LSU Paralegal Studies Program Releases Fall 2012 Certificate Recipients

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Paralegal Studies Program recently released the names of 13 certificate recipients for the 2012 fall semester. Barbara M. Harrison, Gina Marie Taffaro and Pamela Martin, all of Baton Rouge, and Ivan Devall of Baker, graduated from the program with honors and sustained a 4.0 grade point average.
 

“The quality of this program is demonstrated by its graduates,” said Douglas Weimer, executive director of LSU Continuing Education. “The Paralegal Studies certificate focuses on providing the essential skills to make students market-ready when they enter the paralegal field. We congratulate these students on their accomplishments.”
 

The LSU Paralegal Studies Program began in 1982 and is a college-level, non-credit program for non-traditional students leading to a Certificate of Paralegal Studies. The program obtained approval by the American Bar Association in August 1993 and provides the only ABA-approved, non-credit certificate of paralegal studies Louisiana.
 

“The instructors of the paralegal studies program are extremely knowledgeable lawyers or paralegals who are experts in their field, and are experienced in the classroom,” said Charlotte DesHotels, program manager of LSU Continuing Education. “They are dedicated to seeing that each student graduates and that he or she is prepared to enter the field of law.”
 

All courses for the LSU Paralegal Studies Program are held in Baton Rouge, with most of them on the LSU campus.
 

Certificate recipients complete eight academic courses, a 150-hour internship, Court Day and a one-day legal ethics seminar. Students can complete the program in one year by attending full-time, or can take up to two and a half years as part-time students. Most courses are held in the evening, and job placement assistance is provided.
 

The majority of students in the program have already earned a bachelor’s degree, as recommended by the program. However, students can be considered for admission without a bachelor’s degree if they meet certain requirements.
 

The next semester of the LSU Paralegal Studies Program begins January 14. Applications are being accepted for summer and fall 2013 terms.

For more information on the LSU Paralegal Studies Program, contact Charlotte DesHotels at 225-578-6760 or cdeshotels@outreach.lsu.edu.
 

The LSU Paralegal Studies Program is a program of LSU Continuing Education. LSU Continuing Education acts as a leading university provider of educational outreach and engagement to help people achieve their goals and improve their quality of life, their organizations and their communities. Visit www.outreach.lsu.edu  for more information.

Fall 2012 Paralegal Graduates (listed with hometown):

Barbara M. Harrison, Baton Rouge
 

Courtney Haley, Baton Rouge
 

Gina Marie Taffaro, Baton Rouge
 

Lauren Frederick Barbalich, Baton Rouge
 

Morgan Keup, Baton Rouge
 

Pamela Martin, Baton Rouge
 

Robin R. Richardson, Baton Rouge
 

Stephanie Gail Heumann, Baton Rouge
 

Willie M. Leonard, Baton Rouge
 

Ivan Devall, Baker
 

Melissa Michelle McCully, Denham Springs
 

Patricia E. Chesne, Zachary
 

Mary Edwards, Bryant, Ark.