Army Paralegal Program

Character, Competence and Commitment have been part of the mission of the University of Great Falls since we were founded in 1932. At UGF you'll find a quality liberal arts education in a private, Catholic university environment. The University of Great Falls has been providing distance education services since 1979 and our ABA approved Paralegal Program is available for Army Paralegal Specialists who have completed 27D AIT courses.

The field of paralegal studies prepares students to assume challenging legal assistant positions. The core courses in the major provide a balance of legal theory and practical application. Elective options allow students to pursue specialty area expertise. The program requires an internship. Paralegals cannot practice law, or may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. The advisory board of the paralegal program occupies the ongoing postition of focusing on program quality and relevancy. The paralegal program is American Bar Association-approved.

Students have the option of completing an Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree in Paralegal Studies. The University of Great Falls also offers on-line minors in psychology, criminal justice, addiction counseling, and university studies. Students are paired with a personal faculty advisor to assist with transfer credit, enrollment, and career issues.

The University of Great Falls uses Learn Linc computer technology that allows students to attend classes in real time. This creates a dynamic learning environment where students can speak to professors and fellow students. Students' lead busy lives and UGF recognizes the importance of offering a variety of ways for students to attend class. Over the years, UGF has developed a system that allows students to reap the benefits of technology. Multiple sections of each class are offered.

If you can't log onto the web during your class time, classes are recorded and posted on the web. Students can review classes on-line after the class occurs. This is also helpful when you are reviewing materials. Students also receive DVD lectures for each enrolled course.

Additional services available to UGF Distance Students include: Access to an extensive online library with full text database, Access to UGF student services such as career counseling assistance, Lifetime assistance with placement, resume writing, and interviewing skills, Tutoring and class assistance in math and English, Campus life events such as UGF basketball games, volleyball games, wrestling, graduation commencement ceremony, and other campus activities available live on the University of Great Falls web site: www.ugf.edu/stream.

The Paralegal faculty at the University of Great Falls includes two full-time professors. Because the University of Great Falls is located near Malmstrom Air Force Base, UGF is able to draw on the experience of military attorneys which will directly benefit our students. The mission of the UGF Paralegal Program is to prepare reflective practitioners. All paralegal classes involve learning and mastering the skills of reflective scholarship, reflective learning, and reflective practice. We hope that you will join the University of Great Falls family. We have been changing lives for over 70 years and are proud to partner with the United States Army. Please contact us to discuss your future. Phone 1-800-859-9544 or email enroll@ugf.edu.

• Understand and utilize the concepts of critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Understand and demonstrate the importance of effective communication skills in success as a paralegal professional.
• Have a working knowledge of the Federal and state court system.
• Have a working use of the legal vocabulary required to function professionally with the legal community.
• Be familiar with and capable of drafting the forms of documentation utilized in the legal community.
• Be adept at computerized and manual legal research techniques.
• Demonstrate professional caliber legal writing skills.
• Understand and utilize the principles of effective time management, people skills to maintain professional relationships, conduct client interviews, and orchestrate the resource demands of management.
• Understand and abide by professional Rules of Responsibility/Ethical Conduct for the legal community. Most notable, students will abide by the limitations on the practice of law by non-lawyers.
• Educate and train students in areas of procedural law emphasizing the paralegal's role in litigation.
• Provide paralegals with the knowledge of several core substantive areas.

 

We are working with the military and have negotiated a tuition discount to meet the army tuition reimbursement rate. We are also willing to defer tuition payment to after completion of the course. Textbooks and some nominal registration fees will be your only expenses.

Books will depend on the courses and are your responsibility. You may qualify for financial aid to pay for fees, books, and computer equipment. For financial aid information Click Here.

 

 

Your UGF advisor will help you determine what courses you need and design a course schedule to fit within your schedule. The documents below will be helpful in planning your degree.

Associate Degree Paralegal Course Rotation Schedule
Associate Degree Core Planner

Bachelor Degree Paralegal Course Rotation Schedule
Bachelor Degree Core Planner

You already have credit towards your degree.

Military experience, CLEP tests, and previous college coursework may be evaluated and transferred as credits towards your degree. Look at your MOS below to find out what credits you may already have earned.

You must have 16 hours of UGF credits to obtain your associates degree and 30 hours of UGF credits for your bachelors degree. All University of Great Falls distance-learning classes fulfill these residency requirements. For Distance Learning information Click Here.

 

 

We will give you credit towards your degree for your training.

Soldiers who have completed AIT Training prior to November 2001 need to contact the program director to discuss options.

Credit Given for Skill Level 10 Soldiers

PLG 101 Introduction to Paralegalism  3 sem cr

PLG 203 Introduction to Legal Analysis  3 sem cr

Legal Military Law 4 sem cr

Credit Given for AIT Non-Legal

CPS 101 Intro to UGF Networking 1 sem cr

CPS 141 Word Processing 1 sem cr

CPS 142 Spreadsheet 1 sem cr

HPE 100-180 Physical Education 3 sem cr

Contemporary Business 3 sem cr

General Education Elective 3 sem cr

30 hours of Non-Legal AIT 1 sem cr

Credit for Training as a Skill Level 20

Primary Leadership Development Course 4 sem cr

Credit for Training at Skill Level 30 and Above

Credit is give per evaluation.

Program for Senior NCO's

UGF will offer a summer program for senior NCO's if there is enough interest. Click here to email us if you are interested.

April Clutter

E-mail: aclutter01@ugf.edu

Toll free: 1-800-856-9544 Direct: 1-406-791-5205

Fax: 1-406-791-5209