Paralegal

Summer 2018

Enrollment:

Fall, Winter Spring

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Tuition and Fees

http://www.ccs.spokane.edu/TuitionFees

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.

Certificate - SCC

Offered at Locations:  Spokane Community College
Basic Courses 26
General Education Courses 110
Other Courses 20-5
Specialty Courses-Certificate 324
Supervised Legal Work Experience 48
68-73
68-73 credits are required for the Certificate

Basic Courses 

BUS  204Introduction to Law 5
LA   100Legal Careers Orientation 1
LA   101Introduction to Paralegalism 2
LA   105Washington and Idaho Court Rules 3
LA   110Legal Research and Writing 5
LA   118Instrument Drafting 3
LA   120Law Office Computing 5
LA   125Law Office Procedures and Technology 3
LA   130Legal Ethics 3
LA   135Professional Effectiveness 1

General Education Courses 

ENGL&101English Composition I 5
MATH&107Math in Society 5

Other Courses 

BUS  104Business Mathematics 5

Specialty Courses-Certificate 

ACCT 151College Accounting I 5
ACCT&201Principles of Accounting I 5
BUS  204Introduction to Law 5
HED  104Medical Terminology and Anatomy 5
HED  105Medical Terminology and Anatomy 5
LA   201Introduction to Probate 3
LA   205Contracts 3
LA   207Domestic Relations and Estate Law 3
LA   211Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy 3
LA   215Commercial Transaction 3
LA   217Business Organizations 3
LA   218Employment Law 3
LA   219Criminal Law and Procedure 3
LA   220Torts 3
LA   221Property and Real Estate Transactions I 3
LA   223Interview and Investigation Techniques 3
LA   225Trial Preparation and Procedures 3
LA   230Insurance Law 3
LA   240Special Issues Seminar 1-10
LA   285Legal Office Internship 1-3

Supervised Legal Work Experience 

LA   245Supervised Legal Work Experience 8
15 credits in Social Science and/or Humanities are required for the Certificate program only. Please see department program coordinator for additional list of courses.
2If the student chooses BUS 104 as a math requirement, student must complete an additional 5 credits from the list of communication, social science, or humanities electives.
3Prerequisites for all Legal Specialty Courses: LA 100.
4Students must complete 8 credits.
5Basic courses must total 26 credits for the certificate. Students may only enroll in BUS 204 once for 5 credits. BUS 204 may be selected as a part of either the basic courses group OR the specialty courses groups, but not both.
6Prerequisites are ENGL& 101 and LA 101.
7Prerequisites are LSEC 239 and a college-level computer course recommended to be selected from the BT, CIS, or LSEC departments' offerings.
8See department program coordinator for additional list of courses. English& 101 is a prerequisite for LA 110, but is not a requirement for the certificate program.
9MATH& 107 may be substituted with other courses selected from a list provided by the instructor.
10ACCT& 201 may be substituted with ACCT 151.
11Specialty courses must total 24 credits for the certificate. Students may only enroll in BUS 204 once for 5 credits. BUS 204 may be selected as a part of either the basic courses group OR the specialty courses groups, but not both.
12Because each course is different, LA 240 may be repeated as frequently as desired and all credits received may be applied toward the specialty credit requirements for this degree.
13Maximum of 3 credits of internship may be applied toward this degree.

Disclaimer: The college cannot guarantee courses will be offered in the quarters indicated. During the period this guide is in circulation, there may be curriculum revisions and program changes. Students are responsible for consulting the appropriate academic unit or adviser for more current and specific information. the information in this guide is subject to change and does not constitute an agreement between the college and the student.