Paralegal Studies
Program Goals & Outcomes
The Paralegal Studies degree is designed to prepare students for employment as legal assistants or paralegals. A paralegal is qualified by education and training to be employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity. Paralegals perform specifically delegated legal tasks for which a lawyer is responsible and which the lawyer would perform absent the paralegal.
Paralegals cannot give advice, accept cases, set legal fees, represent clients in court, or perform any legal services without the supervision of a licensed lawyer. The program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1976.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Describe the American court system;
- Explain judicial and quasi-judicial processes;
- Perform tasks commonly handled by paralegal professionals;
- Locate and apply different types of laws to various fact situations;
- Differentiate between tasks appropriate for a paralegal versus an attorney; and
- Formulate ethical responses in legal scenarios.
Students must complete at least nine credits in legal specialty courses via traditional synchronous instruction. Transfer credit will not be accepted toward this requirement.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (24 hours min.)
Communications (6 hours)
- ENGL 1113 English Composition I+
- ENGL 1213 English Composition II+
U.S. History/U.S. Government (6 hours)
- HIST 1483 U.S. History to 1877
or HIST 1493 U.S. History Since 1877 - POLS 1113 American Federal Government
General Education (9 hours minimum)
- ECON 2103 Personal Finance
- Science (3-4 hours)
or Math (3-4 hours)—See courses listed below. - Humanities (3 hours minimum)
See courses listed in the College Catalog.
Liberal Arts (3 hours minimum)
See courses listed in the College Catalog.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (24 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for graduation.
- LS 2813 Legal Research & Writing I+
- LS 2823 Legal Research & Writing II+
- LS 2843 Law Office Practice & Procedures+
- LS 2853 Civil Procedure I+
- LS 2863 Civil Procedure II+
- LS 2873 Contracts+
- LS 2903 Information Management in the Law+
- LS 2993 Capstone Seminar+
SUPPORT & RELATED REQUIREMENT (3 hours)
- LS 2803 Introduction to Law
PROGRAM ELECTIVES (12 hours minimum)
General Education Electives for Science
HSBC 1104, HSBC 1224, HSBC 2103, HSBC 2114, GEOG 1114, or any course with the following prefixes: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, ENSC, GEOL, METR, PHSC, or PHYS
General Education Electives for Math
Any MATH course, which is at least 1000 level or higher, except MATH 2013, MATH 2023, MATH 2033, and MATH 2091-6
Program Electives
Any other LS course* offered, including but not limited to:
- LS 2703 Criminal Law+
- LS 2713 Constitutional Rights+
- LS 2773 Open Legal Topics
- LS 2783 Child Support Processes+
- LS 2793 Selected Legal Topics+
- LS 2833 Word Processing for the Legal Profession+
- LS 2883 Torts+
- LS 2893 Bankruptcy+
- LS 2913 Wills & Trusts+
- LS 2923 Business Organizations+
- LS 2933 Estate Administration+
- LS 2943 Paralegal Internship+
- LS 2953 Domestic Relations+
- LS 2963 Real Property+
- LS 2973 Administrative Law+
- LS 2983 Debtor Creditor Law+
*Transfer credits are contingent upon approval by the Program Director. Students must demonstrate the course or courses being transferred comply with the requirements of the American Bar Association Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs and other mandates and guidance issued by the American Bar Association.
Suggested Order of Enrollment
The following courses should be taken in the sequence indicated. Students should enroll in a combination of General Education Requirements and Program Requirements to complete the degree. Some courses are offered only once each year; some courses are offered only during the day; some courses are offered only in the evening; and summer course offerings vary. Check the College Catalog and/or class schedule for specific course offerings. The “+” symbol represents a prerequisite for the course. Any course offering is subject to change without notice.
1st Semester
| 2nd Semester
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3rd Semester
| 4th Semester
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Option I :
High school transcript or GED Certificate and transcript; ACT reading score of 19 or Next Generation ACCUPLACER reading score of 275. Test score must be no more than 3 years old.
Option II :
College transcript reflecting 15 hours or more, either with a 2.5 grade point average or an ACT reading score of 19 or Next Generation ACCUPLACER reading score of 275. Test score must be no more than 3 years old.
Option III :
College transcript or diploma reflecting the award of a bachelor’s degree.
Any legal specialty course taken more than 6 years prior to completion of the Paralegal Studies Program will not apply toward graduation, unless students validate proficiency in the stale course by proof of substantial, substantive work experience as paralegals and/or by completion of the Capstone Seminar, LS 2993, with a grade of “C” or better. The Director of the Paralegal Studies program will determine if proficiency in the course has been demonstrated sufficiently for students to qualify for an exception to this policy.
Students desiring to transfer legal specialty courses from another legal assistant/paralegal program to Rose State College’s Paralegal Studies AAS degree must meet the program’s criteria for course transfer. The transfer policy may be obtained in the Business and Information Technology division or the Enrollment Management Office.
Join experienced and award-winning faculty for live classes that you can take on campus, from home, or from work. Classes prepare students for employment as paralegals or legal assistants in the legal field or in occupations that require or benefit from legal expertise.
Rose State’s paralegal program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1976, making it Oklahoma’s oldest ABA-approved program. It has been voted the best paralegal program in Oklahoma by readers of the Oklahoma Journal Record. Alumni work in law firms of all types and sizes, business, and local, county, and state governments.
Program classes are offered in the daytime, evening, and weekend. All classes are synchronous flex, allowing the student to attend in-person or anywhere they have access to a smartphone and reliable internet connection.
All legal services performed by a paralegal must be supervised by an attorney. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is a skilled legal professional. A paralegal’s relationship to an attorney is similar to that of a registered nurse and a doctor. All legal services performed by a paralegal must be supervised by an attorney. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
How are your classes offered?
The paralegal program at Rose State College is offered via synchronous flex. This means you can take your classes on campus or online from your home, office, or anywhere you have a smartphone and internet connection, but you must participate in classes during the scheduled time. We offer day, evening, and weekend classes.
How much does it cost?
A detailed listing of tuition and fees can be found here: Tuition & Fees
More than 75% of Rose State College students receive financial aid, scholarships, and/or grants, so we encourage you to apply for financial aid before making a decision based on cost. More information can be found here: How to Apply
In addition, students who graduate from, or who live in, the Carl Albert, Choctaw, Del City, Midwest City, and Star Spencer school districts are entitled to a scholarship under the Ticket To Rose Scholarship. More information can be found here: Ticket to Rose Scholarship
Can I go on to law school after completing the paralegal program?
Our paralegal program is excellent preparation for law school! Paralegal education focuses on the functional and technical elements of law practice, providing an excellent supplement to the more theoretical and abstract focus of law schools.
In order to be admitted to a law school, students must first complete a bachelor’s degree. If you’d like to complete your bachelor’s degree after finishing here, we have articulation agreements with the University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma, East Central University, and National University to ensure an especially smooth transition with full credit given.
What if I already have a bachelor’s degree and am looking for a better job?
Great! Your prior bachelor’s degree satisfies all of your general education requirements and entitles you to admission to the paralegal program.
How do I qualify for admission into the paralegal program?
Students who have a prior bachelor’s degree or a college GPA of at least 2.5 for at least 15 hours are entitled to program admission. If you don’t meet either of these qualifications, you can take the ACCUPLACER exam for free at Rose State College after creating a student account, and receive admission based on your reading comprehension score. Or, you can take general education courses here at Rose until you can satisfy the GPA requirement.
What if I have other questions?
Great! Please e-mail your question(s) and/or preferred contact info to:
- Program Director Brandon Burris ([email protected])
- Business Division Academic Advisor Steve Johnson ([email protected]); or
- Business Division Associate Dean Craig Dawkins ([email protected])
Faculty
Brandon Burris
Business Information Technology Division
(405) 733-7460
A lifelong student and teacher, Professor Burris was student-nominated and peer-selected to receive Rose State College’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022. Before coming to Rose State in 2015, Burris was an adjunct professor at the University of Tulsa College of Law from 2007 to 2015 and a full-time attorney in private practice and municipal government. He is a trial attorney who specializes in constitutional rights, ethics, and legal research and writing.
Margaret Kerr
Business Information Technology Division
(405) 733-7335
Professor Kerr has eighteen years of experience as a practicing attorney specializing in civil law and seven years of experience as a financial planner and consultant with an investment firm. She has taught continuing legal education classes to attorneys for more than a decade and is a certified Oklahoma teacher.
Professor Bush has taught at Rose State College since 2009 and received the Raider Relevance Mentor or the Year award (2019) and Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (2021). Bush is a municipal judge for the City of Midwest City, prosecutor for the City of Harrah, and director of the Rose State College Foundation. He has a passion for community service and is a past president of the Midwest City Rotary Club, Downtown Oklahoma City Exchange Club, and Mid-Del Tinker 100 Club. Bush is the owner of Bush Law Offices, founded in 2007.
Dan Weitman, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Weitman has taught at Rose State College since 2012. He is the Associate General Counsel and Head of Litigation at the University of Oklahoma. Prior to that, he was Assistant General Counsel for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Deputy General Counsel for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and an attorney in government and private practice. He has been practicing law in Oklahoma since 1996.
Anthony Jackson, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Jackson has taught at Rose State College since 2017. He is the Assistant Division Director for Oklahoma Child Support Services and Chief Counsel for CSS Coordinated Programs. Professor Jackson created the Child Support for Paralegals class taught at Rose State as a way to educate paralegals on the topic and recruit paralegal graduates to work for OKDHS as child support case workers. Prior to working for OKDHS he was in private practice focusing on Bankruptcy reorganizations. He has been practicing law in Oklahoma since 1987.
Kevin Krahl, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Krahl is a trial lawyer, mediator, and part-time judge. He has over 35 years of trial experience in civil and criminal cases in city, state, and federal court. He has been a prosecutor, founding partner of the Hornbeek, Krahl, Vitali & Braun law firm, and has a broad litigation practice which includes personal injury/wrongful death, bad faith insurance, business disputes, construction matters, products liability, and medical malpractice. He is the Judge of the City of Nichols Hills, a volunteer attorney for Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, and a former Board member for Oklahoma County CASA and the Oklahoma County Chapter of Citizens for Juvenile Justice.
Paul Bohannon, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Bohannon brings more than 40 years of experience in Oil & Gas Law to Rose State College. He is a partner at Andrews Kurth LLP, where he specializes in Environmental and Natural Resources Litigation and provides neutral services via the American Arbitration Association.
Gregory Failing, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Failing has been a licensed attorney in Oklahoma since 2012. He currently owns his own firm with a practice that includes family, contracts, criminal defense, and estate planning. In 2016, he was a candidate for State House District 20.
Hannah Stark, J.D., Esq.
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies
Professor Stark has been a licensed attorney in Oklahoma since 2022. She earned her law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and her Bachelor’s in Office Supervision and Management from the University of Central Oklahoma. Currently in civil practice emphasizing debtor-creditor relations, Professor Stark has worked in marketing and has been a legal intern for the United States Army Judge Advocate General.
- Business & Information Technology Division: (405) 736-0348
- Dr. Brandon Burris, Program Director
(405) 733-7460
[email protected]