# Paralegal (PARA) courses San Diego Miramar College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 23 courses Source: https://sdccd.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/20814/20885/20887/20815/20866 "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027. ### PARA 100 — Introduction to Law and Ethics - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 3 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 100 or LEGL 100A and LEGL 100B or PARA 100A and PARA 100B or BUSE 180 or ADJU 105 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This introductory course for students entering the Paralegal program provides an overview of the paralegal's role in the workplace and legal system as well as the various legal specialties offered within the Paralegal program. Topics include controversies within the profession, ethics and responsibilities, sources of law, the federal and state court systems, civil litigation, and an introduction to law office technology, legal writing and research, and legal specialty areas. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 105 — Legal Research - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 105, ADJU 107, or BUSE 181. - Grading: Letter Grade Only This core course introduces students to legal research. Topics include research methods; primary and secondary sources; official and unofficial opinions; binding and persuasive authority; the Shepard's system of validating cases and statutes; internet research; and an introduction to LexisNexis and Westlaw. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 110 — Legal Writing & Communications - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Prerequisite:** PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 110 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This paralegal core course covers legal writing and oral communication. Topics include case analysis, legal reasoning, brief writing, legal memoranda, reports, and correspondence. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 115 — Civil Litigation - Procedures - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 109, LEGL 115, or BUSE 183 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to the civil litigation process. Students examine the basic principles of civil procedures as applicable to both plaintiffs and defendants in the California court system. Other topics include jurisdiction, venue, discovery, and preparation of pleadings. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 120 — Tort Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 120, ADJU 110, or BUSE 184 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This core course introduces students to the broad area of civil wrongs and their appropriate remedies. Topics include tort law principles in the traditional areas of intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, product liability, nuisance, and commonly employed defenses. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 140 — Law Office Technology - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or PARA 221 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 140 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course examines systems and procedures for the use of law office technology. Students learn how paralegals use computer systems and legal software applications to make their jobs easier and improve their value to employers. Topics include personnel issues; file management; computer systems; timekeeping and billing; case management, calendaring, and docket control; litigation support; and legal ethics. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or others interested in law office technology. ### PARA 145 — Federal Court Practices and Procedures - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 145, ADJU 112, or BUSE 186 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course presents legal practices and procedures utilized in federal court. Topics include criminal, civil, bankruptcy, and appellate procedures. The course emphasizes rules of practice to help students develop the skills legal assistants utilize in law offices. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 150 — Criminal Litigation and Procedure - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 150, ADJU 113, or BUSE 187 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course provides students with an understanding of criminal litigation practice and procedure. Topics include the criminal court system; criminal investigation and prosecution; discovery and investigation; pre-trial motions; trial preparation and procedures; and post-trial motions and relief. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 155 — Employment Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** PARA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 155 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course provides an overview of the legal relationship between employer and employee. It also provides a basic understanding of employment-related laws and the impact those laws have on employers and employees. Students learn about both the federal and state regulatory environment as it applies to employment law. Topics include pre-employment concerns; legal aspects of the employer/employee relationship; discrimination issues and actions; terminations; and ethical issues in employment law. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in employment law. ### PARA 160 — Bankruptcy Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent; Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or PARA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 160 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to bankruptcy law and procedures. Topics include commencement of a case; preparation of schedules; operation and liquidation procedures; adversary matters; litigation in bankruptcy court; and debtors' and creditors' rights and obligations. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in bankruptcy law. ### PARA 165 — Family Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 165 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to domestic relations law and its application to family situations. Topics include formation of the marital relationship; dissolution; child custody and support; adoption; abortion; paternity; and domestic violence. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in family law. ### PARA 170 — Corporate Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 170 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to the various forms of business enterprises, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. The course focuses on the legal steps and forms needed to create, maintain, and dissolve each type of business, but with an emphasis on corporations. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in corporate law. ### PARA 175 — Estates, Trusts, and Wills - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 175 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course is an introduction to the responsibilities and duties that paralegals perform under estate attorney supervision. Topics include estate administration legal principles; terminology; procedural steps; and current federal and state tax consequences. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or others interested in estate administration. ### PARA 180 — Contract Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 180 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course provides students with the knowledge and skills for drafting and interpreting different types of contracts. Topics include elements of a contract, performance and breach issues, defenses to formation and enforcement, contract remedies, and third-party contracts. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal. ### PARA 200 — Elder Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or PARA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 200 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to legal issues that affect older people. Topics include financial and estate planning; health care; personal planning and protection; and consumer protection. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or those seeking employment in law firms handling elder law and senior care housing facilities. ### PARA 205 — Environmental Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 205 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course introduces students to the emerging field of environmental law through a critical review of basic legal concepts and their social, economic, and environmental effects. Topics include various sources of environmental law; legal remedies; planning acts; environmental protection acts; environmental assessment acts; and hearing boards and their operation. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in environmental law. ### PARA 210 — Immigration Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** PARA 105 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 210 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course provides an overview of the laws of immigration and naturalization. Topics include the history of immigration, the evolution of this country's policies toward aliens, and the interplay of the three administrative agencies which administer immigration and naturalization laws: the Justice Department, Labor Department, and State Department. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in immigration law. ### PARA 220 — Intellectual Property Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 220 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This legal specialty course provides the student with an in-depth analysis of the law pertaining to the fields of intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and unfair competition. The methods by which each topic is created and protected will also be explored. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in intellectual property law. ### PARA 221 — Legal Secretary Skills and Procedure - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Advisory:** PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for CBTE 221 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course is an introduction and orientation to the law office and procedures according to federal and state legal systems. Topics include the structure of the courts; law office practices and procedures; legal terminology and vocabulary; preparation of court documents; and an introduction to legal research, legal calendaring, and client contact. This course is designed to prepare students for a position in a law office or law related field. ### PARA 225 — Real Estate Law - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 48 - 54 hours lecture - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 225 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This legal specialty elective course is an introduction to real estate law and practice. Topics include property rights; types of land ownership/estates; the effects of easements and rights-of-way on title and use of real estate; agreements for leasing; agreements for sale; financing; conveyancing; title insurance; settlement procedures; recording; and post-closing matters that deal with residential, commercial, condominiums, and planned communities. Ethics will be discussed throughout the course in relation to specific scenarios that may occur during the practice of real estate law. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or anyone interested in real estate law. ### PARA 230 — Consumer Law - **Units:** 1 - **Hours:** 16 - 18 hours lecture - **Advisory:** PARA 120 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and PARA 180 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 230 - Grading: Letter Grade Only This legal specialty course examines issues particular to consumer transactions in formation, substance, and remedies. Topics include common law consumer issues; Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state statutory approaches to consumer protection; constitutional limits on advertising regulation; use of consumer protection statutes in discrimination and civil rights cases; the reach and effectiveness of data breach regulation; Internet-based fraud; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; privacy and identity theft; and spam and spyware. Students examine the evolution of consumer law, its relationship to economic and social policies, and its practical application. This course is intended for students majoring in Paralegal or others interested in consumer law. ### PARA 270 — Paralegal Internship / Work Experience - **Units:** 1-4 - **Hours:** 54 - 216 hours other - **Corequisite:** Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: PARA 100 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/fall-2026/para.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/san-diego-miramar-college/schedule/spring-2027/para.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Obtain Permission Number from Instructor - Grading: Letter Grade Only This course provides career preparation skills and applied learning experiences for students working under the supervision of an attorney in a law office, government agency, or other legal setting. Students develop workplace competencies, critical thinking skills, and problem solving abilities through the creation and achievement of job-related learning objectives. One unit of credit may be earned for every 54 hours of work experience. A maximum of fourteen credit hours for all work experience subject areas may be earned during one enrollment period. ### PARA 290 — Independent Study - **Units:** 1-3 - **Hours:** 48-162 hours other - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: Obtain Permission Number from Instructor - This course is not open to students with previous credit for LEGL 290 - Grading: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass This course is for students who wish to conduct additional research, a special project, or learning activities in a specific discipline/subject area and is not intended to replace an existing course in the discipline. In this course students will have a written contract with their instructor for activities such as: preparing problem analysis, engaging in primary research, preparing reports, and meeting with the instructor at specific intervals.