Palm Beach Junior College first offered classes in “legal assisting” in 1977. Apparently, the Palm Beach County Bar Association saw a need for this degree and approached PBJC administration regarding the development of a legal assisting Associate of Science degree. At that time, the courses were all taught by local attorneys who served as adjunct faculty. In 1982, the first full-time faculty member was employed at the Lake Worth campus to teach business law. Shortly thereafter, this professor transferred to the recently opened North campus on PGA Boulevard (now the Eissey campus). Thereafter, the legal assisting program was officially located at this campus with some classes offered at the Lake Worth location, as well.

In 1987, another full-time faculty member was hired at the Eissey campus and a day-time component was added. Then in 1989, one more full-time faculty was employed at the Lake Worth location to teach Business Law and selected subjects in the legal assisting program which has permitted the program to offer courses at both the Palm Beach Gardens and the Lake Worth location. At the present time, there are two full-time professors associated with the program.

In addition to the full-time faculty, the college has continually relied upon local actively practicing attorneys and judges to serve as adjunct professors. One of these adjuncts has served from the beginning of the program without a break in teaching and a good number of adjuncts have been returning from year-to-year which creates stability in the teaching and the program.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OF PROGRAM FACULTY

In addition to responsibility for teaching, the paralegal faculty have taken on visible roles in volunteering for the Certified Legal Assisting (CLA) exam review courses. The CLA designation is a registered trademark of The National Association of Legal Assistants for persons who have met the requirements of this organization’s voluntary certification program which includes educational and character requirements as well as demonstration of competency based on a two day intensive examination process. The largest number of CLAs are found in Florida which also has local and statewide associations (Palm Beach County Chapter) of persons who have chosen the paralegal (legal assisting) profession. Most of the graduates of the Palm Beach State program go on to attain the designation.

It is noted, however, that Palm Beach State has no formal affiliation with the National Association of Legal Assistants. Palm Beach State is, however, a member of the American Association for Paralegal Educators.

NATURE OF THE PROFESSION

The designation of “legal assistant” recently went through an evolution which saw the title change to “paralegal.” These two terms have been used interchangeably from the beginning of the use of such para-professionals in the legal field. The actual roots of this career choice appear to be from the 1960’s when professional journals advocated the use of lay personnel in law firms and the creation of a sub-professional class comparable to medical technicians, according to T.E. Eimermann in the textbook Fundamentals of Paralegalism.