Paralegal Certificate of Achievement

Related Degrees & Certificates

Program	Units
AS Associate in Science Degree Program
Paralegal	60 units
CA Certificate of Achievement
Litigation	18 units

Career Opportunities

Students who complete this Paralegal Certificate are entitled to be called paralegals under California law. This Certificate prepares students to be paralegals, as well as those applying to law school or foreign attorneys preparing for a Master of Laws (LLM) degree program. This Certificate prepares students for the legal and business fields, including law firms, corporate legal departments, corporations, federal and state courts, and research firms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an 18% projected increase in paralegal and legal assistant jobs in the Bay Area between 2016 and 2036. Certificate holders are prepared for positions including, but not limited to, paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, legal clerks, title officers, and notaries.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:

Effectively conduct legal research using print and electronic legal research materials to locate primary and secondary sources of law.
Know how to prepare a case for trial, from the initial client intake through the appeals process, including knowing how to draft pleadings, motions, discovery, and use legal technology.
Understand, follow and apply ethical rules for attorneys and paralegals and to identify potential ethical issues in the legal environment.

Program Overview

The Paralegal Program at Cañada College was developed in collaboration with the San Mateo County Bar Association, San Mateo County Superior Court, judges, attorneys, and the San Mateo County Legal Professionals Association to prepare students to become legal professionals. The program emphasizes hands-on, practical training in key areas, including client interviewing, legal research, drafting legal documents, and trial preparation. The program focuses on teaching students the practical skills they need to succeed in their legal careers.

Requirements

Major: Core and Selective Requirements

Complete Core Courses, 18 units		Units
CBOT 435	Spreadsheets	3 units
LEGL 241	Law Office Management	3 units
LEGL 249	Introduction to the Legal System	3 units
LEGL 250	Legal Research and Writing	3 units
LEGL 252	Civil Litigation and Trial Preparation	3 units
LEGL 261	Legal Ethics	3 units

Selective courses, choose a minimum of 9 units from the following:		Units
BUS. 201	Business Law	3 units
LEGL 251	Torts	3 units
LEGL 254	Family Law	3 units
LEGL 260	Legal Writing	3 units
LEGL 263	Intellectual Property Law	3 units
LEGL 264	Contracts	3 units
LEGL 267	Animal Law	3 units
LEGL 269	Elder Law	3 units
LEGL 272	Immigration Law	3 units
LEGL 276	Electronic Litigation and Investigation	3 units
LEGL 672	Work Experience Education: Internship	1 - 3 units

Total Required Units: 27