All About Auburn University Paralegal Education Program, Paralegal Studies Programs And Paralegal Certificate Program. And Information About Legal Careers, A Paralegal Certificate, Legal Studies Coursework, Business Organization, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Civil Litigation And More.

1. PARALEGAL SCHOOL FEATURE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
The Paralegal Education Program at Auburn University
Montgomery
[By Devon Pryor]
In the heart of Alabama, the capitol city of Montgomery boasts a university with the largest and most affordable
paralegal studies program in the state. According to its website, Auburn University Montgomery has been offering an
American Bar Association-approved Paralegal Certificate program for nearly 20 years. Offered through the university’s
Department of Justice and Public Safety, three ABA-approved certification options are available to students interested
in legal careers.
The Bachelor of Science in Justice and and well-rounded individuals” with advanced consideration to the student. The MAT is
Public Safety-Legal Studies is the first of preparation for careers as paralegals or offered through the psychology department
these options. This track requires students court or justice administrators, as well as at Auburn University Montgomery. For those
to complete a four-year, 120-semester-hour for admission to law school. It requires who are unfamiliar with the MAT, this test
program, which awards each graduate with students to take courses in legal research is, according to the MAT homepage, a “high
both a bachelor’s degree and a Paralegal and writing, human resource management, level mental ability test requiring solutions
Certificate. Like most bachelor’s degree computer applications in the law, and of problems stated as analogies” designed
programs, the Bachelor of Science in administrative instruction. Students who to measure verbal comprehension and
Justice and Public Safety-Legal Studies complete this track also earn ABA-approved analytical thinking.
track at Auburn University Montgomery Paralegal Certificates.
requires students to complete general A competency evaluation is also associated
education, or GE, classes in addition The second track within the master’s degree with the Master of Judicial Administration
to their legal studies coursework. The program is the Justice and Public Safety (M.J.L.) program at Auburn University
curriculum for the legal studies track option (M.J.P.). This track offers coursework Montgomery. In order to satisfy the
includes classes in business organization, that provides students with the skills competency evaluation requirement, each
legal research, legal writing, civil necessary to succeed in several areas of the student must choose one of the three
litigation, court and judicial administration, criminal justice field, including planning, evaluation options. The first of these is
alternative dispute resolution, legal ethics, management, and ethical skills in specifically the comprehensive examination, which
computer applications in law, and business targeted areas such as law enforcement, is taken by students during the final
and professional writing, as well as six security, corrections, and juvenile justice. semester of enrollment at Auburn University
relevant electives. Internships completed This option does not offer a Paralegal Montgomery. Instead of taking the exam,
by students enrolled in the program are Certificate, but students who decide to students can elect to fulfill the specialization
considered electives. pursue the M.J.P. do earn master’s degrees option, which requires an additional six
in a field relevant to any legal career. hours of coursework and is available only
Auburn University Montgomery also by permission to students with GPAs of 3.5
offers a Master of Science in Justice and Admissions requirements for both of the or higher. The third option for students is
Public Safety. Graduate students can master’s degree programs at Auburn writing a thesis; thesis topics must be pre-
choose from two track options, both of University Montgomery are possession approved, and theses are subject to strict
which provide instruction in management of a bachelor’s degree (or its credit guidelines and evaluations.
and administration. Graduate courses equivalent) from an accredited university
are offered during the day, at night, and and satisfactory performance on either the All faculty members of the Department
on weekends. The first of the graduate Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the of Justice and Public Safety at Auburn
tracks is the Judicial Administration option Miller Analogies Test (MAT). If an applicant’s University Montgomery have experience
(M.J.L.). This track is ABA-approved and, undergraduate grade point average is below in their fields. They work or have worked
according to the program website, is 2.75, the GRE or MAT must be taken before as prosecutors, defense attorneys, law
designed to “produce extremely competent the screening committee will give any enforcement administrators or officers,
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2. PARALEGAL SCHOOL FEATURE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
security administrators, and corrections and show, document-sharing, and other Miller Analogies Test
juvenile administrators. They often have capabilities. Whether enrolled in the harcourtassessment.com/haiweb/Cultures/
consulting experience in their fields, as well. Paralegal Education Program or any of the en-US/Harcourt/Community/PostSecondary/
university’s other programs, students at Products/MAT/mathome.htm
Auburn University Montgomery takes full Auburn University Montgomery have the full
advantage of technological tools to benefit gamut of resources necessary to ensure a Horizon Wimba at Auburn University
its students. The university uses WebCT, quality education at their disposal. Montgomery
the number-one integrated Internet www.aum.edu/Academics/Horizon_Wimba/
learning system for higher education. ON THE NET index.aspx?id=6228
This service provides email, online chat
Auburn University Montgomery’s Paralegal
and discussion board services, and other
Education Program
e-learning resources. The university has
www.aum.edu/Academics/Schools/Sciences/
also implemented a web-conferencing tool
Departments_and_Undergraduate_
called Horizon Wimba, which provides an
Programs/Justice_and_Public_Safety/index.
array of collaborative and communicative
aspx?id=3754SearchType=ANDterms=par
possibilities, including video, audio, slide
alegal%20program
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