Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies Certificate of Achievement

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Upon successful completion of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Certificate of Achievement program, the student will be prepared to work as a Paralegal (Legal Assistant) and legal support professional in a variety of settings, including in administrative agencies, corporations, government, insurance companies, nonprofit organizations, private law firms, and 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. Please note: Paralegals (Legal Assistants) may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law—a Paralegal (Legal Assistant) may not engage in, encourage, or contribute to any act which could constitute the unauthorized 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. Students must have previously earned a baccalaureate degree or an associate of arts or science degree from an accredited postsecondary institution to be eligible for the certificate. If a student has not previously earned a baccalaureate degree or an associate of arts or science degree from an accredited postsecondary institution, the student should complete the requirements for the associate of science degree in Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies instead. Students who do not already have a bachelor’s degree are strongly encouraged to plan on earning one. In compliance with California Business and Professions Code section 6450 regarding preparation for work in this field, this certificate consists of a minimum of 31 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:

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.
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.
Demonstrate technology skills appropriate to work successfully as a paralegal/legal assistant.

Core Requirements

Complete 28 units

LAW 2 Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Assisting, and Law Office Administration Units: 3
LAW 3 Paralegal/Legal Assistant Professional Responsibility, Communications, and Ethics Units: 3
LAW 4 Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing Units: 3
LAW 5 Law Office Technology, Computer Use, and Legal Document Production Units: 3
LAW 6 Advanced Electronic Legal Research and Technology Units: 3
LAW 7 Civil Litigation: Law and Procedure Units: 3
LAW 8 Criminal Litigation: Law and Procedure Units: 3
LAW 9 Transactions: Law and Practice Units: 3
LAW 10 The Professional Paralegal/Legal Assistant Units: 3
LAW 68V Internship: Paralegal/Legal Assistant Program Units: 1-4

Restricted Electives

Complete 3 units selected from:

LAW 11 Administrative Law and Practice Units: 3
LAW 12 Land Use Planning, Development, and Environmental Law and Policy Units: 3
LAW 13 Conflict Analysis and Alternative Dispute Resolution Law and Practice Units: 3
LAW 14 Constitutional Law Units: 3
LAW 16 Introduction to Social Justice: Law and Social Change Units: 3
LAW 20 Mock Trial Team Units: 1-3

Note:

Students must earn a “C” grade in each course requirement, as well as an overall certificate applicable GPA of 2.0 plus be in “good standing” at Delta College in order to earn the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Studies certificate. Students must complete at least ten semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction, and the remaining units may be completed online or in hybrid format. Students must complete the program within 5 years or repeat any legal specialty courses which were completed more than 5 years prior to graduation. Any potential award of credit through transfer, examination or portfolio must be approved by the program director or a qualified faculty member to ensure that the credit can be classified as legal specialty, meets the course objectives and practical skills to be developed for the course for which credit is being awarded, meets the needs of the legal community the program serves, and is comparable to course work offered within the program. The following additional limitations apply to courses accepted for credit by transfer, examination, or portfolio: 1. No more than 6 semester units may be used toward legal specialty (LAW) courses; 2. Only traditional, in-person courses in which the student earned a “C” or better may be used (no online courses will be accepted); and 3. Only courses from ABA-approved paralegal programs may be used.

Minimum Units Required: 31

Complete all courses with a grade of “C” or better.

For more information:

Contact the Business and Law Transfer and Career Pathway (TrAC)