Virginia Peninsula Community College officials are excited to help give Hampton area high school students dreaming of becoming law professionals a head start.
Thanks to a partnership with Hampton City Schools, VPCC will offer a Legal Assistant Certificate for students in the Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS) at Bethel High School starting this fall.
The collaboration allows eligible students in the Dual Enrollment program to earn a Legal Assistant Certificate from VPCC before they receive their high school diplomas.
Amy Anderson, head of Legal Studies at VPCC, said through this dual enrollment pathway, students pursuing the certificate will take rigorous college-level courses. She noted the certificate program includes diverse classes ranging from Legal Ethics and Family Law to Trial Preparation and Legal Research.
Dual enrolled juniors and seniors already take general education college courses — math, science and social studies — for a solid higher education foundation, said Maggie Haley, a dual enrollment coordinator at VPCC.
“Some of the general education courses such as ENG 111 (College Composition I) are already offered at Bethel so the added legal courses fit with this pathway toward college and high school requirements,” Haley explained. “Legal instructors for Bethel High are certified as college instructors and that is how they are able to teach the VPCC courses.”
“Dual enrollment is growing at VPCC, and we are very excited to be able to offer this opportunity to students,” she added.
Mirroring that excitement, VPCC’s Dean of Public Safety, Allied Health and Human Services Michelle Alexander said officials began exploring this partnership in 2024.
“The Academic Affairs leadership team (met) with Bethel High School last year to discuss potential partnership opportunities for dual enrollment. Bethel is home to the Law and Public Safety Academy, so a partnership with our division, which houses the Paralegal and Criminal Justice programs, made sense,” said Alexander, noting starting with the paralegal option was ideal since Bethel provides expert instruction in law-related classes.
Dr. Tanya Howard, Bethel High’s executive principal, is also enthused.
“I can’t express how important it is to have partnerships like this with VPCC. I’m excited for the opportunity and access that it’s going to give our students,” said Howard. “We’ve talked about having programs that can help students go directly from high school into industry. We’ve also talked about having a program that will allow students who are going to college to have more access to the robust curriculum and rigor. And I think that this partnership gives us that for both.”
Students in the ALPS who show academic readiness and keen interest in legal fields such as courtroom services, legal support, or even law school, can begin the certificate program in the 11th grade, said Howard. They must meet VPCC’s dual enrollment requirements and maintain strong grades. Teacher recommendations highlighting their ability to handle challenging coursework are also involved.
“We understand that these students will also be those who are probably taking dual enrollment English, math, science, and social studies,” said Howard. “So, it will be a very heavy load. So, we are looking for students who do not necessarily meet specific criteria, but those who we know can withstand that rigor.”
Anderson agreed, saying this certificate program is a good fit for diligent students with strong work ethics.
“It’s going to take some work. It’s going to take some studying. (Students) can’t be afraid of aiming high, meeting expectations, or of hard work. I think someone who enjoys a challenge will be attracted to this program,” she said, adding it’s also ideal for those passionate about problem-solving, advocacy and service.
Howard said there will be measures to help students succeed.
“Obviously, there are some supports that we will build in for that as well. We have had some discussions about things like the preparation in 10th grade, taking AP classes, and we now have a Seminar AP English class. We know there will be a lot of writing in this program, so we want to probably have that as a prerequisite … Those are some things that we’re considering,” she added.
Alexander and Anderson hope the new pathway will create a pipeline to VPCC. It provides 31 credits in the certificate and three additional credits toward an associate degree at VPCC, according to Anderson. That means students will be about halfway to a college degree by the time they finish high school.
“This sets up a seamless transition to VPCC, where they can complete the remaining classes for our (Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies) in two semesters. We are very excited about this partnership and look forward to building more pathways for Bethel and other Hampton City Schools academies in the future,” said Alexander.
Anderson said just as the certificate program provides a steppingstone to the A.A.S., that degree, although not a transfer degree, opens the door to further education and numerous career possibilities.
“Students who want to go on to a four-year experience and students who really are thinking longer term about potentially going to law school will be set up for having a strong foundation and the likelihood of being able to go on to graduate school,” she said, noting career opportunities for paralegals include working in law offices, courtrooms, government agencies and even the military.
Anderson pointed out students entering the certificate program at Bethel High this fall are slated to finish in 2027. Those meeting VPCC graduation requirements will get to walk across the stage at the College’s graduation ceremony.
The partnership, Anderson and Howard agreed, is about allowing students to explore options, ensuring accessibility to diverse academic offerings and preparing students as best as possible for the future they choose.
“These opportunities that we’re able to give our students can only help with the entire community, with the industry and I’m excited about that,” said Howard.
For more information about the Legal Assistant Certificate being offered at Bethel High School’s ALPS, contact Howard at tvhoward@hampton.k12.va.us or 757-825-4400.