Paralegal/Legal Assistant (AS Degree S0310)
Business Division
Degree S0310
The paralegal program is intended to prepare students for employment as paralegals in both private and public sectors following graduation. The American Bar Association (ABA) By-Laws Section 21.12 uses the terms paralegal and legal assistant interchangeably referring to persons who, although not members of the legal profession, are qualified through education, training, or work experience and are employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity in a capacity or function which involves the performance, under the direction and supervision of an attorney, of specifically delegated substantive legal work. Paralegals/legal assistants must comply with the legal restrictions in the practice of law by nonlawyer. The California Business & Professions Code, Section 6450 et seq, governs paralegals in California. The American Bar Association does not recognize the following courses as meeting its definition of General Education: ARTB 14, ARTD 15A, ARTD 20, ARTD 25A, ARTS 30A, ARTS 40A, THTR 11, MUS 7, AD 3, COUN 5, and the Physical Wellbeing Course Requirement. Students developing their educational plan should select another course from the Mt. SAC General Education area which will satisfy that area’s General Education requirement.
This degree requires the completion of General Education coursework plus the following:
Required Courses
| Course Prefix | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PLGL 30 | Introduction to Paralegal/Legal | 3 |
| PLGL 31 | Legal Analysis and Writing | 3 |
| PLGL 32 | Advanced Legal Analysis and Writing | 3 |
| PLGL 33 | Civil Procedure | 3 |
| PLGL 34 | Law Office Procedures | 3 |
| PLGL 35 | Law Office Technology | 3 |
| PLGL 37 | Tort Law | 3 |
| PLGL 38 | Employment and Ethical Issues in Paralegalism | 3 |
| PLGL 39 | Contract Law | 3 |
| Required Electives | ||
| Choose one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Business Law | ||
| Advanced Business Law | ||
| Property Law | ||
| Family Law | ||
| Wills and Trusts | ||
| Bankruptcy Law | ||
| Criminal Law and Procedures | ||
| Evidence Law | ||
| Total Units | 30 | |
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Contact:
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark Street, 17th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
(312) 988-5618
www.americanbar.org
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:
- Have increased confidence in basic paralegal skills.
- Competently prepare basic legal documents such as motions and discovery, as they would be asked to do under the direction and supervision of a licensed attorney.
- Have earned LexisAdvance certification for paralegals.
- Have earned Westlaw certification for paralegals.
Review Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this program.
Looking for guidance? A counselor can help.
This Guided Pathways for Success (GPS) is a suggested sequence of coursework needed for program completion. It is not an official educational plan. Schedule an appointment with a counselor or advisor as soon as possible to create an individualized Mountie Academic Plan (MAP) specific to your goals and needs.
| Fall Term 1 | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PLGL 30 | Introduction to Paralegal/Legal | 3 |
| PLGL 31 | Legal Analysis and Writing | 3 |
| PLGL 34 | Law Office Procedures | 3 |
| ENGL 1A | Freshman Composition | 4 |
| Units | 13 | |
| Winter Term 1 | ||
| PLGL 37 | Tort Law | 3 |
| Units | 3 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| PLGL 32 | Advanced Legal Analysis and Writing | 3 |
| PLGL 33 | Civil Procedure | 3 |
| PLGL 35 | Law Office Technology | 3 |
| A/AS MATH | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Summer Term 1 | ||
| A/AS PE | 1 | |
| PLGL 39 | Contract Law | 3 |
| Units | 4 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| A/AS HUM | 3 | |
| A/AS SCNCE | 3 | |
| A/AS AMIST | 3 | |
| PLGL 41 OR PLGL 42 OR PLGL 43 OR PLGL 44 OR PLGL 48 OR PLGL 49 3 | ||
| BUSL 18 OR BUSL 19 0 | ||
| Units | 9 | |
| Winter Term 2 | ||
| SPCH 1A | Public Speaking | 4 |
| Units | 4 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| PLGL 38 | Employment and Ethical Issues in Paralegalism | 3 |
| A/AS BEH | 3 | |
| A/AS ARTS | 3 | |
| A/AS SELF | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 57 | |
