Paralegal Studies

Associate of Applied Science Degree

(575) 527-7642

If you have an interest in the law and how it affects individuals and society as a whole, then a career as a paralegal could be an excellent choice for you. Paralegals enjoy the intellectual challenge of assisting attorneys in finding legal solutions for their clients’ problems.

A precise description of the paralegal’s role is found in the New Mexico Supreme Court’s definition in the Rules Governing Paralegal Services (Rule 20-102A), which states that a paralegal is one who:

1. contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency or other entity
2. performs substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney who assumes professional responsibility for the final work product
3. meets one or more of the education, training or work experience qualifications set forth in Rule 20-115 NMRA of these rules

In the same Rules mentioned previously, the Court’s examples of substantive legal work include, “case planning, development and management; legal research and analysis; interviewing clients; fact gathering and retrieving information; drafting legal documents; collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and representing clients before a state or federal administrative agency if that representation is authorized by law.” (Rule 20-102B NMRA)