Paralegal/Legal Assistant (AS Degree S0310)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant program at Mt. SAC prepares students for paralegal roles in both the private and public sectors. The program aligns with the American Bar Association (ABA) definition of a paralegal and involves 30 units of required coursework, including courses in legal analysis, writing, and law office procedures. Students can choose from a variety of required electives to specialize in areas such as property law, family law, or criminal law. The program aims to enhance students' paralegal skills and prepare them to handle basic legal tasks under attorney supervision.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant program aims to prepare students for paralegal roles in both the private and public sectors. It aligns with the American Bar Association (ABA) definition of a paralegal, emphasizing the performance of delegated legal work under the direction of an attorney. Students must comply with California's legal restrictions on non-lawyer practice, outlined in the Business & Professions Code, Section 6450 et seq. The ABA does not recognize certain Mt. SAC courses as general education for this program. Students should select alternative courses from the General Education area to fulfill these requirements.
Outline:
The program involves 30 units of required coursework:
Required Courses:
- PLGL 30: Introduction to Paralegal/Legal (3 units)
- PLGL 31: Legal Analysis and Writing (3 units)
- PLGL 32: Advanced Legal Analysis and Writing (3 units)
- PLGL 33: Civil Procedure (3 units)
- PLGL 34: Law Office Procedures (3 units)
- PLGL 35: Law Office Technology (3 units)
- PLGL 37: Tort Law (3 units)
- PLGL 38: Employment and Ethical Issues in Paralegalism (3 units)
- PLGL 39: Contract Law (3 units)
Required Electives (Choose one course):
- BUSL 18: Business Law (3 units)
- BUSL 19: Advanced Business Law (3 units)
- PLGL 41: Property Law (3 units)
- PLGL 42: Family Law (3 units)
- PLGL 43: Wills and Trusts (3 units)
- PLGL 44: Bankruptcy Law (3 units)
- PLGL 48: Criminal Law and Procedures (3 units)
- PLGL 49: Evidence Law (3 units)
Suggested Course Schedule:
A suggested plan of study (not an official educational plan) is provided with the following breakdown:
- Fall Term 1: PLGL 30, PLGL 31, PLGL 34, ENGL 1A (13 units)
- Winter Term 1: PLGL 37 (3 units)
- Spring Term 1: PLGL 32, PLGL 33, PLGL 35, A/AS MATH (12 units)
- Summer Term 1: A/AS PE, PLGL 39 (4 units)
- Fall Term 2: A/AS HUM, A/AS SCNCE, A/AS AMIST, PLGL 41 OR PLGL 42 OR PLGL 43 OR PLGL 44 OR PLGL 48 OR PLGL 49, BUSL 18 OR BUSL 19 (9 units)
- Winter Term 2: SPCH 1A (4 units)
- Spring Term 2: PLGL 38, A/AS BEH, A/AS ARTS, A/AS SELF (12 units)
Total Units:
57
Assessment:
The program aims to enhance students' paralegal skills and prepare them to handle basic legal tasks under attorney supervision. The assessment measures include:
- Increased Confidence: This outcome is likely assessed through practical exercises, role-playing, and participation in class discussions.
- Document Preparation: Students are expected to demonstrate competency in preparing legal documents like motions and discovery. This might be assessed through projects, written assignments, and simulations.
- Certifications: The program requires students to obtain certifications in LexisAdvance and Westlaw for paralegals.
Teaching:
The teaching methods are not explicitly described in the text. However, it is reasonable to assume that the program employs a variety of approaches, including:
- Lectures: To introduce legal concepts and procedures.
- Case Studies: To apply theory to real-world scenarios.
- Group Work: To foster teamwork and communication skills.
- Practical Exercises: To develop proficiency in legal tasks.
- Technology Integration: To familiarize students with legal databases and software used in paralegal work.
Careers:
The program prepares students for various paralegal roles in:
- Private Law Firms: Assisting attorneys with a wide range of legal matters.
- Government Agencies: Working in legal departments to support legal initiatives.
- Corporations: Supporting in-house legal teams.
Other:
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant program is approved by the American Bar Association. Contact information for the ABA is provided.
Note:
While the context provides a detailed overview of the program and its structure, it does not include specific details about the assessment methods used beyond general expectations or the teaching approaches implemented.
The provided context does not mention anything about tuition fees, fees, costs, non EU, national fees, international fees and payment including it's currency, so I cannot extract the requested data from the provided context.
