Show I Paralegal program gets ABA certification Jenn J Jenn enn Henke Campus Reporter After five years of work the Paralegal Studies program became an American Bar Association Approved Paralegal Education Program on Feb 17 It celebrated with witha a series of open houses this thi week It is the second ABA ABA- approved program in the State along with The business school presidents president's office and faculty from the paralegal department all pushed to meet the criteria established by the ABA Paralegal Instructor and local attorney L. L Monte Sleight said Like any accreditation its it's been a along along along long drawn out process Weve We've had to meet c certain qualifications Sleight along with KC Jensen are the time full-time program faculty Jensen will turnover turn turnover turnover over the position of program coordinator which he has held for two years to Sleight this July Until the program grows grows' and there is a need for additional time full-time staff they will take turns as program m coordinator In addition to being the second ABA approved paralegal program in the State is the only one not on oh probation The paralegal programs program's probation is not stated at or ABAs ABA's Web sites However the ABAs ABA's program approval guidelines state When a program fails to respond to conditions imposed on onit onit onit it by a deferral or warning or when it deviates significantly significantly significantly cantly from the Guidelines or policies the program may be placed on probation The ABA requires that certified programs have a satisfactory legal library resource for students law library is located in the Library Square Center where 60 percent of classes are held Typically students who attend classes at do do 1 Library Sq Square Square- re sor in the evening and I represent traditional non-traditional students from working backgrounds whom are looking to boost their skills and marketability within the legal field Daytime I classes are gen generally rally held at Taylorsville-Redwood Taylorsville Campus The ABA also emphasizes the need for liberal arts computerized I research skills and j pragmatic education on Hands-on experience in the form of internship is highly emphasized by the ABA and more opportunities for such will come as asa asa 1 a consequence of the certification i As for the future of the program and the benefits of the certification Sleight said At the end of the day it means that our students become more marketable it Not only locally but everywhere Jeff Dixon also f contributed to this article Ih h Tr L |