COD offers a Paralegal Studies program where students can prepare for careers in a variety of legal areas, including litigation, corporate, real estate and insurance. Aside from classroom requirements, a practicum lets students get hands-on experience with the field their going into and a real-world feel for it. As of Aug. 10, 2010, the program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Out of this program, COD’s Paralegal club evolved to help students in the program or looking into it to gain more of a perspective and give them a feel about what to expect, while letting them connect with other paralegal students for support and guidance. Their meetings have included lawyers, judges, faculty, and paralegal program graduates as guest speakers. There are six officers, and about 10-20 members depending on the meeting.

“We also volunteer and will hold meetings outside of campus,” commented 18 year-old Victoria Wadowski, club officer and Student Outreach. Wadowski will have completed COD’s Paralegal program this summer.

Paralegal club has volunteered for Feed My Starving Children and Invisible Children. They have held meetings at Panera Bread for talk sessions and they’ve had Brown Bag Socials to let paralegal students meet and socialize.

“What stands out about our club and the program is that the paralegal field has many routes and opportunities a person can take advantage of,” said 21 year-old Larry Caruso, Media Officer.

Students in this program and Paralegal club members are going into a variety of different branches of the law field such as family law and immigration law.

Recently, the club formed their own honor society called LEX (Legal Honor Society) to help separate COD’s students in this field from other students in a positive way. The last day to hand in applications is today. You must have a 3.6 GPA in the paralegal studies courses, and be two-thirds of your way through the Paralegal program at the college. The induction ceremony will be held sometime after the May graduation ceremony occurs.