Paralegal

Summary

Paralegals assist attorneys in providing quality legal services to clients. The Paralegal program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to assist lawyers in the practice of law.*

The curriculum focuses on building strong research, writing, and analytical skills, while stressing the ethical framework of the law. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to work in a variety of legal settings including law firms, corporations, and government agencies. All paralegal courses have a practical component, allowing students to practice the legal theories taught in the classroom.

The Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association.

*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. California prohibits the practice of law by non-lawyers.

Campus Residency The Paralegal Program has been extremely cautious in its acceptance of transfer specialty credit from other institutions. All students must complete 18 units in the major on Miramar’s campus. Entering students from accredited paralegal institutions may transfer up to 12 credits towards their major. Legal courses completed more than 6 years may not meet the current curriculum requirements and/or the current laws and procedures and thus may not be accepted as transfer or current credit.

Academic Programs The Paralegal program offers both an Associate in Science Degree and a Certificate of Achievement in compliance with the American Bar Association (ABA).

The Certificate of Achievement option is available to students entering the program who have completed all general education core requirements through coursework received by either an Associate degree or a Bachelor’s degree. The Certificate of Achievement requires completion of the core courses (21 units) and paralegal elective courses (9 units) for a total of 30 units. Up to 3 units of approved law-related courses may be substituted for paralegal electives.

Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Paralegal Program will be able to:

1. Recognize the ethical implications of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues that arise in legal work environments and apply rules of professional conduct to resolve them.
2. Recognize the ethical issues that arise in a legal work environment and apply rules of professional conduct to resolve them.
3. Apply basic principles of legal analysis.
4. Perform legal research using both printed and electronic sources.
5. Perform the duties of an entry level paralegal in a law firm or other legal work setting.
6. Use computers and other technology for document production, law office management, and trial preparation.
7. Demonstrate written skills that paralegals use on the job.

Requirements