Legal Assisting (Paralegal)
11 courses · Antelope Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PARL 100 Introduction to Law and Ethics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the court system, attorney and judicial rules, personal and substantive jurisdiction, trial procedures, and law office ethics.
PARL 101 Civil Litigation I
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
In this class, students will understand how to prepare a civil case, including initial investigation, opening pleadings, attack on the pleadings, discovery, trial prep documents, summary judgments, and appeal paperwork.
PARL 102 Civil Litigation II
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Prerequisite
- PARL 101 In this class, students will learn about preparing a civil case, opening pleadings, attack on the pleadings, discovery, trial preparation documents, the rules of evidence, and the process of appeal.
- Transfers to
- CSU
PARL 103 Contracts
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students will learn the formation of a contract, bilateral/unilateral agreements, statute of frauds, third-party rights, execution of an agreement, defenses to enforcement, and document preparation about contract formation, bilateral/unilateral agreements, statutes of fraud, third-party rights, and document preparation.
PARL 104 Torts
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students will understand substantive civil laws, personal injury laws, negligence and intentional torts, strict liability, and remedies.
PARL 105 Family Law
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students will understand how pleadings, restraining order requests, preparation of financial documents, child custody requests, and trial briefs are processed.
PARL 106 Real Property
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Upon completion of the course, the student will have a detailed knowledge of the laws of real property, land use, property ownership rules, landlord-tenant laws, financing, purchasing and selling real property, and the power of the state in eminent domain. Important court cases on real property will be studied. Students will be able to apply these concepts to factual examples.
PARL 107 Wills, Trusts, and Probate
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students will learn the rules of creating valid Wills and Trusts. They will also explore intestacy and explain the various types of these instruments. They will study the duties of Trustees and the various types of Trusts. Finally, they will present the process of Probate Court.
PARL 108 Criminal Litigation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students will understand the various categories of criminal acts, be able to apply relevant defenses and use creative thinking to resolve issues related to the prosecution of crime.
PARL 109 Legal Research and Law Office Technology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 lecture hours, 54 lab hours, 90 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
This class introduces students to the core function of legal research and the use of modern tools in creating researched documents. Research is part of the basic day-to-day work of a Paralegal in a client-based law firm, Court, Government office or corporation. In this class the student will learn to find authority to solve legal problems in favor of the client or answer questions of concern to an attorney. Computer competency and use of common law office software and knowledgeable research methodology using modern research tools is the goal of the class.
PARL 110 Legal Analysis and Writing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 lecture hours, 54 lab hours, 90 contact hours total
- Prerequisite
- PARL 109 This course mirrors the actual work done by paralegals in modern law firms.
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students are given assignments and fact patterns and tasked with document creation. Strong research and English skills are required. Successful class completion should demonstrate the skill level necessary for employment as a paralegal. Fact patterns are provided by the instructor.