Baker College of Auburn Hills paralegal program granted ABA re-approval

The Baker College of Auburn Hills paralegal program has received re-approval by the American Bar Association (ABA). The program includes the Associate of Business in paralegal and the Bachelor of Science in legal studies.

The ABA approves paralegal education programs that meet stringent guidelines to promote high-quality paralegal education, training and educational standards.

“This ABA re-approval is excellent news for students who are in or are considering our paralegal program,” said Peter W. Karsten, Ph.D., CPA, Baker College of Auburn Hills president. “This further demonstrates that Baker College is providing a high-quality education for their intended career field.

“Congratulations also go to Paralegal Program Director Melissa Manela and our paralegal faculty and staff. They work diligently to prepare students for real-world jobs and have made this program milestone possible.”

The paralegal program was launched at the Auburn Hills campus in 2002 and approved in 2008. Although ABA approvals are valid for seven years, programs must submit interim reports to maintain the designation.

Baker College of Auburn Hills is one of 13 higher education institutions in Michigan to offer an ABA-approved paralegal program and one of three to offer an ABA-approved paralegal bachelor’s program.

A degree from an ABA-approved school may make graduates more competitive and desirable in the job market, as employers know they have been trained under nationally established, high-level standards.

Administrators of the Auburn Hills paralegal program completed an extensive process of submitting self-evaluation reports to the ABA. An on-site evaluation by the ABA verified that the program was in compliance with the organization’s guidelines.

Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.

A paralegal may find employment in private law firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations, court systems, real estate title companies, banks, insurance companies, health care organizations, and local, state and federal government agencies. Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys and perform a variety of essential tasks.

The ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals has a 30-year history within the ABA. Its mission is to improve the American system of justice by establishing ABA standards for the education of paralegals and by promoting attorneys' professional, effective and ethical utilization of paralegals.

For more information about the paralegal program at Baker College of Auburn Hills, contact Nicole Chirco in the admissions office at nicole.chirco@baker.edu or 248.340.0600, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 23,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker College grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 100 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker College graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker College is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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