We recognized Madonna University for offering one of Top Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Paralegal Studies, adding them to our list of top recommendations for students in the area.
We were excited to hear from Mary Meinzinger Urisko, faculty member at Madonna University, who took the time to answer a few questions about how the school works to create a great student experience that helps prepare graduates for a career in the legal field.
Are you finding a lot of career changers in your program looking to get their start in the legal profession?
Mary: We have a good mix of career changers and degree completion program students who transfer from community colleges, as well as some traditional age college students, the current focus of our administration.
Paralegals are really getting the respect they deserve these days, and taking on more and more responsibilities on the job. How is this changing the approach to educating new paralegals?
Mary: While we focus on developing critical thinking and analytical skills by requiring two courses in legal research and writing, we continue adding technology to our courses. Last year we added the National Society for Legal Technology (NSLT) Legal Tech certificate to our Law Office Economics and Technology course and we are revising our E-Discovery course for Fall, 2019. We also require a course specific to doing focused research on the Internet using both paid and unpaid Websites.
Does the program at your school include an internship and are faculty available to help students find one?
Mary: It does require an internship at the end of the Program. As Program Director, I teach the internship course and accompanying legal seminar where we meet monthly to discuss the students’ work experience. I work with students throughout the Program to prepare them for finding an internship and a job once they graduate. Our Paralegal Student Club brings in a speaker panel of practicing paralegals and a legal recruiter to talk about resumes and interviewing skills annually.
What are some of the things you love most about the paralegal program at your school – the kind of things you’d like future students to know about as they consider their options?
Mary: We have an outstanding faculty of attorneys and paralegals who truly enjoy teaching and interacting with students. The Program was founded by a federal Judge who was on our University’s Board of Trustees, so he made sure that our students would be the best in our Metro area. Our curriculum is very strong and local attorneys send their staff and family members to us to become a “Madonna Paralegal.”
Check out our full interview series here to see what other professors and faculty are saying about their paralegal programs.