The College of Southern Maryland has been granted approval by the American Bar Association House of Delegates to the colleges paralegal studies program.
The College of Southern Maryland is honored to achieve this recognition for its program, and even more pleased to be the fifth college within Maryland with this ABA approval, said Daphne Morris, associate professor in CSMs Business, Economics and Legal Studies department and paralegal studies program coordinator. The approval process included an intensive review and on-site evaluation of the colleges program which has provided us the opportunity to closely examine our paralegal studies program, she added.
The principle objective of the ABA program of approving paralegal education programs that meet ABA guidelines is to foster high quality paralegal education and training and the development of educational standards. Programs that successfully complete the evaluation process are approved for a period of seven years during which time CSM must continually reaffirm its quality through periodic reports.
Offered since 1992, CSMs paralegal studies program is designed to prepare students for careers by providing substantive knowledge and practical skills necessary for entry-level paralegal positions in public, private or business entities. Most paralegals work in private law firms; however, other organizations in the private sector employ paralegals, including corporate legal departments, insurance companies, estate and trust departments of large banks, hospitals and healthcare organizations, real estate and title insurance companies, and professional trade associations.