We recognized Tulane School of Professional Advancement for offering one of Top Post-Degree Certificate Programs, adding them to our list of top recommendations for students in the area.
We were excited to hear from Robyn Ice, professor of practice and Director of the General Legal Studies program at Tulane School of Professional Advancement, 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?
Robyn: Yes, we are. Our Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program of study is especially popular among those who are seeking to re-tool..
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?
Robyn: We – and our graduates – are thrilled with the increasing numbers of professional opportunities that are available to paralegals. Our curriculum is focusing to an even greater extent upon providing our students with the knowledge of substantive law, technology skills, and, of course, the confidence that they need to succeed in law offices today.
Does the program at your school include an internship and are faculty available to help students find one?
Robyn: Yes, each student in our program completes a 100-hour internship in a law office. Due to the long and successful history of our ABA-approved program, we have an excellent pool of participating law firms to which we can assign student interns. The internship course also includes a classroom component, with instruction focused upon professionalism and job search skills. We have many students who find paralegal employment even before they graduate, and they have the option of waiving the internship class and replacing it with an elective.
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?
Robyn: The best components of Tulane’s General Legal Studies Program are our wonderful students and our faculty.
Students in our program come from all walks of life. Most are working adults, who are balancing the demands of job, family, and school. I love the way our students support and encourage one and another from the introductory classes through commencement.
Our adjunct faculty is composed of practicing attorneys and paralegals, each an expert in his or her field of instruction. Whether they are teaching online or “live,” each brings not only legal knowledge and expertise but also an understanding of the day-to-day realities of the legal profession.
Check out our full interview series here to see what other professors and faculty are saying about their paralegal programs.