Click on link to get a pdf brochure: Program Brochure
This American Bar Association (ABA) approved program is designed to prepare the student to work in a paraprofessional capacity as an assistant to an attorney in a law firm, governmental agency or corporation. The paralegal performs many tasks normally handled by an attorney, such as preparing forms and pleadings, interviewing clients and witnesses, legal research and document organization. Strong English skills, computer knowledge and good organizational skills are an asset in this profession.
This program is not designed to prepare students for the practice of law.
Students will be able to:
- Make ethical decisions in the workplace
- Students will complete the Para 121 Ethics class
- Students will incorporate ethical standards in the Law Office Management class through problem solving and discussion board discussions.
- Students will complete the Para 121 Ethics class
- Understand legal concepts
- Students will demonstrate legal concepts in the legal specialty classes through examination and practical exercises.
- Students will draft law office memorandum and appellate briefs in the Advanced Legal writing class incorporating analysis of legal concepts.
- Students will demonstrate legal concepts in the legal specialty classes through examination and practical exercises.
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Students will draft law office memorandum.
- Students will use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Students will create client correspondence.
- Students will draft law office memorandum.
- Be proficient in using legal technology
- Students will demonstrate the use of the Microsoft suite (Word, PowerPoint and Excel) in their completion of assignments.
- Students will complete assignments using legal specific software.
- Students will demonstrate the use of the Microsoft suite (Word, PowerPoint and Excel) in their completion of assignments.
- Exhibit critical thinking skills
- Students will analyze cases related to the legal specialty classes.
- Students will analyze fact patters to demonstrate the application of legal concepts to fact patterns.
- Students will analyze cases related to the legal specialty classes.
The Paralegal program at Santa Ana College is an ABA approved program that meets the requirements of California Business and Professions code 6450.
State Requirements may be found on the California State Bar Web page located at http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp
Note: This American Bar Association approved program is not intended to prepare the student for the practice of law. Paralegals are not allowed to practice law in the state of California. This program is intended to prepare the student to perform legal services under the direct supervision of an active member of the California State Bar as set forth in the Business and Professions code and the Rules of Professional Responsibility which may be reviewed on the California State Bar WEB site.
The following excerpt is from the Santa Ana College Catalog which may be viewed at http://sac.edu.
PARALEGAL DEGREE (SAC 0523)
Paralegal Certificate (SAC 1799)
The American Bar Association specifies that a student must complete a minimum of 18 semester units of ABA approved general education courses in the areas of language and composition, mathematics, social science and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, humanities and the arts. This excludes courses in physical education, 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.
In addition to the required core courses listed above, students must select one of the 4 alternatives below: GENERALIST ALTERNATIVE Select 9 units of legal electives. LITIGATION SPECIALTY ALTERNATIVE Course Units *Paralegal 131, Alternate Dispute Resolution 2 *Paralegal 137, Tort & Insurance Law 2 Legal electives 5 TRANSACTIONAL SPECIALTY ALTERNATIVE Course Units Business 101, Business Law OR 3 Business 105, Legal Environment of Business *Paralegal 136, Real Property Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 138, Law of Business Organizations 2 Legal electives 2 INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY ALTERNATIVE Course Units *Paralegal 136, Real Property Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 138, Law of Business Organizations 2 *Paralegal 140, Immigration Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 147, International Commercial Agreements 1 & Distribution Law *Paralegal 148, International Intellectual Property Law 1 *Paralegal 149, The Law of Global Commerce 1 Legal Electives: Business 101, Business Law OR 3 Business 105, Legal Environment of Business Paralegal 101, Law Office Management 2 Paralegal 105, Cooperative Work Experience Education-Occupational 1-4 Paralegal 107, Principles & Procedures in the Criminal Justice System 3 *Paralegal 122, Elder Law 2 *Paralegal 131, Alternate Dispute Resolution 2 *Paralegal 132, Family Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 133, Workers? Compensation Law & Procedure 2 82 *Paralegal 134, Probate Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 135, Bankruptcy Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 136, Real Property Law & Procedure 2 *Paralegal 137, Tort & Insurance Law 2 *Paralegal 138, Law of Business Organizations 2 *Paralegal 139, Fundamentals of Labor Law 2 *Paralegal 147, International Commercial Agreements 1 & Distribution Law *Paralegal 148, International Intellectual Property Law 1 *Paralegal 149, The Law of Global Commerce 1 Paralegal 299, Cooperative Work Experience Education 1-4
A Paralegal Certificate is available only to students who have received an Associate in Arts or Science Degree or Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree from an accredited college or university. The student must meet the eighteen semester units of ABA approved courses in the areas of language and composition, mathematics, social science and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, humanities and the arts. Major requirements for students seeking the degree and certificate.
Required Core Courses for all Students:
Note: 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 this requirement are marked with an asterisk (*).
Note: Students must have successfully completed or be concurrently enrolled in Para 100 to enroll in the Legal Specialty courses. Students must have successfully completed Para 246 (Research) prior to enrolling in Para 248 and 144 (Civil Litigation) prior to Para 144 (Discovery). Students may enroll in Para 143 and 144 in the same semester so long as they complete the Para 143 class prior to the start of the Para 144 class. See your counselor for more information.
Paralegal 100, Introduction to Paralegal Studies 3
Paralegal 120, Computers in the Law Office 4
Paralegal 121, Ethics for the Paralegal 2
Paralegal 130, Legal Transactions 3
*Paralegal 143, Civil Litigation Overview 2
*Paralegal 144, Discovery Techniques 2
Paralegal 246, Legal Research & Analysis 4
Paralegal 248, Advanced Research & Writing 3
SPECIALTY REQUIREMENTS
