The Paralegal Studies Certificate of Achievement-Advanced and A.A. degree programs prepare students to work in the legal field as paralegals under the supervision of attorneys. These programs provide graduates with a well-rounded education in a range of legal practice areas, including litigation and corporate law, and elective courses that include intellectual property and other legal practice specialties. Paralegal duties include performing factual and legal research; drafting legal documents and correspondence; interviewing clients and witnesses; assisting attorneys in pretrial work, including document discovery and analysis, and at trials and hearings; organizing and maintaining case files; and coordinating the use of technology in the legal work.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students will be able to:

- Evaluate, critique and analyze legal and factual information

- Synthesize and analyze legal and factual information through effective written and oral communication

- Compare and contrast the American and California legal systems within a global legal environment

- Research legally relevant facts from diverse source materials

- Assess the quality of information and utilize appropriate informational resources to evaluate a legal issue