Paralegal

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Winter 2018

Enrollment:

Fall, Winter Spring

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Additional Costs

Books$600-1200
Supplies and Equipment$100

Program Description

This regionally respected ABA approved program consists of basic and specialty courses designed to prepare students for employment in the legal services field. An AAS degree is awarded after completion of 95-103 credits of required coursework (depending on the math requirement). If full class loads are taken each quarter, the program requires 6-8 quarters to complete. Most specialty classes are taught early morning or evening. The supervised legal work experience required for graduation or the internship must be approved by the program coordinator. Ask a counselor or faculty adviser about transfer articulation agreements with four-year institutions.

Note: A Paralegal graduate does not receive a license to practice law; thus performing legal work directly for the public or giving legal advice directly to the public constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.
Students working toward the AA degree for transfer to a four-year institution should consult individually with an adviser or counselor for planning the AA degree program. For information on AA degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Certificate Requirements section of this catalog. More information on specific transfer programs can be found in the academic programs section of this catalog. A grade of 2.0 or higher in each class (including prerequisites) is required for both the AAS degree and the Certificate degree.

Students should begin early to meet the prerequisites for LA 120 Law Office Computing, which are 2 approved college level computer classes.  Notice to students:  There is a difference between how the college structures its classes and credits (five credit quarter model) and the American Bar Association's minimum credit requirements for approved programs with respect to General Education courses (semester model credits converted to SCC's quarter system).  Generally the result is a student will be required to complete 30 credits of General Education (GE) classes to fulfill the student's 27 GE credit minimum as required by the ABA.

To enter the Paralegal Certificate program, students must have completed an A.A. degree or an A.A.S. degree in Legal Secretary and/or an A.A.S. degree in Legal Administrative Assistant and/or a B.A. degree and/or a B.S. degree from an accredited college and/or university.

Course of Study

A paralegal/legal assistant is qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work. This definition includes those individuals who, with administrative, statutory or court authority, perform substantive legal work directly to the public [National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)].
Prior to acceptance into the course of study leading to the AAS degree in paralegal studies, students must either receive a 2.0 grade or better in BT 109 Business Communications OR a 2.0 grade or better in ENGL& 101 English Composition as a functional substitution (program coordinator discretion) for BT 109.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply knowledge of law and legal procedures through legal research, writing, document drafting, analysis of facts, interviewing and investigation.
  2. Develop skills in civil and criminal pretrial and trial practice, real estate, business, family law, commercial transactions and litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, intellectual property, estate planning, probate and other specialty areas.
  3. Develop technological and organizational skills, including categorizing and organizing documents, calendaring, assessing and prioritizing work; managing time; creating and maintaining databases; and using standard forms and checklists.
  4. Develop understanding of rules of professional and ethical conduct, competence, professionalism and client service.

Career Opportunities

Law offices, courts, government agencies, insurance companies, legal investigators and forensics, publishing and broadcasting, legal departments of banks, mortgage and title companies, corporations and administrative agencies.
Salaries range from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on education, experience and level of responsibility.