Paralegal Program Offers Students Courthouse Experience

This fall students enrolled in the Paralegal Certificate program will have the unique opportunity to visit the most influential legal offices in Cobb County. The guided tour will allow students to see and experience the county court system behind the scenes.

“Our students spend a lot of time with our attorneys learning about the law and the court system,” Jennifer Henderson, program manager for the Paralegal Certificate said. “They hear from paralegals on what their role will be once they are in a law office, but they need the practical piece that would help them put it all together.”

Students will begin their tour at the Cobb County Probate Court, where they will learn the duties and matters assigned to the Probate Court under Georgia law. Other stops include Juvenile Court, the district attorney’s office and the Superior Court Clerk’s office. Tour participants will speak with judges, interact with attorneys and other court personnel.

They will also have the opportunity to view actual trials and court proceedings taking place in Magistrate Court.

Jennifer said the tour is there to help take away the apprehension of approaching the court system or its employees, and to build their confidence with navigating the Courts and Departments within Cobb County.

“We understand that not all of our students will work in our county, but the knowledge gained can be applied anywhere,” she said. “We want students to know where to file documents, when to file them and who they need to speak with if they have questions.”

For more than three decades, our Paralegal Certificate program has prepared students for work in the legal field. The program offers daytime and evening courses, allowing students the flexibility to create their own schedule. Certificate holders have the option of taking added specialty courses like immigration law, employment law fundamentals and legal nurse consulting to enhance their continuing education.

Earlier this year, the Paralegal Advisory Board was established. The volunteer board has worked to help our college launch the courthouse tours and grow the number of professional internship opportunities offered to current students. The newly added component to the program allows students to gain further knowledge of the multiple departments within the county’s court system.

Schedule stops include:

• Probate Court
• Sheriff’s Office
• Magistrate Court
• State Court Clerk’s Office
• State Court Administration Office
• Juvenile Court
• Superior Court
• District Attorney’s Office
• Superior Court Clerk’s Office