Fact Sheets

Paralegal @ MSUM

The Study of Paralegal

Paralegals, also called legal assistants, work in a variety of positions related to the legal profession. Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys and are not allowed to provide services directly to the public, such as representation in court or giving legal advice, except in very limited situations where authorized by law. Activities that may be delegated to a paralegal by an attorney include: legal research, client contact, information gathering, and drafting of documents. While final responsibility for their activities rests with the supervising lawyer, paralegals have important responsibilities that require a strong background of specialized instruction such as that offered by Minnesota State University Moorhead. MSUM is one of only three universities in Minnesota, and one of only 75 in the nation, to offer a four-year paralegal degree. Attorneys and occupational resources report that employers clearly prefer to hire paralegals with the more comprehensive education provided through a four-year program.

MSUM's paralegal majors must complete a core program of at least 11 courses, plus an internship. A year-long sequence of legal research and writing is the foundation of the core. In addition to the core, students must complete a series of courses in at least one of four major areas:

Probate/Tax
Students completing this area are prepared to assist with elder law, probate, estate planning, wills, gift and estate taxes, deeds, title searches, mortgages and contracts for deed.

Civil Litigation
A civil litigation concentration prepares students to assist attorneys in the background work and development of civil cases for trial or settlement.  These cases might include personal injury, contract or property disputes, debtor-creditor problems, products liability and others.

Criminal Litigation
This area is similar to civil litigation, but focuses on tasks in criminal cases handled either for the prosecution or defense.

Commercial Law
Students who complete this emphasis are prepared to assist in a wide variety of legal transactions of a business, financial, employment, or property nature.

Career Opportunities
The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected careers in Paralegal to grow much faster than the average compared to other occupations between 2004 and 2014, with job opportunities increasing by more than 29 percent during that period. While periodic surveys of paralegal salaries vary, some of the factors that determine salaries include size of the firm and community, type of practice, experience, and the firm's understanding of the value of paralegal services. Legal Assistant Today, the leading professional journal for paralegals, reported an average national annual salary of $51,078 in 2005, plus annual bonuses averaging $2,962.

Students Succeed at MSUM
Paralegal students at MSUM are involved in many activities beyond their classes and studies. Some examples:

  • Minnesota State Paralegal Association Moorhead involves students in activities such as: guest speakers, resume and job search workshops, scholarship awards, social events, and community volunteer work.
  • Red River Valley Paralegal Association and Minnesota Paralegal Association offer students membership and the opportunity to attend seminars.
  • Paralegal students become involved with the community and volunteer services, such as Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, food banks, Courtwatch for Rape and Abuse Center, homeless shelters, and clothing and food drives for the needy.
  • Students are given the opportunity to participate in a Mock Trial competition, sponsored by MSUM's Pre-Law Club.

Alumni in Graduate and Professional Schools
Almost all MSUM paralegal graduates who continue into graduate level studies enroll in law school. Each year about two or three graduates are accepted to law school. Area law schools have indicated that the paralegal program provides good undergraduate preparation for law school.

Alumni at Work

  • Recent MSUM paralegal graduates are currently working in private law firms, corporate legal departments,  legal aid programs for the poor, government agencies, non-profit advocacy centers, court administration, and real estate and financial institutions.

Department Benefits

  • MSUM's Paralegal major is approved by the American Bar Association, and strictly meets their guidelines and criteria.
  • MSUM paralegal majors are required to complete an internship to enhance knowledge and strengthen their marketability. Internships for MSUM paralegal majors have included: private law firms; government law offices such as a U.S. attorney's office; North Dakota and Minnesota Attorney General's office; the North Dakota Supreme Court; county attorney offices;  political offices, such as a U.S. Senator's office; legal aid programs; social service agencies, such as the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center; and corporate legal departments.
  • MSUM has outstanding law library resources, housing major federal and state case reporters, digests, statutes, administrative codes, legal encyclopedias, loose-leaf services and other legal reference materials. MSUM maintains its law library under a joint agreement with the Clay County Bar Association. MSUM Paralegal students have access to Westlaw online legal research for their course work.
  • Practicing paralegals co-teach some courses with an attorney in their area of expertise, which provides students with a realistic view of the field.
  • Some faculty in the department maintain active law practices in addition to their teaching responsibilities, giving students first-hand knowledge on the subject.
  • Small class sizes enable faculty to have more direct contact, giving students the personal attention they deserve.
  • The Minnesota State Paralegal Association Moorhead(MSPAM) is a student professional organization designed to familiarize paralegal majors with the career they have selected and duties they will be performing.
  • Red River Valley Paralegal Association (RRVPA) is the local professional association of practicing paralegals. Any MSUM paralegal major is eligible for membership in RRVPA.  MSPAM has one member elected as a liaison with RRVPA.