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The paralegal associate degree program at Baker College of Jackson has been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

“This is a great achievement for our campus and for the paralegal department,” said Patricia A. Kaufman, Ed.D., Baker College of Jackson president.. “Congratulations to Jack Jordan, dean of business administration, Tracy Nothnagel, department chair, and all of our paralegal staff and faculty who, through their hard word and dedication, made this happen.”

Baker College of Jackson is one of approximately 274 ABA-approved programs nationwide and one of 16 in Michigan. There are more than 1,000 paralegal training programs in the United States. The ABA approves paralegal education programs that meet stringent guidelines in order to promote high quality paralegal education, training and educational standards. The paralegal program at Baker’s Jackson campus, which began in 2004, went through an extensive process of submitting self-evaluation reports to the ABA. In addition, an on-site visit by the ABA verified that the paralegal program was in compliance with the organization’s guidelines. The paralegal program at Baker College of Jackson is valid for seven years.

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.

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.