Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies Certificate of Achievement

Upon successful completion of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate of Achievement program, the student will be qualified to work in California as a Paralegal (Legal Assistant) and legal support professional in a variety of settings, including administrative agencies, corporations, government, insurance companies, nonprofit organizations, and especially private law firms or other legal environments. This certificate program is specifically designed to provide students with the analytical abilities, oral and written communication skills, technological proficiency, and legal competency necessary to assist attorneys in the practice of law. The student will take academic courses to complete the requirements to become a paralegal according to California law. The student will receive a breadth of training in litigation and transactional practices, as well as administrative, civil, and criminal law and procedures in a variety of legal specialties. Topics embedded in most courses in the program include Paralegal (Legal Assistant) skills and practices, technology use, research, writing, oral communication, legal document production, ethics, and professional responsibility and development. In compliance with California Business and Professions Code section 6450 regarding preparation for work in this field, this certificate consists of a minimum of 24 units of law-related legal specialty courses that can be completed in one year.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate substantive legal knowledge and practical skills for positions as paralegals/legal assistants as a means of improving their own quality of life and the accessibility, quality and affordability of legal services for the people of the State of California.
2. Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills to produce legal documents, to ethically and effectively interact with others, and to complete tasks performed by paralegal/legal assistants.
3. Demonstrate technology skills appropriate to work successfully as a paralegal/legal assistant.