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SUNY GCC - Genesee Community College

A degree in Legal Studies can open the doors into a fascinating career in law. One of the fastest-growing occupational categories in the country, the legal profession offers a wide range of employment opportunities, among them working as a paralegal.

In the two-year sequence of courses, GCC’s Legal Studies prepares students to become qualified legal assistants working under the supervision of an attorney providing a variety of legal services to clients. Taught by attorneys, program courses prepare students to execute key legal duties, such as legal document preparation, researching law, public records searches and trial preparation.

The Legal Studies program is approved by:

American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610-4714
800-285-2221

Why GCC?

The teaching and learning facilities of Genesee Community College are among the best in the country. Legal Studies students have the advantage of 84 SMART classrooms, 11 distance learning labs, 26 computer labs and the state-of-the-art Alfred C. O’Connell Library with internet-based research capabilities. GCC student achievement is propelled through our Student Success Center, Adult Education Opportunity Center, Child Care Center and Richard C. Call Arena. With apartment-style housing (College Village) available adjacent to the Batavia Campus, GCC offers every amenity designed for success.

Apply classroom skills in the real world with one of GCC’s coordinated internships and/or cooperative work experiences. Under the guidance of a faculty member and an on-site supervisor, Legal Studies students have had highly successful internships and rewarding co-op experiences in:

  • Private Firms
  • District Attorneys’ Offices
  • Public Interest Organizations and more!

GCC’s Legal Studies Program will prepare you to:

  • Understand and appreciate the history of the American legal system including federal and state court systems
  • Recognize the substantive and procedural law you’ll encounter most frequently in the legal environment
  • Become familiar with the opportunities, demands, regulations and resources available to the legal profession
  • Distinguish and apply the ethical rules of the legal professions including the restrictions on the practice of law
  • Develop skill in legal reasoning and argument
  • Acquire research and communication skills through the preparation of legal documents based on factual situations, law library searches and legal problem solving

GCC’s Legal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association.

*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Degree Types

Associate In Applied Science (AAS)

AAS Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

Upon the completion of the Legal Studies Program the graduate will be able to :

  1. Apply critical thinking skills as demonstrated by the analysis of a fact pattern and the formulation of a legal analysis.
  2. Demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge expected of individuals possessing an associate’s degree in Legal Studies.
  3. Write clearly and concisely, utilizing appropriate legal citation format.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical standards that affect the role of a paralegal in a law office.
  5. Demonstrate adequate preparation for career development and/or successful transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.
  6. Demonstrate appropriate use of primary and secondary legal research tools, including legal digests, citators and online data banks.
  7. Identify the appropriate methods for conducting an intake interview and a preliminary investigation.
  8. Employ the proper format in drafting office memoranda, client correspondence and basic legal documents.

Download the 2024-2025 Curriculum Worksheet for AAS [PDF]

College Students walking on outside on campus

Career Outlook

Paralegals can choose from a variety of work environments including:

  • Law offices
  • Insurance companies
  • Banks and bank trust departments
  • Government offices and agencies
  • Private companies
  • Court systems
  • Abstracting firms
  • Their own business!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the need for trained paralegals will continue to grow for many years. In this program you will acquire the skills you need to succeed no matter which path you choose. Paralegals can assume positions such as:

  • Legal Administrative Assistant
  • Court Clerk
  • Human Resources Assistant
  • Investigator
  • Legal/Legislative Analyst
  • Parole/Probation Officer
  • Trial Court Coordinator
  • Government Specialist

*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Transfer Opportunities

Starting at GCC saves many students and their families thousands of dollars in tuition. With an A.S. or A.A. degree you will be able to seamlessly transfer within the SUNY network of 64 college and universities as well as to many 4-year private institutions. GCC’s A.S. and A.A. programs were developed as part of the SUNY seamless transfer initiative allowing students to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree as a freshman and a sophomore at a community college, then seamlessly transfer to a SUNY four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Please reference the SUNY Transfer Pathways for degree programs to learn about any campus specific requirements. Visit the SUNY Core Course Finder to plan out the courses you should complete to transfer to a 4-year SUNY School.

If you are planning to transfer to a 4-year private institution you should work with our Transfer Services office to learn about possible articulation agreements and pathways that exist for many or our degree programs. Some GCC A.A.S. programs also have transfer opportunities.

To learn more about these opportunities and agreements contact the Transfer Services Office, we are more than happy to work with you and answer any questions you may have on building your own personalized transfer plan.

Transfer opportunities include, but are not limited to:

  • Daemen College*
  • Hilbert College
  • SUNY University at Buffalo*

*GCC has current transfer agreements with the above noted institutions