Bryant & Stratton College Launches Online Paralegal Studies Program.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Citing a rising demand for paralegals and legal assistants through the next decade, Bryant & Stratton College (B&SC) is expanding its online offerings with the addition of a new Paralegal Studies associate degree program.

The new online program is designed to prepare graduates to work in the legal profession under the supervision of an attorney, emphasizing practical hands-on applications.

"Bryant & Stratton College is pleased to offer our new online Paralegal Studies program and enable our students to take advantage of the flexibility of doing coursework on their own schedule," said Doreen Justinger, Vice President of Internet Services. "Whether it's online or in the classroom, we provide degrees that prepare students for today's global economy and offer academic programs that place our graduates in high-demand careers that meet business needs."

B&SC's online programs draw students from across the nation and around the globe. While students can complete the entire program online, B&SC - like many other academic institutions today - is seeing a growing number of "hybrid" students who opt to take courses over the Internet and attend a bricks-and-mortar campus nearby.

Justinger added that the college's system - consisting of 15 campuses across New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin - places more than 90 percent of recent graduates in their chosen or related fields of study.

According to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow rapidly through 2014 as employers try to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks formerly carried out by attorneys. Paralegals and legal assistants held about 224,000 jobs in 2004, the latest year such employment information was available.

The average national salary for a court reporter, according to salary.com, ranges from $31,953 to $57,965 and paralegals can make anywhere from $33,716 to $52,406.

The new program prepares students to analyze cases and to prepare legal forms and documents required in litigating law suits, prosecuting crimes, closing real estate transactions, and drafting documents used in custody, separation and divorce proceedings. It also emphasizes the ethical considerations for legal professionals as prescribed by the American Bar Association and the National Federal of Paralegal Associations.

Graduates are prepared to obtain positions working under the supervision of an attorney in private law firms or in other related occupations in government, legal departments of banks, corporations, insurance companies, accounting firms, and real estate firms.

B&SC's paralegal graduates also will have the opportunity to take the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) certification exam.

Paralegal Studies is B&SC's fourth online degree option, along with Business, Accounting and Information Technology programs. The New York State Education Dept. recently approved the program, clearing the way for B&SC to offer the program in an online format.

About Bryant & Stratton College

Bryant & Stratton College is one of the nation's pioneers in the field of career education. As a Middle States accredited college, B&SC provides degrees that prepare students for careers with high employment potential.

Middle States is the same organization that accredits many of the nation's four-year programs, giving Bryant & Stratton College students the opportunity to transfer credits to four-year programs.

For more than 150 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been delivering outcomes-based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment. Offering degrees in healthcare, technology, financial, legal and business, the College system consists of over 7,000 students on 15 campuses across four states, and via the Internet through the College's Online Education division.