Bunker Hill Community College Announces ABA Approval of Paralegal Program
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The Paralegal Studies Program at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) has been granted approval from the American Bar Association (ABA). The official recognition, on February 9, 2016, makes BHCC’s program one of just four community college-based programs in Massachusetts approved by the national association.
“This is a great achievement for the College and for the Paralegal Studies Program,” said James F. Canniff, Ed.D., BHCC Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. “A degree from an ABA-approved school makes our graduates more competitive and desirable in the job market.”
Since its inception in 2010 the BHCC Paralegal Studies Program has instituted a Paralegal Advisory Board and expanded its library resources to include an array of printed material along with access to WestlawNext and LexisNexis Academic. “Our extensive resources, along with the relevant legal courses we’ve added to the curriculum, have enabled us to meet or exceed the standards set by the ABA and ensure our students receive a quality paralegal education,” said Susan A. Atlas, Esq., LL.M, Associate Professor and Coordinator for Paralegal Studies.
The College’s program, which offers both a certificate and an associate degree, prepares students for legal employment by training them to assist lawyers in gathering and analyzing factual data, drafting correspondence, researching legal questions and preparing legal documents. Graduates of the program may decide whether to seek employment or further their education with a four-year degree.
The ABA is headquartered in Chicago. Its mission is to serve equally its members, its profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession. The ABA is a national organization that offers resources to legal professionals and those who are interested in law-related issues. For more information, visit www.americanbar.org.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts, enrolling approximately 18,000 students annually. BHCC has two campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, and a number of other locations throughout the Greater Boston area. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sixty-five percent of the students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls nearly 600 international students who come from 94 countries and speak more than 75 languages.