PARALEGAL SCHOOL FEATURE
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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. A competency evaluation is also associated
requires students to complete general 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 by permission to students with GPAs of 3.5
Auburn University Montgomery also 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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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 learning system for higher education. This service provides email, online chat and discussion board services, and other e-learning resources. The university has also implemented a web-conferencing tool called Horizon Wimba, which provides an array of collaborative and communicative possibilities, including video, audio, slide
PAGE
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