Paralegal Studies, COA

Courses in the paralegal studies program provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to work as a paralegal in civil litigation, bankruptcy or estate planning law firms; an understanding of ethical rules and regulations applicable to legal professionals; an overview of legal theory; and a practical introduction to legal research and writing.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Define the responsibilities and duties of the paralegals and how they interface with the client, the attorney, the court and other professionals in terms of respectful, appropriate, and professional conduct.
Apply the rules and regulations that govern ethical paralegal behavior including the unauthorized practice of law, client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, client trust accounts, and paralegal competence.
Conduct online and physical legal research, analyze and apply the law to facts and legal issues.
Employ legal terminology competently and generally define the major legal systems and the functions of the law in American society.

Complete the following courses:

LGL 201 INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES AND ETHICS 2 Units
LGL 202 COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTRONIC RESEARCH 3.5 Units
LGL 203 BUSINESS LAW CONTRACTS AND TORTS 3 Units
LGL 205 INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING 3 Units
LGL 206A CIVIL LITIGATION I 3 Units
LGL 206B CIVIL LITIGATION II 3 Units
LGL 213 LEGAL ETHICS 2 Units

Complete a minimum of 9 units from the following courses:

AJ 2 INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 3 Units †
LGL 11 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 3 Units
LGL 15 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY 3 Units
LGL 21 SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE LAW 3 Units
LGL 168A COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE: PARALEGAL STUDIES 1 Unit
LGL 168B COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE: PARALEGAL STUDIES 2 Units
LGL 168C COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE: PARALEGAL STUDIES 3 Units
LGL 168D COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE: PARALEGAL STUDIES 4 Units
LGL 208 WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES 3 Units
LGL 209 BANKRUPTCY 3 Units
LGL 210 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 3 Units
LGL 212 APPLIED PARALEGAL STUDIES AND TECHNOLOGY 3 Units
LGL 220 FAMILY LAW 3 Units
MGT 12A THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3 Units †
OR
MGT 12AH THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS HONORS 3 Units †

Total Units Required: 28.5-29.5

† Recommended

To earn the certificate of achievement:

See Earning a Certificate for certificate information and requirements.

Third-party credentialing:

Students possessing a transferable associate or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with official transcripts on file at Irvine Valley College, will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies approved by the American Bar Association upon completion of the required courses.

Third-party credentialing may be subject to change without notice. This information is accurate as of the publication date of this catalog. For the most current information, please consult with the area dean.

Catalog and Student Handbook

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