The George Washington University Paralegal Studies March 16th Webinar

The George Washington The George Washington UniversityUniversity

Master of Professional Studies Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studiesin Paralegal Studies

WebinarWebinarTuesday, March 16Tuesday, March 16thth

@ 12:30 PM EST@ 12:30 PM EST

To hear the audio portion of this To hear the audio portion of this webinar, call:webinar, call:

Toll-Free: 1.866.602.5089Toll-Free: 1.866.602.5089Conference ID: 1154512Conference ID: 1154512

Webinar LogisticsWebinar Logistics

• In order to minimize background noise we In order to minimize background noise we ask that you mute your phone line if ask that you mute your phone line if possible.possible.

• Please ask questions anytime by using the Please ask questions anytime by using the Q&A feature.Q&A feature.

• We will address your questions at the We will address your questions at the conclusion of the slide presentation (est. conclusion of the slide presentation (est. 30 minutes for the slides)30 minutes for the slides)

2 To contact our Admissions Office, please call 1.866.232.0232 Ext. 3421

Toni Marsh, Program DirectorToni Marsh, Program Director3

Presentation AgendaPresentation Agenda• The New Paralegal ProfessionThe New Paralegal Profession• The GW Paralegal Studies ProgramThe GW Paralegal Studies Program• Association with the GW Law SchoolAssociation with the GW Law School• Program DeliveryProgram Delivery• Advanced Standing PolicyAdvanced Standing Policy• AccreditationsAccreditations• Admissions RequirementsAdmissions Requirements• Financial AidFinancial Aid• Q&AQ&A


The New The New Paralegal ProfessionParalegal Profession• High payingHigh paying• PrestigiousPrestigious• High job satisfactionHigh job satisfaction* * • CNNCNN Money Magazine Money Magazine top 20 top 20

professions professions • Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 27% Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 27%

growth over the next eight years growth over the next eight years * ** **www.paralegals.org*www.paralegals.org

* * www.bls.gov* * www.bls.gov


The new paralegalThe new paralegal6

The New ParalegalThe New Paralegal

• Savvy, educated, polished and Savvy, educated, polished and professionalprofessional

• Colleague, associate of Colleague, associate of attorneysattorneys

• Increasing breadth of Increasing breadth of responsibilities and responsibilities and sophistication of taskssophistication of tasks


Paralegals’ professional Paralegals’ professional responsibilitiesresponsibilities

8

• Interviewing and Interviewing and investigationsinvestigations

• Legal research and draftingLegal research and drafting• Litigation support and case Litigation support and case

managementmanagement• Communication with clients, Communication with clients,

lawyers, staff, courts, lawyers, staff, courts, witnesseswitnesses

Professional Professional ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities


• Scholarly, selective, rigorousScholarly, selective, rigorous– Minimum 3.0 GPAMinimum 3.0 GPA– Excellent writing skillsExcellent writing skills– Excellent recommendationsExcellent recommendations– Demonstrated leadership and Demonstrated leadership and

potential for professional growthpotential for professional growth

The new paralegal The new paralegal program program


The GW Law SchoolThe GW Law School11

Association with the Association with the GW Law SchoolGW Law School

• Study legal research at Study legal research at Jacob Burns Law Library Jacob Burns Law Library

• Study with GW law Study with GW law librarianslibrarians


Studying at the GW Law LibraryStudying at the GW Law Library13

Topical legal Topical legal specialtiesspecialties

•Government lawGovernment law

•Intellectual property lawIntellectual property law

•International lawInternational law


Camille Franklin, Director of Career Camille Franklin, Director of Career ServicesServices

15

Career ServicesCareer Services

•Employer Employer developmentdevelopment

•Resumes and cover Resumes and cover lettersletters

•Recorded interviewsRecorded interviews16

To contact our Admissions Office, please call 1.866.232.0232 Ext. 3421

Integrated CurriculumIntegrated Curriculum

•TechnologyTechnology•Legal writingLegal writing•Ethics and Ethics and

professionalismprofessionalism


Online LearningOnline Learning

•FlexibilityFlexibility•ConnectionConnection•InteractionInteraction•Timely CurriculumTimely Curriculum


Westlaw and Westlaw and LexisNexis LexisNexis

•Personal passwordsPersonal passwords•Instruction Instruction •TrainingTraining


Program FeaturesProgram Features

• Core course sequence (12 credits) Core course sequence (12 credits) • Three legal specialties (18 Three legal specialties (18

credits)credits)• PracticumPracticum• Independent Research Independent Research

Total: 32 credit hoursTotal: 32 credit hours


Core Course SequenceCore Course Sequence

• American JurisprudenceAmerican Jurisprudence• Legal Research and WritingLegal Research and Writing• Corporations and ContractsCorporations and Contracts• LitigationLitigation


• 12 credits advanced standing 12 credits advanced standing may be available to may be available to applicants withapplicants with– GW LAP certificate and two years GW LAP certificate and two years

professional experience; orprofessional experience; or– academic credit bearing post-academic credit bearing post-

baccalaureate graduate certificate and baccalaureate graduate certificate and passing score on PACE, CLA, NALS; orpassing score on PACE, CLA, NALS; or

– ABA-approved post-baccalaureate levelABA-approved post-baccalaureate level and passing score on PACE, CLA, NALSand passing score on PACE, CLA, NALS

Advanced Standing Advanced Standing PolicyPolicy


Legal specialties for professionalsLegal specialties for professionals23

•Working paralegals, Working paralegals, attorneys, and other attorneys, and other professionals with legal professionals with legal backgroundsbackgrounds– Legal Research and Legal Research and WritingWriting

– Legal SpecialtiesLegal Specialties

Legal Specialties for Legal Specialties for ProfessionalsProfessionals


• An independent university chartered by An independent university chartered by Congress in 1821Congress in 1821

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Middle States Association of Colleges and SchoolsSchools

• American Association for Paralegal American Association for Paralegal EducationEducation

• American Association of University American Association of University WomenWomen

• Association of American Law SchoolsAssociation of American Law Schools• Section of Legal Education and Section of Legal Education and

Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar AssociationAssociation

AccreditationsAccreditations


• American Association for Paralegal American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE)Education (AAfPE)

• National Federation of Paralegal National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)Associations (NFPA)

• National Capital Area Paralegal National Capital Area Paralegal Association (NCPA)Association (NCPA)

• International Paralegal International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA)Management Association (IPMA)

Associations and Associations and MembershipsMemberships


Lambda Epsilon Lambda Epsilon ChiChiLEXLEX


Application Application ProceduresProcedures

• Apply Online Apply Online at at www.gwu.edu/gradinfo

• Application Materials:Application Materials:– Resume of professional experience Resume of professional experience – Statement of academic objectives and Statement of academic objectives and

professional goalsprofessional goals– Two recommendations (preferably one from a Two recommendations (preferably one from a

faculty member and the other from a faculty member and the other from a professional supervisor) professional supervisor)

– Official transcripts from each college or Official transcripts from each college or university attended university attended

– Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if applicablescores, if applicable


http://www.gwu.edu/gradinfo

• Bachelor’s degree from an Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university accredited university

• 3.0 undergraduate GPA3.0 undergraduate GPA• Basic computer proficiency Basic computer proficiency

(or willingness to learn)(or willingness to learn)

Admissions Admissions RequirementsRequirements


Financial AidFinancial Aid

Stafford loans and Stafford loans and alternative student loans alternative student loans available:available:

www.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-gwww.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-g/FederalStaffordLoans/


http://www.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-g

http://www.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-g/FederalStaffordLoans/

http://www.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-g/FederalStaffordLoans/

The George Washington UniversityThe George Washington University31

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Poll QuestionsPoll Questions


Do you have any further questions regarding GW’s Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studies online program?

•Web: www.onlinegwu.com•E-mail: [email protected]•Toll-Free: 1.866.232.0232 Ext. 3421

Q&AQ&A


This program is also offered on our campus

in downtown Washington, DC.

http://www.onlinegwu.com/

http://www.onlinegwu.com/

mailto:[email protected]

Thank you!Thank you!
