School of Professional and Continuing Studies Offers New Online Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Thomas Edison State College’s new Professional Certificate in Paralegal Studies is a noncredit program designed for those in the legal field who are interested in gaining expertise that can help them advance in the profession, and for adults interested in entering a rapidly growing field. The 45-week program includes seven online courses that cover essential skills needed to succeed both in the delivery of legal services and mastery the technological advances in the paralegal profession. The first cohort begins April 15 and registration is open. New cohorts will begin in April, September and January each year.

 “Our Paralegal Studies curriculum has been developed by leading national paralegal educators who worked closely with the College’s award winning instructional design team,” said David M. Grossman, PhD, vice provost and dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Thomas Edison State College. “The online format of the program is convenient and intuitive, with a strong focus on using technology in the legal field.”

Students in the program will benefit from the expertise of these leading educators and by using the latest offerings in software programs and legal technology, added Grossman. “Completing this program will give students a competitive edge in a challenging and growing profession,” Grossman continued.

Courses for the Professional Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies, which are lead by nationally renowned experts, include:

• Introduction to Paralegalism:   William P. Statsky is instructing this course. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School and is the author of sixteen textbooks on paralegal subjects. Many of his textbooks, including Introduction to Paralegalism, Torts, and Family Law, are used in leading paralegal programs throughout the nation.

• Contracts:  Lise Hunter, also a textbook author, is instructing this course. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and a longtime paralegal educator at the New York City College of Technology, where she has also served as Chair of Legal Assisting Studies. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

• Torts:  Michael C. King is instructing this course. He is a graduate of George Mason School of Law and is currently Chair of the Business Division at Essex County College. He has been involved in legal education for over 20 years.

• Legal Research and Writing:  Raquel Y. Bristol is instructing this course. She is a graduate of Rutgers Law School and is currently an appellate attorney with the Office of the Public Defender of the State of New Jersey. She has significant experience teaching English Composition and Legal Research and Writing and has served as an editor at a national legal publishing company.

• Litigation:  Charlotte Riser Harris is instructing this course. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Southwestern Paralegal Institute. She has been a paralegal for over ten years and is currently the Manager of Practice Support at Vinson and Elkins, an international law firm. She is currently serving as President of the Houston Association of Litigation Support managers.

• Administrative Law:  William Jenson is instructing this course. He is a graduate of the Suffolk University Law School and is the Judicial Officer of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He is also Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice in Agriculture and has taught administrative law at the USDA Graduate School.

• Introduction to Technology in the Law:  Thomas Goldman is instructing his course. He is a graduate of Temple Law School and is the author of the Paralegal Profession, a leading paralegal textbook. He has served as a paralegal program director for many years and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE). He is currently the Chair of the AAfPE Technology Task Force and is also currently completing a paralegal technology text.

To enroll in the Professional Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies, or to learn about other professional certificates, visit www.tesc.edu and click on “Professional Certificates,” or contact Thomas Edison State College at (888) 442-8372 or spcs@tesc.edu.

ABOUT THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE
Thomas Edison State College provides flexible, high-quality, collegiate learning opportunities for self-directed adults. One of New Jersey’s 12 senior public institutions of higher education, the College offers 16 associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees in more than 100 areas of study. Students earn degrees through a wide variety of rigorous and high-quality academic methods that can be customized to meet their individual needs. Identified by Forbes magazine as one of the top 20 colleges and universities in the nation in the use of technology to create learning opportunities for adults, Thomas Edison State College is a national leader in the assessment of adult learning and a pioneer in the use of educational technologies. The College is home to The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy. The New Jersey State Library is an affiliate of Thomas Edison State College. Further information about admission to the College may be obtained by calling (888) 442-8372, via e-mail at info@tesc.edu or by visiting the College Web site at www.tesc.edu.