Paralegal Studies Certificate

The Paralegal Studies Certificate prepares students to assist attorneys as paralegals (legal assistants) in administrative agencies, corporations, insurance companies, private law firms, government, and other legal environments. Emphasis is on training students in both civil and criminal matters. Some of the services that the paralegal (legal assistant) provides are legal research, development of law office systems, client interviews, drafts pleadings, briefing cases, legal calendaring, preparing discovery for litigated cases, preparing wills and trusts, maintaining corporate records and minutes. This program has been approved by the American Bar Association.

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1.     Demonstrate paralegal skills and completion of paralegal tasks including case management and an understanding of the client relationship.

2.     Exemplify the oral and written communication skills necessary to be a competent paralegal.

3.     Develop employment-ready skills to secure and maintain work in the legal environment

Paralegal Studies Certificate

In order to be eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies, a student must (1) be a graduate of an accredited high school, or have a G.E.D., and (2) successfully complete, with a grade of C or better, a total of 60 units, which includes the 32 units of Paralegal core requirements and 28 units of General Education and Paralegal electives as specified under item #2 and item #3 below.

 

NOTE: A Paralegal (Legal Assistant) may not engage in, encourage, or contribute to any act which could constitute the unauthorized practice of law.

 

Effective: Academic Year 2022-2023

 

1. Required Paralegal core courses listed below (32 units):
Bus 12A, Business Law (3 units)
Plgl 134, Introduction to Paralegal Studies (3 units)
Plgl 135, Wills, Trusts, and Probate Administration (3 units)
Plgl 137, Legal Writing and Drafting (3 units)
Plgl 138, Paralegal Studies Field Practice (4 units)
Plgl 139, Tort Law and Claims Investigation (3 units)
Plgl 141, Civil and Criminal Evidence (3 units)
Plgl 142, Law Office Procedure and Ethics (3 units)
Plgl 145A, Legal Research (3 units)

Plgl 145B, Computer Aided Research (1 units)
Plgl 146, Computer Use for the Law Office (2 units)
Plgl 150, Workforce Preparation Seminar (1 unit)

 

Note:

·      Those students enrolling in the Paralegal Studies program who have earned at least an associate of arts or science degree from an accredited postsecondary institution, recognized by PCC, need to complete only the Paralegal Studies core courses listed under #1 above. The remaining course requirements under item #2 and #3 below have been satisfied by their degree award and are not required.

·      If the earned associate degree is an associate of applied science or equivalent occupational or vocational degree, please see a counselor to verify that the GE course requirements under item #2 and #3 have been satisfied.

 

 

2. 18 units of General Education course work consisting of:
a. English composition – ENGL 001A/001AH
b. Courses from at least three of the following disciplines: social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, foreign language, and English.
c. Courses may be selected from the student’s choice of GE pattern: CSU GE, IGETC, or PCC Local GE.
d. The following GE courses are not accepted, per ABA GE guidelines: BUS 014A, BUS 014B, CS 006, and CIS 062.

Note: Courses taken to complete the 18 units required for item #2 may not be used to satisfy any of the elective General Education course selections listed under #3 below.

It is strongly recommended that students complete the General Education course requirements prior to taking the legal specialty courses under item #1.

3. 10 elective units, chosen from the following two areas of elective courses (any combination of General Education or Paralegal Studies Elective courses are permitted):

a. If student is pursuing an Associate of Science Degree, it is recommended to choose the 10 elective units from their selected GE pattern: CSU GE, IGETC, or PCC Local GE.

b. If student is pursing the Certificate ONLY, it is recommended to choose the 10 elective units from the list of Paralegal Studies Elective courses below:

Paralegal Studies Elective courses:
Bus 12B, Business Law (3 units)
Plgl 136, Property Law, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights (3 units)
Plgl 140, Family Law and Dissolution Procedures (3 units)
Plgl 143, Workers’ Compensation Law (3 units)

Plgl 147, Introduction to E-Discovery (2 units)
Plgl 148, Immigration Law (3 units)

 

4. To earn an Associate of Science Degree, the remaining associate degree requirements must be completed for the chosen GE pattern.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
BUS 12A	Business Law	3	S1
PLGL 134	Introduction to Paralegal Studies	3	S1
PLGL 135	Wills, Trusts, Probate Administration	3	S1
PLGL 139	Tort Law and Claims Investigation	3	S1
PLGL 137	Legal Writing and Drafting	3	S2
PLGL 146	Computer Use for the Law Office	2	S2
PLGL 138	Paralegal Studies Field Practice	4	S2
PLGL 141	Civil and Criminal Evidence	3	S3
PLGL 142	Law Office Procedures and Ethics	3	S3
PLGL 145A	Legal Research	3	S3
PLGL 145B	Computer Aided Legal Research	1	S3
PLGL 150	Paralegal Studies: Workforce Preparation Seminar	1	S3

The Paralegal Studies Certificate program has been offered on our campus since 1972 and has generated many certificates for our students. There is an Administration of Justice Associate in Science Degree (and Degree for Transfer) as well as a Certificate. In addition, there is a Law, Public Policy and Society Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer. The Paralegal Certificate is unique as it is an American Bar Association (ABA) approved Paralegal program.

The listed community colleges below are those with similar programs. Despite the number of colleges offering paralegal studies, the LMI data shows that demand exceeds the current supply of awards conferred annually by education institutions in the region. Moreover, not all of the programs in the area offer ABA approved paralegal programs. Cerritos Paralegal Compton Paralegal East LA Paralegal El Camino Paralegal LA City Paralegal LA Mission Paralegal LA Southwest Paralegal LA Trade Paralegal Mt San Antonio Paralegal West LA Paralegal

2018-2019 2019-2020 CB01: Course Department Number CB02: Course Title Annual # Sections Annual Enrollment Total Annual # Sections Annual Enrollment Total BUS 12A Business Law 32 1,175 31 1,164 PLGL 134 Introduction to Paralegal Studies 6 153 6 178 PLGL 135 Wills, Trusts, Probate Administration 4 99 4 123 PLGL 139 Tort Law and Claims Investigation 4 86 4 96 PLGL 137 Legal Writing and Drafting 2 65 3 91 PLGL 146 Computer Use for the Law Office 2 96 3 58 PLGL 138 Paralegal Studies Field Practice 4 69 4 85 PLGL 141 Civil and Criminal Evidence 2 89 2 67 PLGL 142 Law Office Procedure and Ethics 2 72 2 72 PLGL 145A Legal Research 2 79 2 93 PLGL 145B Computer Aided Legal Research 2 54 3 72 PLGL 150 Paralegal Studies: Workforce Preparation Seminar 3 45 3 56