The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Paralegal program has been approved by the American Bar Association. While the Paralegal Program has always enjoyed a high placement rate for its graduates, approval by the ABA tells potential employers that standards and guidelines that pertain to organization, administration, curriculum, faculty, admissions, placement, library and support facilities are of the highest caliber. 

“The approval of the American Bar Association is a designation that is recognized by members of the legal community as an indicator of quality and is respected by leaders in the field of paralegal education. We're very proud of our Paralegal program at SMWC,” said Kathryn Myers, chair of the program.  “An outside body of respected professionals looked at our program, materials, current students, graduates, faculty, and advisory board and agreed that we have attained a predetermined standard of delivery of legal education.”

The term of approval by the ABA for the SMWC Paralegal program is for a period of seven years, beginning February 2010 and ending February 2017. There are less than 300 ABA approved paralegal programs in the United States while over 1000 programs exist.  That means that ABA approval is not sought or obtained by every program.  The process itself is a rigorous self-study culminating in a report and exhibits totaling over 1000 pages and a site visit from a team of three professionals who spend 2.5 days on the campus meeting with every constituency and reviewing every document.

“For the SMWC paralegal program to be approved by the ABA is quite an achievement.  Lawyers will recognize that ABA approval means the SMWC paralegal program meets rigorous national standards,” said Senior Judge Barbara Braugnaux and adjunct faculty member. “That recognition should benefit SMWC graduates as they seek employment. It may give them an extra edge, because attorneys who are looking to hire a paralegal want to know that an applicant is prepared to contribute on day one.”

To learn more about the Paralegal Studies Program at SMWC, visit http://www.smwc.edu/paralegal-studies or contact Kathryn Myers at kmyers@smwc.edu.