Paralegal Certificate (PLS)

You will learn the fundamental skills necessary for an entry-level position in a legal setting such as a law office, courthouse, administrative agency, corporate in-house counsel office, or insurance company. This certificate introduces you to the paralegal field, to several areas of substantive law, to the basics of legal analysis and research, and is a good introduction to MWCC’s Paralegal Studies Degree.

Campus/format: Courses for this program can be completed online or during the day or evening at the Gardner or Leominster Campus.

Helpful hints: Students enrolling in the Paralegal Practicum must contact the program coordinator for approval and available options (978) 630-9359.

Transfer options: Some courses may be applied to MWCC’s Paralegal or General Studies Degree. Consult with your academic advisor.

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Administrative assistant, paralegal, law clerk, document clerk, or legal assistant in the private or public sector.

Earning potential: $31,921 to $52,717 per year; varies greatly depending on education, training, experience, employer, and geographic location.

Elective courses by abbreviation

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering into this program must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information verbally and in a printed format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Complete forms using a typewriter or similar office machine.
5. Input data into a computer.
6. Comprehend data from a computer screen, transcribe notes (dictation), and conduct library and Internet research for a minimum of a three-hour period of time.