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Legal Studies

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degree

A.A. in Paralegal Studies

This degree prepares students to work in the legal field as an entry-level paralegal. It covers basic substantive and procedural areas including civil litigation, legal research and legal writing, contracts, and torts. This degree is in full compliance with California Business and Professions Code section 6450 regarding preparation for work in this field.

Students must complete 30 units of legal specialty courses, 9 of which must be completed through synchronous instruction. In addition, the American Bar Association (ABA) has specific requirements for 18 units of additional non-paralegal coursework (ABA Breadth). Students are encouraged to consult a counselor or the department chair for courses that satisfy the ABA Breadth requirements.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
LA 300 Introduction to Law and the American Legal System 3
LA 310 Civil Procedures and Litigation 3
LA 312 Torts and Personal Injury 3
LA 314 Contract Law 3
LA 320 Legal Research 3
LA 321 Legal Writing 3
LA 350 Law Office Management 3
A minimum of 9 units from the following: 9
LA 322 Advanced Legal Research and Writing (3)
LA 330 Family Law and Procedure (3)
LA 332 Administrative Law and Procedure (3)
LA 334 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
LA 336 Immigration Law (3)
LA 342 Evidence (3)
LA 352 Legal Technology (3)
LA 360 Corporations Law (3)
LA 362 Estate Planning and Probate Procedure (3)
LA 364 Landlord Tenant Law (3)
LA 365 Legal Clinic (3)
LA 366 Basic Bankruptcy Law (3)
LA 368 Workers' Compensation Law (3)
LA 498 Work Experience in Legal Assisting (0.5 - 4)
A minimum of 18 units from the following: 18
ABA Breadth: Courses from at least three different areas of the transfer level AA/AS, CSU GE, or IGETC patterns or any transfer level course, excluding performance courses, activity courses, administration of justice courses, and the lab component of science courses.
Total Units: 48

The Paralegal Studies Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local ARC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • incorporate basic legal theories in various substantive areas of law as required by a supervising attorney.
  • define and use legal terminology accurately and appropriately.
  • differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information and evidence.
  • research relevant legal authority.
  • verify the currency of relevant legal authority.
  • draft correspondence to be sent to clients or opposing counsel and others.
  • prepare basic legal documents for signature and submission to court by the supervising attorney.
  • organize professional assignments efficiently.
  • support the supervising attorney in all phases of legal practice.
  • demonstrate ethical behavior in the legal setting.
  • recognize acts that may constitute the unlicensed practice of law.
  • express their thoughts effectively, both orally and in writing, with attorneys and clients.

Career Information

Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. They usually work full time, and some may have to work more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines. About 45,800 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Certificates of Achievement

Law Office Clerical Assistant Certificate

This certificate provides the skills needed for entry-level clerical positions in law offices. The course work emphasizes workforce skills including an introduction to the use of terms particular to the legal field.

This Law Office Clerical Assistant certificate is not approved by the American Bar Association and does not prepare students to work as paralegals or legal assistants under California state law.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
BUS 312 Workplace Behavior and Ethics 3
BUSTEC 100.1 Keyboarding Skills: Beginning (1) 1
   or BUSTEC 300.1 Keyboarding/Applications: Beginning (1)
BUSTEC 100.2 Keyboarding Skills: Intermediate (1) 1
   or BUSTEC 300.2 Keyboarding/Applications: Document Formatting (1)
BUSTEC 305 Introduction to Business Information Technology 3
BUSTEC 310 Introduction to Word/Information Processing 3
LA 300 Introduction to Law and the American Legal System 3
LA 350 Law Office Management 3
Total Units: 17

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • demonstrate keyboarding competence in the legal workplace.
  • solve common office problems using current business technology and software applications.
  • practice effective communication with law office personnel and clients.
  • apply appropriate ethical standards to the special situations encountered in a law office.
  • produce written documents in appropriate formats using typical legal office technology.

Career Information

Typical career opportunities are entry-level clerical positions in a law office. In order to earn an A.A. or a Certificate to become a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, see the Legal Studies Program requirements in the Behavior and Social Sciences Division.


Paralegal Studies Certificate

Students must possess an A.A. degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution to be eligible for the certificate. The Paralegal Studies Certificate is a one-year course of study consisting of 30 units of legal specialty courses and a minimum of 9 units must be completed through synchronous instruction. Legal courses cover basic substantive and procedural areas including civil litigation, legal research and legal writing, contracts, and torts, in addition to electives within the program. This certificate is in full compliance with California Business and Professions Code section 6450 regarding preparation for work in this field.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
LA 300 Introduction to Law and the American Legal System 3
LA 310 Civil Procedures and Litigation 3
LA 312 Torts and Personal Injury 3
LA 314 Contract Law 3
LA 320 Legal Research 3
LA 321 Legal Writing 3
LA 350 Law Office Management 3
A minimum of 9 units from the following: 9
LA 322 Advanced Legal Research and Writing (3)
LA 330 Family Law and Procedure (3)
LA 332 Administrative Law and Procedure (3)
LA 334 Criminal Law and Procedure (3)
LA 336 Immigration Law (3)
LA 342 Evidence (3)
LA 352 Legal Technology (3)
LA 360 Corporations Law (3)
LA 362 Estate Planning and Probate Procedure (3)
LA 363 Public Benefits Clinic (3)
LA 364 Landlord Tenant Law (3)
LA 365 Legal Clinic (3)
LA 366 Basic Bankruptcy Law (3)
LA 368 Workers' Compensation Law (3)
LA 498 Work Experience in Legal Assisting (0.5 - 4)
Total Units: 30

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • incorporate basic legal theories in various substantive areas of law as required by a supervising attorney.
  • define and use legal terminology accurately and appropriately.
  • differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information and evidence.
  • research relevant legal authority.
  • verify the currency of relevant legal authority.
  • draft correspondence to be sent to clients or opposing counsel and others.
  • prepare basic legal documents for signature and submission to court by the supervising attorney.
  • organize professional assignments efficiently.
  • support the supervising attorney in all phases of legal practice.
  • demonstrate ethical behavior in the legal setting.
  • recognize acts that may constitute the unlicensed practice of law.
  • express their thoughts effectively, both orally and in writing, with attorneys and clients.

Career Information

Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. They usually work full time, and some may have to work more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines. About 45,800 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.