TCC’s Paralegal Studies Program Receives American Bar Association Approval

Tulsa Community College’s Paralegal Studies program receives the American Bar Association Approval. The organization’s designation is used to identify quality paralegal education and training programs across the U.S.

“This approval assures a new student that the Paralegal Studies program at TCC is living up to standards set by the profession and provides a degree that is competitive with any paralegal education in the community,” said Michael Speck, M.A., J.D., assistant professor and coordinator of the Paralegal Studies Program at TCC.

The ABA Approval followed an intensive review of several years of data and documentation, and an on-site evaluation by the Standing Committee on Paralegals and Approval Commission.

TCC’s Paralegal Studies program prepares more than 60 percent of the area’s new paralegals, also known as legal assistants, for placement in law firms, federal, state and local agencies, title exam companies, insurers, and in-house counsel offices in many industries. Paralegals perform a variety of substantive legal tasks including: research, discovery and investigative work under the supervision of an attorney.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegal occupation is expected to grow faster than average as paralegals take on more responsibilities under a lawyer’s supervision.

“Graduates from an ABA Approved program have a competitive edge against candidates from other programs,” said Speck. “The ABA Approval process is a voluntary effort to measure a program by a set of objective standards and demonstrates TCC’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of a profession.”

The TCC program has roughly 115 students enrolled and, on average, graduates approximately 15 students a year.