Paralegal Studies -- Certificate of Achievement Advanced -- Litigation Concentration

The Paralegal Studies Certificate of Achievement-Advanced -- Litigation Concentration prepares students to work under the supervision of an attorney in a litigation practice, in-house (corporate) legal department, government agency, or non-profit organization. Paralegal duties in a litigation practice include performing factual and legal research; drafting legal documents and correspondence; interviewing clients and witnesses; assisting attorneys in pretrial work, including document discovery and analysis; assisting attorneys at trials and hearings; organizing and maintaining case files, and coordinating the use of technology in legal work.      

10-15 for the first year

The Certificate of Achievement Advanced -- Litigation Concentration will be available only to Paralegal Studies students who currently possess an Associate degree or higher. This certificate option will offer students the necessary training and knowledge to enter or advance their careers in the legal field with firms specializing in Litigation practice. This Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students for employment opportunities within this highly specialized area of law. De Anza College's Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The number of credits required to earn a Certificate of Achievement Advanced -- Litigation Concentration conforms with the ABA-established guidelines. The current Certificate of Achievement Advanced in Paralegal Studies requires a student to complete 48 quarter units.

 

The purpose of the Certificate of Achievement Advanced -- Litigation Concentration is to prepare students to enter the workforce in this specialized area of law, while still obtaining the required general knowledge and skills for the paralegal profession.

The Certificate of Achievement-Advanced -- Litigation Concentration program is part of De Anza College's existing Paralegal Studies program. This new certificate offering focuses on one specific area of legal practice. The Bay Area has a high demand for litigation paraprofessionals in the non-profit, government, and private sectors. At this time, there is no other community college in the region that offers a Paralegal certificate focused on litigation practice.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
PARA 067	Law Office Management for Paralegals	2	Y1
PARA 088	The Paralegal and Professional Responsibility	2	Y1
PARA 086	Legal Analysis	4	Y1
PARA 094	Introduction to California Law	4	Y1
PARA 095	Overview of American Law	4	Y2
PARA 096A	Introduction to Legal Research and Writing	4	Y2
PARA 097A	Civil Litigation Procedures	4	Y2
PARA 097B		4	Y2

None

The Certificate of Achievement-Advanced -- Litigation Concentration program is part of De Anza College's existing Paralegal Studies program. This new certificate offering focuses on one specific area of legal practice. The Bay Area has a high demand for litigation legal paraprofessionals in the non-profit, government, and private sectors. At this time, there is no other community college in the region that offers a certificate focused on litigation practice. The following is an overview of the Paralegal programs offered by community colleges in the South Bay and Peninsula regions. West Valley College's Paralegal program is ABA-approved, requiring 35-semester units in order to earn a certificate. Skyline College and City College of San Francisco also offer ABA-approved Paralegal certificate and degree programs. In addition to programs offered at community college, CSU East Bay Continuing Education and San Francisco State University College of Extended Learning offer ABA-approved Paralegal programs. It should be noted that the cost is significantly higher than those offered by community colleges.