We recognized Lansing Community College for offering one of Top Associate’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 Tracy Nothnagel, faculty member at Lansing Community College, 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?
Tracy: Traditionally, a large majority of students were career changers but I noticing a trend in the other direction. We seem to have more students who are preparing for their first career. Although we still have many career changers, they don’t seem to be the majority at this time.
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?
Tracy: Your program has to be ready and willing to change as the demands on paralegals change. Teaching paralegals today requires that you train them how to perform the functions of the job that the employers require. We are continually surveying the legal community and changing our program accordingly.
Does the program at your school include an internship and are faculty available to help students find one?
Tracy: We do not have a required internship in our program but it is an elective that a student can choose to take. Faculty are available and do assist with finding suitable internships for students.
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?
Tracy: I love that instructors in our program are all working in the legal field. Our instructors must have experience working with or as a paralegal. This ensures that our students are getting real world experience.
Check out our full interview series here to see what other professors and faculty are saying about their paralegal programs.