PURPOSE STATEMENT:

To develop guidelines to assist attorneys in recognizing threshold educational standards for paralegals in Missouri.

To assist potential paralegal students in ascertaining the quality of paralegal programs.

I. Paralegals should be graduates of a paralegal program that meets the following threshold educational standards:

A. is ABA (American Bar Association) Approved; or

B. is within an institution having AAfPE (American Association for Paralegal Education) Membership; or

C. is within an institution that is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Schools & Colleges (NCA), or its regional counterpart.

II. If a paralegal is a graduate of a paralegal program that does not meet the preceding guidelines, the program should provide all of the following minimum criteria:

A. Competencies:

1. Critical thinking skills (analysis, judgment, research and problem-solving); and

2. Communication skills (oral, written, non-verbal and interpersonal); and

3. Computer skills; and

4. Computational skills;

5. Ethical understandings;

6. Organizational skills; and

7. A basic understanding of American history, business and political systems.

B. Instructional Credit Hours ⁽¹⁾

At least 27 semester credit hours, or equivalent, of paralegal specialty instruction which includes ⁽²⁾ :

1. substantive and procedural law; and

2. the American legal system; and

3. the role of the paralegal in the delivery of legal services; and

4. law offices and related environment; and

5. the paralegal profession; and

6. legal research and writing; and

7. ethics; and

8. law-related computer skills; and

9. legal interviewing and investigation.

C. A minimum of 120 clock hours of practicum or internship (this requirement may be waived for students with appropriate paralegal work experience.)