STCC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies with four areas of concentration: Real Estate, Corporate and Banking, Litigation, and General Practice. The program provides hands-on experience through internship opportunities where students work 60 hours at a legal environment like a law firm. It also offers a Cooperative Education program where students train in both classroom and professional settings. The Paralegal Studies faculty is highly qualified and dedicated to student success, maintaining an engaging learning environment. Completing the program prepares students to transfer to 4-year paralegal degree programs or enter the job market.

1. PARALEGAL PROGRAM PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Southwest Tennessee Community College Paralegal Studies
Program
[By Judith Earley]
As an institution committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body and promotes diversity and access
without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, Southwest Tennessee Community
College stands head and shoulders above other comparable institutions. It is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access
college whose mission is to anticipate and respond to the educational needs of students, employers, and communities in Shelby
and Fayette counties and the surrounding Mid-South region. Students and faculty alike thrive in its effective teaching and
learning environment designed to raise educational levels, enhance economic development, and enrich personal lives The vision
of Southwest Tennessee Community College is to become the college of choice and a national model for technical, career, and
transfer education by fostering student success, transforming lives, and strengthening the diverse community.
STCC offers a broad range of learning Paralegal students may select from four corporation, or a government office and
opportunities in technical, career, general, areas of concentration: must work 60 hours during the semester
transfer, developmental, and continuing to receive three (3) credit hours for the
education, associate degrees, certificates, • Real Estate course. It is the student’s responsibility
and courses to prepare students for • Corporate and Banking to keep a daily log of his or her hours
employment, career advancement” • Litigation and of all assignments attempted and/or
personal enrichment, and college and • General Practice completed. At the end of the internship,
university transfer. Moreover, students are the student is evaluated by the supervising
given addition opportunities to increase What is more, internship and cooperative attorney, the results of which are used
their learning through technology-assisted opportunities are available to qualified in calculating the student’s final grade.
instruction, distance learning opportunities STCC students. The purpose of the At some point during the internship, the
and multiple locations. The schools two internship is for students to gain “hands- Program Director or another faculty
main campuses serve a population of more on” experience in the paralegal field. member conducts an on-site visit.
than 650,000 residents in a five-mile radius Selected students are placed in a legal
of either site. environment, such as a law firm, a The transition between classroom theory
and successfully performing on the job
One of the top-of-the-line areas of is paramount. Southwest Tennessee
Why Southwest Tennessee Community
concentration offered at Southwest Community College offers a Cooperative
College is head and shoulders above the
Tennessee Community College is the Education program in which the college
rest:
Paralegal Studies program. Gwynne Hutton and the local business community combine
is the Program Coordinator. Students According to STCC President Nathan their efforts to provide the students with a
are instructed by a highly qualified and Essex, “Our Paralegal Studies faculty more relevant and meaningful educational
passionate faculty who are responsive is a very strong, caring and dedicated experience. Students train for their future
to the needs of both their students and group who takes a personal interest in the job world, completing lessons in both
the communities served by the college. in their students. They remain on the the classroom and the law environment,
Working together they provide an cutting edge of their discipline through a combination that enables them see the
environment where students may acquire continuous professional development. relationship between their classroom work
the skills and knowledge necessary for Faculty members judge themselves based and their forthcoming professions.
on the success of their students. They
success in the paralegal field. STCC offers
have created an extraordinarily warm and
an Associate of Applied Science degree and Students who complete the co-op experience
engaging learning environment that their
graduates may transfer to the University of an increased awareness of the relevance
students find to be very challenging and
Memphis under an articulation agreement rewarding.” to education, increased motivation and
and complete a four year degree in maturity. Completing a cop-op introduces
Paralegal Studies in the University College. the student to the world of work and, unlike
the internship, provides the student with
PAGE continued on back

2. PARALEGAL PROGRAM PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
an opportunity to earn while learning. Only Fayette County, Tennessee
students who exhibit the necessary maturity en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_County,_
and accompanying skills and ability will be Tennessee
recommended to employers.
Shelby County
ON THE NET en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_County,_
Tennessee
Southwest Tennessee Community College
www.southwest.tn.edu
PAGE