Paralegal Studies - Baccalaureate of Arts

The Paralegal Studies baccalaureate degree produces highly skilled paralegal professionals who, upon completion of the degree curriculum, are better prepared by education to perform substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active licensed member of the State Bar, as defined in California by section 6450 of the California Business and Professions Code, or the applicable licensing statute of any of the states or territories of the United States, or an attorney duly admitted to practice law in the U.S. Federal Courts. 

The Paralegal Studies baccalaureate degree program will prepare paralegals to pass the NALA Certified Paralegal Exam. The upper division coursework provides in-depth training in specific areas of the paralegal profession, including strategic office management and administration, civil litigation, discovery and administration of electronically stored information, trial preparation and presentation, constitutional law, comparative international law, criminal law and procedure, advance technology issues such as privacy and security, advanced electronic research, contract management, regulatory compliance, legal investigations, clinic and work experience opportunities, and advanced legal ethics.

Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.  This degree is not designed to prepare students for the practice of law. 

This degree is forward-thinking toward the State Bar’s proposed paraprofessional licensing program, and designed to prepare students to provide non-attorney paraprofessional services within the limited scope of an authorized practice area in which the paraprofessional may be licensed by the State Bar, or governing regulatory authority, within a limited range of services for each practice area, if permitted by law. 

Projected cohort of 25 student completers for the first year; up to 35 completers for year two; up to 50 completers for year three; and up to 65 completers for year four, continuing thereafter.

1. Students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in paralegal roles and duties, including client communication and legal ethics as established by the California Business and Professions Code Section 6450 and the California Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys.

2. Students will have technical and practical skills to assess, organize, evaluate, create, and safeguard information that is electronically created, stored, collected, reviewed, produced, and encountered in the criminal and civil litigation process, as part of transactional work, or within the legal profession.

3. Students will critically analyze and evaluate legal systems and sources of law, apply advanced electronic research techniques, manage complex legal projects, and implement comprehensive strategies for civil discovery processes.

To complete the Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies, students must:

1. Complete Program Prerequisites of either:

A. An associate degree in Paralegal from a regionally accredited institution; or

B. A State of California approved Paralegal Certificate from a regionally accredited institution, with any associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

2. Complete General Education Requirements: Either complete IGETC lower division general education coursework, or CSU GE Breadth lower division general education coursework.

3. Complete Upper Division General Education Requirements: A minimum of 9 units of Upper Division Level General Education coursework as listed in program information.

4. Complete Major Course Work: Complete all upper division major course requirements as listed.

5. Complete Major Requirements: Complete all upper division course requirements with a grade of “C” or better.

6. Complete any elective courses that are baccalaureate level for a minimum of 120 units. Lower-division courses acceptable towards a baccalaureate degree are designated as CSU transferable or determined to be at the baccalaureate level.

Lower-division courses from other U.S. regionally accredited institutions will be reviewed by a counselor and graduation specialist to determine baccalaureate credit based on course description, comparable content, appropriate prerequisites, or C-ID number.

7. Residence Requirement - At least 12 units of upper division coursework must be completed at East Los Angeles College.

8. All lower-division requirements and pre-requisites must be met before the baccalaureate degree is granted.

Paralegal Studies

None. There are NO CSUs nor UCs offering a Paralegal Studies Bachelor's Degree. The nearest community college offering a Paralegal Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree is Santa Ana College in Orange County, which launched its program this year (2024).

25 per year

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