Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal
The Paralegal Associate of Science degree goals and objectives were designed to prepare the student to enter into the paralegal profession.
Students who successfully complete the program will be able to:
- Describe the American legal system
- Describe the practice of law and the paralegals role in the legal profession
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to work in civil litigation
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to do legal research
- Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills
- Apply the ethical rules and regulations applicable to paralegals and other legal professionals to given situations. Inexperienced graduates are employable but will most likely be hired as paralegal assistants (sometimes called “case assistants”) until the employer can accurately gauge the new employee’s level of preparation and skills. The internship requirement of our program is designed to help offset this by assuring that each graduate has some law office experience before looking for his or her first paralegal position.
- Law Firms
- Government Agencies
- Corporate Legal Departments
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Financial Institutions
- Insurance Companies
- Real Estate Companies
- Investigator or Hearing Officers for Federal, State, and Local Administrative Agencies
- Insurance Claims Adjuster
- Debt Collector
- Financial Services Representative
- Legal Writer
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediator, Arbitrator)
- Tax Preparer
- Legal Publishing or Database Company Representative
- Project Manager/Sales for legal support software vendors
- Contracts Administrator
- Compliance Officer in a Corporate Human Resources Department
- Clerk or Administrator in the court system.
Notes
- Coursework may include no more than 12 units for transfer of legal specialty courses from another ABA paralegal program.
- At least 9 units of Legal Specialty must be taken in the synchornistic modality.
- This degree consists of all the requirements for the Paralegal Certificate of Achievement, plus a minimum of 25 units of General Education from the approved list of General Education Courses.
Required Core Courses: 29 units
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 18 |
Legal Analysis |
2 units |
PARA 19 |
Intro to Paralegal Studies |
3 units |
PARA 21 |
Intro to American Law |
3 units |
PARA 22 |
Civil Litigation |
3 units |
PARA 22A |
Pre-Trial Procedures |
1.5 units |
PARA 23 |
Legal Research |
2 units |
PARA 24A |
Writing for Law Practice |
1.5 units |
PARA 25 |
Ethics for Paralegals |
1.5 units |
PARA 29A |
Paralegal Employment Preparation |
1 unit |
PARA 29B |
Internship |
2 units |
PARA 43 |
Law Office Management |
2 units |
PARA 65B |
Microsoft for the Law Office |
3 units |
PARA 68 |
Computer Assisted Legal Research |
1.5 units |
PARA 90 |
Legal Technology |
2 units |
Electives from Recommended List: 6 units
Business Oriented Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 27 |
Corporate Law |
3 units |
PARA 30 |
Business Contract Law |
1.5 units |
PARA 33 |
Paralegal Procedures in Real Estate |
3 units |
PARA 34 |
Bankruptcy Law |
3 units |
PARA 70 |
Employment Law |
3 units |
Intellectual Property Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 37 |
Intellectual Property Overview |
3 units |
PARA 83C |
Patent Administration |
3 units |
Litigation Skills Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 22B |
Post Trial Procedures |
1 unit |
PARA 83B |
Electronic Discovery |
1 unit |
Estate Planning Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 35A |
Practical Procedures for Probate |
1.5 units |
PARA 36 |
Wills and Estate Planning |
3 units |
Miscellaneous Legal Specialty Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 32 |
Family Law |
3 units |
PARA 38 |
Constitutional Law |
3 units |
PARA 42 |
Criminal Trial Techniques |
3 units |
PARA 75 |
Business Compliance Law |
1.5 units |
PARA 76 |
Immigration Law |
3 units |
PARA 77 |
Elder Law |
1.5 units |
Administration of Justice Courses (Maximum of 3 units in ADMJ courses may be used)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ADMJ 4 |
Legal Aspects of Evidence |
3 units |
ADMJ 5 |
Criminal Investigation |
3 units |
ADMJ 41 |
Introduction to Forensics |
3 units |
Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal
Notes
- Coursework may include no more than 12 units for transfer of legal specialty courses from another ABA paralegal program.
- At least 9 units of Legal Specialty must be taken in the synchornistic modality.
Required Core Courses: 29 units
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 18 |
Legal Analysis |
2 units |
PARA 19 |
Intro to Paralegal Studies |
3 units |
PARA 21 |
Intro to American Law |
3 units |
PARA 22 |
Civil Litigation |
3 units |
PARA 22A |
Pre-Trial Procedures |
1.5 units |
PARA 23 |
Legal Research |
2 units |
PARA 24A |
Writing for Law Practice |
1.5 units |
PARA 25 |
Ethics for Paralegals |
1.5 units |
PARA 29A |
Paralegal Employment Preparation |
1 unit |
PARA 29B |
Internship |
2 units |
PARA 43 |
Law Office Management |
2 units |
PARA 65B |
Microsoft for the Law Office |
3 units |
PARA 68 |
Computer Assisted Legal Research |
1.5 units |
PARA 90 |
Legal Technology |
2 units |
Electives from Recommended List: 6 units
Business Oriented Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 27 |
Corporate Law |
3 units |
PARA 30 |
Business Contract Law |
1.5 units |
PARA 33 |
Paralegal Procedures in Real Estate |
3 units |
PARA 34 |
Bankruptcy Law |
3 units |
PARA 70 |
Employment Law |
3 units |
Intellectual Property Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 37 |
Intellectual Property Overview |
3 units |
PARA 83C |
Patent Administration |
3 units |
Litigation Skills Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 22B |
Post Trial Procedures |
1 unit |
Para 83B |
Electronic Discovery |
1 unit |
Estate Planning Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 35A |
Practical Procedures for Probate |
1.5 units |
PARA 36 |
Wills and Estate Planning |
3 units |
Miscellaneous Legal Specialty Courses
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 32 |
Family Law |
3 units |
PARA 38 |
Constitutional Law |
3 units |
PARA 42 |
Criminal Trial Techniques |
3 units |
PARA 76 |
Immigration Law |
3 units |
PARA 77 |
Elder Law |
1.5 units |
Administration of Justice Courses (Maximum of 3 units in ADMJ courses may be used)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ADMJ 4 |
Legal Aspects of Evidence |
3 units |
ADMJ 5 |
Criminal Investigation |
3 units |
ADMJ 41 |
Introduction to Forensics |
3 units |
After completing this degree in Paralegal, a student will be able to:
- Describe the practice of law and the paralegal’s role in the legal profession.
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to work in civil litigation.
- Conduct legal research.
- Apply the ethical rules and regulations applicable to paralegals and other legal professionals to given situations.
To be awarded a certificate in Paralegal, a student must:
- Have an AA/AS degree or higher in Paralegal or any other subject that meets College standards.
- Complete 35 units in Paralegal courses - 29 units in required courses and 6 units in paralegal electives.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
First Semester
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 18 |
Legal Analysis |
2 units |
PARA 19 |
Intro to Paralegal Studies |
3 units |
PARA 21 |
Intro to American Law |
3 units |
PARA 68 |
Computer Assisted Legal Research |
1.5 units |
|
Elective |
3 units |
Total Units |
|
12.5 units |
Second Semester
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 22 |
Civil Litigation |
3 units |
PARA 23 |
Legal Research |
2 units |
PARA 25 |
Ethics for Paralegals |
1.5 units |
PARA 29A |
Paralegal Employment Preparation |
1 unit |
PARA 65B |
Microsoft for the Law Office |
3 units |
Total Units |
|
11.5 units |
Third Semester
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
PARA 22A |
Pre-Trial Procedures |
1.5 units |
PARA 24A |
Writing for Law Practice |
1.5 units |
PARA 29B |
Internship |
2 units |
PARA 43 |
Law Office Management |
2 units |
|
Elective |
3 units |
Total Units |
|
11 units |
Transfer of Courses from other Paralegal Programs
The use of courses from other paralegal programs to earn a WVC Paralegal certificate or degree must be approved by the Paralegal Program Chair. The following limitations apply to courses accepted for transfer:
- No more than 12 semester units or less may be used.
- Only courses in which the student earned a "C" or better may be used.
- Only courses from other ABA-approved paralegal programs may be used.