Institution Submitting Proposal:
UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY
School:
Woodbury School of Business
Department:
Legal Studies
Program Title:
Certificate of Proficiency in Legal Studies
Recommended Classification of Instructional
Programs (CIP) Code:
22.0100
Proposed Beginning Date:
Fall, 2011
Institutional Signatures:
_____________________________________________
Matthew S. Holland, University President
Utah Valley University
______________________________________________
Ian Wilson
Vice President for Academic Affairs
_______________________________________________
Aaron Bartholomew
Department Chair
_______________________________________________
Norman Wright
Dean
Date: 03/21/2011
Section I: Request
The Department of Legal Studies at Utah Valley University, approved by the American Bar Association,
requests the addition of a Certificate of Proficiency in Legal Studies, effective Fall 2011. The certificate is
specifically designed to enhance the educational and vocational opportunities of students who already have
an associate or bachelor’s degree in a non-legal area and need additional rapid retraining to re-enter the
workforce. The matriculation requirement for this certificate will be an AA/AS degree or higher from a
regionally accredited institution of higher learning and one year full-time employment. The certificate will
prepare students to enter or re-enter the workforce as a paralegal, law clerk, court clerk and many other
positions in the public and private sectors. Students completing the Certificate would not qualify for
financial aid. This action was approved by the UVU Board of Trustees on March 17, 2011.
Section II: Need
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics website ranks paralegalism and other non-lawyer, legal-related
professions to outpace the growth of lawyer positions by 400 percent; indeed, almost all the growth in the
legal profession in the last five years has been in these non-attorney positions. Employers in both the
public and private sectors are hiring more non-lawyers to meet their legal needs because the cost is lower
and the quality of work is comparable to that of lawyers when properly supervised.
The American Bar Association requires that the students who participate in this certificate program have
completed an associate or bachelor’s degree. This allows the certificate to be a value-added degree. The
Central Utah Bar Association (CUBA) has requested the addition of the certificate, and feels it will meet an
immediate regional need for current and prospective legal professionals. The CUBA would support the
program by recommending and funneling current legal professionals who do not have legal-specific training
for the program. The Legal Studies Department has fielded over 121 individual requests over the last year
from individuals with a bachelor or associate degree looking for a certificate program in paralegal studies.
The requests have been from individuals who have lost their current employment and are looking for new
career opportunities.
The mission of Utah Valley University is to “provide opportunity, promote student success, and meet
regional education needs.” The need for a certificate of proficiency in Legal Studies is critical to providing
an opportunity for community members to retrain and re-enter the workforce during the present economic
times. This need has been identified by the American Bar Association Advisory Board, which is composed
of practicing attorneys, judges, and other business professionals. An important element in this certificate
includes engaged learning. Each course in the proposed program requires hands-on-learning through
experience in various practice settings including courts, law offices, and administrative agencies.
Currently, Weber State University offers a non-credit Paralegal Certificate and Salt Lake Community
College offers a Paralegal course Certificate program.
Section III: Institutional Impact
The courses for the certificate program are existing courses used by students in the Legal Studies bachelor
and associate degrees; therefore, no new courses would need to be added or offered to meet the demand.
The Legal Studies Department uses a five-year plan for scheduling classes. The certificate courses are
included in the plan and will allow the students to complete the certificate in a timely manner. If necessary
the enrollment of students can be easily accommodated by using larger classrooms to offer existing
courses. The certificate will not require additional faculty members, since the courses are already in place.
The certification program would enhance the enrollments in the current program.
Section IV: Finances
No additional funds will be required for the implementation of this certificate. No additional faculty will be
required, and the certificate courses are already offered in the Legal Studies department.
Appendix A: Certificate of Proficiency Courses
Prefix &
Number
LEGL 1000
LEGL 1110
LEGL 1220
LEGL 2300
LEGL 2330
LEGL 3000
LEGL 3190
DGM 2010
Title
Introduction to American Law
Civil Litigation
Legal Research I
Legal Research II
Technology in Law Practice
Business Law
Legal Environment
Business Computer Proficiency
Credit
Hours
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
LEGL 1110 Introduction to American Law 3:3:0
Studies the relationship between social values, culture and the law, with particular emphasis on current
events. Examines the structure of the American court system, its processes, and the American
constitutional framework and federalism, methods of alternative dispute resolution, and a survey of major
areas in American law, including torts, business and contracts, intellectual property, family law and estate
planning.
LEGL 1110 Civil Litigation 4:4:0
Overviews court system, emphasizing the Utah State Courts, civil procedural and evidentiary rules, and
stages of civil litigation. Emphasizes the paralegal's role in investigation, preparation, and resolution of
lawsuits.
LEGL 1220 Legal Research I 3:3:0
Familiarizes students with the law library. Provides instruction in the variety, use, and interrelationships of
basic legal research materials and methodology. Emphasizes manual legal research methods. Uses
primary and secondary legal research sources.
LEGL 2300 Legal Research II 3:3:0
Covers legal analysis, a research plan development and database, computerized legal research, and legal
writing. Includes case briefing and writing internal and external court legal memoranda.
LEGL 2330 Technology in Law Practice 3:3:0
Introduces computer technology and its application within law practice. Teaches the use of computers in
litigation support, case management applications, and production of legal documents. Includes lab
experience using computers and simulated case problems. Completers should be qualified to work in jobs
requiring case management and automated litigation support.
LEGL 3000 Business Law 3:3:0
For School of Business students and others desiring a more complete understanding of business law.
Presents the American legal system, constitutional law, statutory law, common law, and administrative law
and alternatives to courts. Discusses crimes, torts, negligence, contracts, negotiable instruments, and
contractual relationships.
LEGL 3190 Legal Environment 3:3:0
Explores common historical theories of law and ethical standards for legal professionals. Examines
unauthorized practice of law, confidentiality, and other standards of conduct. Emphasizes the American Bar
Association and the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct. Emphasizes the development of effective
techniques for successfully locating, applying for, securing employment, and advancing in the legal
profession.
DGM 2010 Business Computer Proficiency 3:3:0
Encompasses the four basic business applications, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and
Microsoft PowerPoint from a business perspective. Covers intermediate level problem solving and
production skills. Uses business applications in case study settings to solve problems and accomplish task.
In company with prerequisite, meets/exceeds the Board of Regent's Business Core Advisory Committee's
requirement, and the Business Computer Proficiency required for matriculation into college or university
business schools in the state of Utah.