Dinner Held to Honor Students Earning Paralegal Certificates

The School of Criminal and Social Justice (SCSJ) honored four students who successfully completed their paralegal certificates with a special dinner celebration in their honor. 

The graduates were treated to dinner at The Dining Lab, the student-run restaurant operated by Monroe’s culinary arts, baking and pastry, and hospitality management students on the New Rochelle campus. SCSJ faculty and staff were on hand to toast the new paralegals. The students were given a one-year membership to the New York City Paralegal Association as a gift from the University, along with a journal so that they could document and reflect on their new careers as paralegals.

“I feel great in my accomplishment. I do eventually want to go back to school and get my master's in criminal justice, and then possibly master a different profession, such as crime investigation in forensics,” said Elliana Ortiz. “My experience at Monroe has always been a pleasure. The teachers and staff care that you succeed in school and your career. I would absolutely recommend this program as well as Monroe University.”   

CSCJ Director Jody McCalla said she was incredibly proud of paralegal certificate graduates.  

“The completion of the paralegal certificate program is more than just an academic achievement; it’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of our students,” McCalla said. “This milestone marks the beginning of promising new careers, where they will make meaningful contributions to the legal profession.”   

Monroe’s Paralegal Certificate program is a 36-credit program designed to introduce students to the legal system and prepare students to participate, under the supervision of an attorney in the courts, law firms and government agencies. Students learn how to operate commonly used legal software as well as ethics, professional responsibilities, legal research and writing skills and more.  

To learn more about Monroe’s Paralegal Certificate program, visit https://www.monroeu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/school-criminal-justice/certificate-paralegal-studies.  

Congratulations to our new paralegals!