AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES August 11-12, 2003

Transcription

1 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES August 11-12, RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association grants approval to 2 South University, Paralegal Studies Program, Montgomery, AL; Finger Lakes 3 Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Canandaigua, NY; and 4 Northampton Community College, Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program, 5 Bethlehem, PA. 6 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association reapproves 7 the following legal assistant programs: Pima Community College, Legal Assistant 8 (Paralegal) Program, Tucson, AZ; Broward Community College, Legal Assistant 9 (Paralegal) Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Athens Technical College, Paralegal 10 Studies Program, Athens, GA; Vincennes University, Legal Assistant/Paralegal 11 Program, Vincennes, IN; Sullivan University, Paralegal Program, Lexington, KY; 12 Montclair State University, Paralegal Program, Upper Montclair, NJ; Long Island 13 University, C.W. Post Campus, Paralegal Program, Brookville, NY; Fayetteville 14 Technical Community College, Paralegal Technology Program, Fayetteville, NC; 15 College of Mount St. Joseph, Paralegal Studies Program, Cincinnati, OH; 16 Community College of Philadelphia, Paralegal Studies Program, Philadelphia, 17 PA; South University, Paralegal Program, Columbia, SC; Pellissippi State 18 Technical Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Knoxville, TN; and 19 Southeastern Career College, Paralegal Program, Nashville, TN. 20 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association withdraws 21 the approval of Midway College, Paralegal Studies Program, Midway, KY as of 22 the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates 23 because this legal assistant education program has ceased educational operations. 24 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association withdraws 25 the approval of Bentley College, Institute of Paralegal Studies, Waltham, MA as 26 of the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates 27 because this legal assistant education program has ceased educational operations. 28 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association withdraws 29 the approval of the University of Detroit Mercy, Legal Assistant Program, Detroit, 30 MI as of the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the House of 31 Delegates at the request of the institution. 32

2 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association withdraws 33 the approval of Notre Dame College, Paralegal Studies Program, South Euclid, 34 OH as of the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the House of 35 Delegates because this legal assistant education program has ceased educational 36 operations. 37 FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association extends the 38 terms of approval until the February 2004 Midyear Meeting of the House of 39 Delegates for the following programs: 40 University of Alaska, Paralegal Certificate Program, Anchorage, AK; MTI 41 College, Legal Assistant Program, Sacramento, CA; Saint Mary s College, 42 Paralegal Program, Moraga, CA; Arapahoe Community College, Legal Assistant 43 Program, Littleton, CO; Naugatuck Valley Community College, Legal Assistant 44 Program, Waterbury, CT; Norwalk Community College, Legal Assistant 45 Program, Norwalk, CT; Georgetown University, Legal Assistant Program, 46 Washington, DC; George Washington University, Legal Assistant Program, 47 Washington, DC; Florida Community College, Legal Assisting Program, 48 Jacksonville, FL; Morehead State University, Paralegal Program, Morehead, KY; 49 Community College of Baltimore County, Legal Assistant Program, Baltimore, 50 MD; New York University, Institute of Paralegal Studies, New York, NY; 51 Cleveland State Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Cleveland, TN; 52 and Lee College, Legal Assistant Program, Baytown, TX.

3 REPORT In August, 1973, the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association adopted the Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs as recommended by the Special Committee on Legal Assistants. The Committee subsequently developed supporting evaluative criteria and procedures for seeking American Bar Association approval. Applications for approval were formally accepted beginning in the Fall of Programs applying for approval are required to submit a self-evaluation report which provides a comprehensive description of the program, including but not limited to the following areas: organization and administration, financial support, curriculum, faculty, admissions, student services, advisory committee, library, and physical plant. An on-site inspection of the program is conducted by representatives of the Association if the contents of the self-evaluation report indicate compliance with the ABA Guidelines. For an initial approval, the inspection team is chaired by a member of the Approval Commission of the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, and consists of a lawyer, an experienced legal assistant and a director of another institution s program. On a reapproval visit, the team which is again chaired by a member of the Approval Commission, is a two-member visitation team and includes two of the previously mentioned groups. The purpose of the on-site inspection is to verify the information provided in the self-evaluation report and to acquire supplementary information helpful to making an evaluation which can only be obtained through the person-to-person contact and observation the visitation affords. The inspection is conducted over a one and onehalf day period and consists of a series of meetings with the advisory committee and other individuals involved to a lesser extent and in some aspect of the program, such as the registrar, financial officer, placement coordinator and admissions and counseling staff. The team also observes legal specialty classes in session and may inspect various program data, including detailed curriculum materials, admission and placement records, student evaluations of faculty members and courses, and the like. Following the on-site inspection an evaluation is prepared by team members. The Approval Commission reviews the evaluation report and makes its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, which in turn, submits its recommendation to the American Bar Association House of Delegates for final action. -3-

4 The Standing Committee on Legal Assistants has completed an inspection of the programs identified below and found them to be operating in compliance with the Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs and is, therefore, recommending that approval be granted. South University, Paralegal Studies Program, Montgomery, AL South University is a private institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers both an Associate of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree. Finger Lakes Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Canandaigua, NY Finger Lakes Community College is a public, two-year college. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Graduates of the paralegal program are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree. Northampton Community College, Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program, Bethlehem, PA Northampton Community College is a public institution accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Students who successfully complete the paralegal program are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree. The following schools were recently evaluated for reapproval. Having demonstrated compliance with the Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs, the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants recommends that reapproval be granted to the following programs: Pima Community College, Legal Assistant (Paralegal) Program, Tucson, AZ Pima Community College is a public, two-year college. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers an Associate of Applied Science degree as well as an advanced certificate. Broward Community College, Legal Assistant (Paralegal) Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL Broward Community College is a public, two-year institution. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Graduates of the paralegal program are awarded an Associate of Science degree. Athens Technical College, Paralegal Studies Program, Athens, GA Athens Technical College is a publicly supported institution. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Students who successfully complete the paralegal program are awarded an Associate Degree in Applied Technology. -4-

5 Vincennes University, Legal Assistant/Paralegal Program, Vincennes, IN Vincennes University is a state funded institution. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Vincennes offers an Associate of Science degree. Sullivan University, Paralegal Program, Lexington, KY Sullivan University is a private university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The paralegal program offers four tracks: a Bachelor of Science degree, an Associate of Science degree, a post-baccalaureate certificate, and a Legal Nurse Consultant certificate. Montclair State University, Paralegal Program, Upper Montclair, NJ Montclair State University is a public institution accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers a paralegal concentration in the Justice Studies major and a post-baccalaureate certificate. Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, Paralegal Program, Brookville, NY Long Island University is a private institution accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers a certificate in paralegal studies and a Legal Nurse Consultant certificate. Fayetteville Technical Community College, Paralegal Technology Program, Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public community college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The paralegal program offers an Associate of Applied Arts degree as well as a postbaccalaureate diploma. College of Mount St. Joseph, Paralegal Studies Program, Cincinnati, OH The College of Mount St. Joseph is a private institution accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college offers the following options: an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Arts degree, a post-degree certificate, and a minor in paralegal studies. Community College of Philadelphia, Paralegal Studies Program, Philadelphia, PA The Community College of Philadelphia is a publicly supported community college. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Students who successfully complete the paralegal program are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree. South University, Paralegal Program, Columbia, SC South University is a private university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The paralegal program offers three options: an Associate of Science degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a certificate. -5-

6 Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Paralegal Studies Program, Knoxville, TN Pellissippi State Technical Community College is a public institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. An Associate of Applied Science degree is awarded to students who successfully complete the paralegal program. Southeastern Career College, Paralegal Program, Nashville, TN Southeastern Career College is a private college accredited by the Council for Occupational Education. Graduates of the paralegal program earn a certificate. The Standing Committee on Legal Assistants recommends that the approval of Midway College, Paralegal Studies Program, Midway, KY; Bentley College, Institute of Paralegal Studies, Waltham, MA; and Notre Dame College, Paralegal Studies Program, South Euclid, OH be withdrawn as of the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association House of Delegates because these legal assistant education programs have ceased educational operations. The Standing Committee on Legal Assistants recommends that the approval of the University of Detroit Mercy, Legal Assistant Program, Detroit MI be withdrawn as of the adjournment of the August 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association House of Delegates at the request of the institution. Applications for reapproval have been filed by the following schools and are currently being evaluated. Until the evaluation process has been completed, the Committee recommends that the term of approval for each program be extended until the February 2004 Midyear Meeting of the American Bar Association House of Delegates. University of Alaska, Paralegal Certificate Program, Anchorage, AK MTI College, Legal Assistant Program, Sacramento, CA Saint Mary s College, Paralegal Program, Moraga, CA Arapahoe Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Littleton, CO Naugatuck Valley Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Waterbury, CT Norwalk Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Norwalk, CT Georgetown University, Legal Assistant Program, Washington, DC George Washington University, Legal Assistant Program, Washington, DC -6-

7 Florida Community College, Legal Assisting Program, Jacksonville, FL Morehead State University, Paralegal Program, Morehead, KY Community College of Baltimore County, Legal Assistant Program, Baltimore, MD New York University, Institute of Paralegal Studies, New York, NY Cleveland State Community College, Legal Assistant Program, Cleveland, TN Lee College, Legal Assistant Program, Baytown, TX Respectfully submitted, D. Jeffrey Campbell Chair August,

8 GENERAL INFORMATION FORM To Be Appended to Reports with Recommendations (Please refer to instructions for completing this form.) Submitting Entity: Submitted By: Standing Committee on Legal Assistants D. Jeffrey Campbell, Chair 1. Summary of Recommendation(s). Recommends that the House of Delegates grant approval and reapproval to several legal assistant education programs, extend the term of approval to several legal assistant education programs, withdraw the approval of three legal assistant education programs because they have ceased educational operations, and withdraw the approval of one legal assistant education program at the request of the institution. 2. Approval by Submitting Entity. May 14, Has this or a similar recommendation been submitted to the House or Board previously? This recommendation has not been previously submitted. 4. What existing Association policies are relevant to this recommendation and how would they be affected by its adoption? This recommendation supports the Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs, as adopted by the House of Delegates. 5. What urgency exists which requires action at this meeting of the House? Action is timely. 6. Status of Legislation. (If applicable.) N/A 7. Cost to the Association. (Both direct and indirect costs.) None

9 8. Disclosure of Interest. (If applicable.) N/A 9. Referrals. None 10. Contact Person. (Prior to the meeting.) Merrilou Rauch, Approval Process Manager, Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, American Bar Association, 541 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, (312) Contact Person. (Who will present the report to the House.) D. Jeffrey Campbell Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. 100 Southgate Parkway Morristown, NJ (973)