Paralegal

Program Code: SAC.PARA.AA

Program Control Number: 10629

This American Bar Association (ABA) approved program is designed to qualify students to work as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant as defined by section 6450 of the California Business and Professions Code, who are qualified by education, who either contracts with or is employed by an attorney, law firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, and who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California, as defined in Section 6060, or an attorney practicing law in the federal courts of this state, that has been specifically delegated by the attorney to him or her.

This program is not designed to prepare students for the practice of law.

Upon successful completion of the program students will be able to:

1. Make ethical decisions in the workplace
   1. Students will complete the Para 121 Ethics class
   2. Students will incorporate ethical standards in the Law Office Management class through problem solving and discussion board discussions.
2. Understand legal concepts
   1. Students will demonstrate legal concepts in the legal specialty classes through examination and practical exercises.
   2. Students will draft law office memorandum and appellate briefs in the Advanced Legal writing class incorporating analysis of legal concepts.
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing
   1. Students will draft law office memorandum.
   2. Students will use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
   3. Students will create client correspondence.
4. Be proficient in using legal technology
   1. Students will demonstrate the use of the Microsoft suite (Word, PowerPoint and Excel) in their completion of assignments.
   2. Students will complete assignments using legal specific software.
5. Have the tools necessary to obtain employment in their field of study in a timely manner.

All courses must be passed with a C grade or better with the exception of PARA 297, which is pass/no pass.

Paralegal Degree (sac.para.aa)

Specific General Education Requirements for the degree:

The ABA additionally specifies that a student must complete a minimum of 18 semester units of ABA approved general education courses from at least 3 disciplines in the areas of language and composition, mathematics, social science and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, humanities and the arts. This excludes courses in kinesiology, counseling, performing arts, accounting, computer science, technical writing, business mathematics, keyboarding, and business law. Students are urged to seek counseling prior to enrollment to insure that college general education choices satisfy this requirement.

Major requirements for students seeking the degree: Students must complete the program within 5 years or repeat any legal specialty courses which were completed more than 5 years prior to graduation. Legal specialty courses subject to these requirements are marked with an asterisk (*). The ABA requires the degree to have a minimum of 60 semester units. In addition to meeting the ABA general education and unit requirements, students are required to meet the AA degree requirements as set forth in the current catalog.

Learning Outcome(s):

1. Students will be able to make ethical decisions in the workplace
2. Students will be able to understand legal concepts.
3. Students will be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
4. Students will be proficient in using legal technology.
5. Students will have the tools necessary to obtain employment in their field of study in a timely manner.