimum length of time to complete program: AAS-77 weeks, General Practice - 52 weeks
Externship: Mandatory for day students and evening students
Description: Kaplan Career Institute offers two ABA approved paralegal education program options. The Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies option offers a level of training that provides the student with a solid foundation in paralegal studies and a liberal arts knowledge base. Students enroll in this program to pursue occupational advancement or to seek employment in legal environments, including private law firms, corporations, and governmental agencies. The General Practice Paralegal Certificate Program option prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills and the work habits required for a wide variety of entry-level paralegal positions. Courses stress understanding fundamental legal terminology and concepts and developing basic skills that will enable graduates to make effective use of the training. Practical skills are stressed over theoretical knowledge.
Pellissippi State Community College f/k/a Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
Department of Business and Computer Technology
10915 Hardin Valley Road
P. O. Box 22990
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
Program Coordinator/ Professor: Arlene A. Cleveland
Telephone: 865.971.5225
Fax: 865.971.5221
Type of Institution: Public College; 2 yr.
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science
Internships: Mandatory
For more information:
www.pstcc.edu/departments/lat
Description: The paralegal program has been approved by the ABA since 1988. As part of the program, paralegal students learn in our innovative classroom lab that simulates a law office and gain office experience working with attorneys in our internship program. Students are encouraged to join the local paralegal organization, and the college paralegal association promotes professional events, community involvement, and networking opportunities. Students take a core of general education and law courses that prepare them for employment in a variety of settings: private law firms, corporate legal departments, district attorney, public defender and legal aid offices, government agencies and courts. All paralegal courses are taught by licensed attorneys.
Roane State Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
276 Patton Lane
Harriman, TN 37748-5011
Director: Kenneth E. Yager
Telephone: 865.354.3000 X4288
Fax: 865.882.4665
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science
For more information:
www.roanestate.edu
South College
School of Legal Studies
3904 Lonas Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Director: Jennifer A. Jenkins
Telephone: 865.251.1800
Fax: 865.470.8730
Type of Institution: Proprietary
Degrees Offered: Associate in Science, Bachelor of Science, Certificate
Internships: Mandatory
For more information:
www.southcollegetn.edu
Description: The purpose of the Paralegal Studies program is to
provide each student at South College with a quality, practical
legal education in order to provide attorneys and the legal community
with paralegals who are qualified, responsible, and professional.
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies program
is to provide students with a broad academic background in general
education, fundamental theoretical legal concepts, and practical
applications.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134-7693
Director: Gwynne Hutton
Telephone: 901.333.4136
Fax: 901.333.4377
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: 2 yrs, unless student
has prior college credit, which may allow them to complete the degree program sooner
Internships: Mandatory (student must have minimum GPA of 3.0 and
have completed certain prerequisite courses).
For more information:
www.southwest.tn.edu/paralegal
Description: The Paralegal Studies degree program at Southwest
Tennessee Community College offers a challenging curricula taught
by attorneys and paralegals who convey the importance of the substantive
aspects of the law as well as the practical skills required to
be a successful paralegal. Students have the option of choosing
areas of concentration in real estate, litigation, corporate and
banking law, and general practice. All courses emphasize writing
and research skills and students are instructed in the use of
Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw and legal specific software. Upon completion
of the two-year degree program, students may immediately enter
the job market or transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's
degree. Southwest's employment rate for paralegals generally exceeds
95 percent each year.
University of Memphis
Paralegal Studies Program
University College
218 Brister Hall
Memphis, TN 38152
Director: Broderick E. Nicholas, J.D.
Telephone: 901.678.4595
Fax: 901.678.4913
Type of Institution: Public, 4 yr
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Professional Studies
Internships: Mandatory
For more information:
www.memphis.edu
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Legal Assistant Studies Program
615 McCallie Avenue
Dept. 3203
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Director: Karen McGuffee
Telephone: 423.425.2137
Fax: 423.425.2228
Type of Institution: Public, 4 yr
Degrees Offered: Bachelor Degree
Internships: Mandatory
For more information:
www.utc.edu
Volunteer State Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
1480 Nashville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066-3188
Director: Loretta Calvert
Telephone: 615.230-3768
Fax: 615.230.3317
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr
Degrees Offered: Associate in Science, Associate of Applied Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: 60 semester hours
Internships: Elective
For more information:
www.volstate.edu/paralegal/
Description: Volunteer State is part of the Tennessee Board of
Regents and the campus is just north of Nashville in Gallatin,
TN. It is a public institution in the mid-state area. E-mail for
additional information:
Walters State Community College
Paralegal Studies Program
Room 268, Technical Education Building
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813-6899
Director: Holly D. Sayne
Telephone: 423-585-2645
Fax: 423-318-2329
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science
Internships: Elective
For more information:
www.wscc.cc.tn.us
Description: The Walters State program prepares students for entry-level
paralegal positions in government, corporate, and private law
offices by providing them with a foundational knowledge of the
substantive areas of the law and with the necessary law-related
skills to competently assist a supervising attorney. The program
also emphasizes legal ethics and professionalism and instruction
in modern technology systems including CALR, word processing and
law office management systems.
