MaSSSoftech

Pilot Programs Target Online Research for Paralegals and Effective Meeting
Facilitation
PHILADELPHIA--(Business Wire)--
Peirce College announced today a new continuing education program that focuses
on professional development for working adults. The skills-based, career-related
series will complement Peirce`s degree programs and provide hands-on expertise
for employees who want to stay competitive and refresh or update their skills
and credentials.

Continuing education is one of the core elements of Peirce College president
James J. Mergiotti`s vision for the institution. According to Mergiotti, "We are
committed to being a lifelong learning environment for working adults, which
provides a rich, broad array of professional development courses, in addition to
our degree programs."

Mergiotti wants Peirce to be a place to which professionals can turn at every
stage of their career. "Our message is-whether you are starting or building a
career-you can come to Peirce College and continue your education," he said.
"Our role is to help you be successful."

Leveraging its business expertise, Peirce will deliver high-value programs in a
number of formats, including workshops, seminars, as well as in-depth,
multiple-day certificate programs, said Lisa Paris, assistant vice president for
marketing and communications at the College. "The sharper your professional
skills, the more marketable you become in the eyes of any employer," she added.
"Students can take the skills they develop with us and apply them directly to
their workplace."

Two topics were selected for the pilot program. The first, scheduled for October
16, is "Electronic Legal Research and Legal Technology," which will provide
resources and skill-building techniques for paralegals.

The second workshop, "Taking Care of Business - Managing and Facilitating
Successful Meetings," is designed for anyone who works for an organization and
hosts or participates in meetings. The workshop is scheduled for October 22 and
October 24. Attendees will learn what it takes to facilitate a meeting, how to
plan and prepare for meetings, as well as elements of successful and
unsuccessful meetings, and how to handle difficult meeting situations.

Both workshops will be held at Peirce`s state-of-the-art Center City campus in
Philadelphia. Future programs can be hosted at company locations, or delivered
online, Paris pointed out.

"In today`s competitive workplace the skills required of current and aspiring
managers are becoming more demanding," said Marie Gould, Peirce Professor,
Management and Faculty Chair, Business Administration. "The courses will assist
companies that are interested in having members of their workforce educated in
certain skill sets."

Gould explained that assessments will be conducted as part of the workshop to
customize the program to the needs of the attendees. "We want to provide real
skills to participants based on where they are in their careers," she said.

Paralegals must continually update their skills, pointed out Edwin Miller, J.D.,
Professor and Assistant Dean, Legal Studies. "Continuing legal education is
important and legal technology and the advances in legal research are now
critical skills," he said. "Attendees of the `Electronic Legal Research and
Legal Technology` workshop will sharpen their skills with Westlaw and
LexisNexis, two of the main legal research programs. They will also delve into
alternative legal research sources and legal technology options that can
significantly impact their practice." This Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
seminar has been submitted to NFPA (National Federation of Paralegals
Association) for CLE credit approval.

Peirce College offers bachelor`s and associate degree programs in Business
Administration, Information Technology and Paralegal Studies. Peirce College is
accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 (phone: 267-284-5000). The Association
of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs accredits the College's business
program and the Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar
Association. For more information about Peirce College, call 888.GO.PEIRCE, or
visit www.peirce.edu.