PHOENIX, October 1, 2020 – Imagine starting your career in law or public service with real-life experience inside the Arizona Attorney General's office on your resume. ұ (ұ) is expanding and building upon its partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s office by providing our students with new internship opportunities in program areas such as Special Investigations, Victim Services, Community Outreach, along with the established offering in Paralegal internships.
“The internship with the Attorney General's office will allow our students to gain experience in the legal field and will strengthen their professional opportunities,” ұ President Dr. Larry Johnson. “This aligns with the ұ priority to help more students broaden their prospects by participating in work-based experiences.”
ұ has numerous opportunities in law and public service, such as Administration of Justice (AJS) and Forensic Science, in addition to the aforementioned Paralegal Program. This expanded partnership allows for even more program areas to have the same opportunities for our 565 students who are currently pursuing their degree/certificate in areas of law and public service. In the last five years, ұ has awarded 474 AAS degrees and 463 CCL certificates in fields including criminal justice, forensics, and paralegal studies.
“Most of the ұ residential and adjunct faculty serving the AJS program have been or are currently in the criminal justice field. We believe these expanded opportunities for students to participate in internships with the Attorney General’s office will be a real head start for our students,” said Rick Wilson, ұ’s Department Chair for Criminal Justice, Emergency Response, and Legal Studies. Learning from professionals in the field allows students to not only gain real-world knowledge about the jobs but also decide if these professions are a good fit for them.
Work-based experiences aren’t new to ұ students. The Paralegal Studies program has a long history of partnering with local law firms and public agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office, to offer internships to its students. The Paralegal Studies Program at ұ is the only American Bar Association (ABA) approved program in Maricopa County, as well as being the oldest and largest ABA-approved program in Arizona.
Scott A. Hauert, Paralegal Program Director, notes, “Students need to develop not only their legal knowledge but also need an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life legal issues. The internship experience with the Attorney General’s office gives students that opportunity. An internship allows students to practice what they have learned while working under the supervision of attorneys and professional paralegals on substantive legal issues.”
“Students will find internships at the Attorney General's Office challenging and rewarding. The knowledge and skills gained from working in our office provide invaluable experience as students progress in their careers,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “We are proud to offer this program with ұ to inspire the next generation of professionals.”
The new, expanded partnership with the Attorney General’s office is part of a strategic effort to provide work-based experiences for every student. “ұ has the vision to provide a Work-Based Experience for every student before they leave college,” added Maria Reyes, Dean of Industry and Public Service for ұ. “It is partnerships such as these that will help us reach our vision. We want current and future students to know that they will be connected to the work-based experience opportunities to prepare for their future while at our college. It is our deep commitment to promoting these opportunities so that students can see themselves in these future careers.”
To reach an ever-evolving student body with diverse needs and schedules, many of the Criminal Justice Programs can be completed online with classes that begin year-round. See the class schedule and the Criminal Justice Program website for more information.
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For media inquiries please contact Marketing Manager, Erika Keenan at erika.keenan@phoenixcollege.edu or at 602-285-7842.
ұ is one of the 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the nation. Established in 1920, ұ offers academic courses leading to associate degrees, university transfer, certificates and short-term job training. The college will be celebrating its centennial in 2020 with events, high-profile speakers, performances and more.
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District.
The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, .