The Paralegal Associate of Science degree goals and objectives are designed to prepare the student to enter into the paralegal profession. To enhance a graduate's ability to obtain employment, the Program requires an internship in a law office environment doing paralegal level tasks. This aids the graduate by demonstrating to potential employers that the candidate has had practical paralegal work experience in the legal field. Examples of Paralegal employers include 1. Law Firms 2. Government Agencies 3. Corporate Legal Departments 4. Non-Profit Organizations 5. Financial Institutions 6. Insurance Companies 7. Real Estate Companies Additionally, there are a number of alternative careers for paralegal-trained individuals, including 1. Investigator or Hearing Officers for Federal, State, and Local Administrative Agencies 2. Insurance Claims Adjuster 3. Debt Collector 4. Financial Services Representative 5. Legal Writer 6. Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediator, Arbitrator) 7. Legal Publishing or Database Company Representative 8. Project Manager/Sales for legal support software vendors 9. Contracts Administrator 10. Compliance Officer in a Corporate environment 11. Clerk or Administrator in the court system Special note: Coursework may include no more than 12 units for transfer of legal specialty courses from another ABA approved paralegal program. No more than 3 units of the Administration of Justice courses may be selected as electives. This degree consists of all of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PARA018 | Legal Analysis | 2 units |
| PARA019 | Introduction to Paralegal Studies | 3 units |
| PARA021 | Introduction to American Law | 3 units |
| PARA022 | Civil Litigation Procedures | 3 units |
| PARA022A | Pre-trial Procedures | 1.5 units |
| PARA023 | Legal Research and Writing | 2 units |
| PARA024A | Writing for Law Practice | 1.5 units |
| PARA025 | Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility | 1.5 units |
| PARA029A | Paralegal Employment Preparation | 1 unit |
| PARA029B | Paralegal Internship | 2 units |
| PARA043 | Law Office Management | 2 units |
| PARA065B | Microsoft Word for the Law Office | 3 units |
| PARA068 | Computer Assisted Legal Research | 1.5 units |
| PARA090 | Legal Technology | 2 units |
Electives from Recommended List (6 units)
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ADMJ004 | Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 units |
| ADMJ005 | Criminal Investigation | 3 units |
| ADMJ041 | Introduction to Forensics | 3 units |
| PARA027 | Corporate Law | 3 units |
| PARA030 | Business Contract Law | 1.5 units |
| PARA032 | Family Law | 3 units |
| PARA035A | Practical Procedures for Probate | 1.5 units |
| PARA036 | Will Drafting and Basic Estate Planning | 3 units |
| PARA037 | Intellectual Property Law | 1.5 units |
| PARA070 | Employment Law | 3 units |
| PARA076 | Immigration and Naturalization Law for Paralegals | 3 units |
| PARA077 | Elder Law for Paralegals | 1.5 units |
| PARA083C | Patent Administration for Paralegals | 3 units |
Total Major Units: 35 units
To be awarded an Associate Degree, a student must:
- Achieve a grade of “C” or better in the major requirements.
- Completion of WVC, CSU-Breadth, or IGETC General Education patterns. Students whose goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree should complete the CSU-Breadth or IGETC General Education pattern.
- Complete additional degree applicable units to meet the minimum 60-unit Associate Degree requirements.